The United Kingdom, with its extensive coastline and surrounding seas, provides a variety of habitats that support an impressive range of coastal and seabird species. These birds are not only vital to the health of marine and coastal ecosystems but also represent a significant part of the UK’s natural heritage. From the towering cliffs of Scotland to the tranquil estuaries of southern England, the UK’s coasts are home to colonies of seabirds that depend on the coastal environment for feeding, breeding, and migration. In this essay, we will explore at least 20 of the UK’s most notable coastal and seabird species, examining their habitats, behaviours, and conservation status.
Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
One of the UK’s most iconic seabirds, the Atlantic puffin is easily recognised by its colourful bill and striking appearance. These birds nest in burrows on cliff edges and islands, with large colonies found in places like the Farne Islands and Skomer Island. Puffins feed primarily on small fish like sand eels.
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
The Northern gannet, with its long wingspan and graceful diving technique, is a common sight around the UK’s coastal waters. They nest in large colonies on cliffs, with notable colonies on Bass Rock in Scotland. Gannets plunge into the sea from great heights to catch fish.
Common Guillemot (Uria aalge)
Guillemots are cliff-nesting seabirds that form dense colonies during the breeding season. These birds, often seen in places like Bempton Cliffs and the Isle of May, have a distinctive upright stance. They feed on fish and dive deep into the ocean to catch their prey.
Razorbill (Alca torda)
Similar to guillemots but with a more distinctive thick black bill, the razorbill also nests on cliff edges. They can be found alongside guillemots in mixed colonies and feed on small fish. The razorbill is one of the UK’s most numerous seabirds.
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
The kittiwake is a small, graceful gull that nests on sheer cliffs around the UK’s coasts. These birds are known for their distinctive “kittiwake” call, which gives them their name. They feed on small fish and are often seen flying just above the water’s surface.
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
The shag is a dark, glossy seabird commonly found on rocky coasts and islands. These birds are expert divers, feeding on fish caught underwater. Shags nest in crevices and rocky ledges, and they are often confused with the larger cormorant.
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Cormorants are large, black seabirds with long necks and distinctive yellow facial skin. These birds are skilled divers and can be seen drying their wings after fishing. They inhabit both coastal and inland waters and are often found in estuaries and on cliffs.
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Known for their incredible migration, Arctic terns travel from their breeding grounds in the UK to Antarctica each year. They nest on rocky and sandy beaches, especially in northern Scotland and the Shetland Islands. These graceful birds feed on small fish and insects.
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
The common tern, often referred to as the “sea swallow” due to its slender shape and pointed wings, is a summer visitor to the UK. They breed on coastal marshes, estuaries, and islands, feeding on small fish. Terns are highly agile in flight and are known for their long migrations.
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich terns are named after the town of Sandwich in Kent, where they were first identified. These terns nest in colonies on sandy beaches and saltmarshes, feeding on small fish by plunge-diving into the sea. They are recognised by their distinctive black cap and yellow-tipped bill.
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
The oystercatcher is a striking wader with black and white plumage and a bright orange bill. Despite their name, these birds feed on a variety of shellfish, including mussels and cockles, which they prise open with their strong bills. They are commonly found along the UK’s coasts and estuaries.
Redshank (Tringa totanus)
The redshank is a medium-sized wader with long red legs and a loud, distinctive call. Found on mudflats, saltmarshes, and coastal wetlands, redshanks feed on invertebrates and small fish. They are a common sight in estuaries and tidal flats around the UK.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Dunlins are small waders with a characteristic drooping bill. These birds are often seen in large flocks, particularly during the winter months, when they feed on invertebrates in estuaries and mudflats. They are widespread along the UK’s coasts and are highly adaptable to changing tidal conditions.
Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Turnstones are small, stocky waders known for their habit of flipping over stones and debris in search of food. These birds can be found along rocky shorelines and estuaries. They are highly migratory, visiting the UK during the winter from their breeding grounds in the Arctic.
Curlew (Numenius arquata)
The curlew is the largest wader in Europe, known for its long, curved bill and haunting call. Curlews breed in coastal areas, moorlands, and grasslands, and they are often found in estuaries during the winter. Their long bill helps them probe the mud for invertebrates.
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
The little egret, once a rare visitor to the UK, has become increasingly common along the southern coasts and estuaries. These elegant white herons feed on fish and invertebrates in shallow waters. They are known for their graceful flight and striking appearance.
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Herring gulls are one of the most recognisable coastal birds in the UK, often seen scavenging in seaside towns. They breed in large colonies on cliffs and rooftops, and their diet consists of fish, invertebrates, and human food scraps. Although common, herring gull numbers have been in decline.
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
The great black-backed gull is the largest gull species in the world, with a powerful build and a predatory nature. They are found along coasts, feeding on fish, small mammals, and other birds. They nest on cliffs, islands, and rocky shorelines, and are often seen dominating other gull species.
Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)
Manx shearwaters are long-winged seabirds that spend most of their lives at sea, only coming ashore to breed on islands such as Skomer and Skokholm. These birds are expert gliders, skimming the surface of the water in search of fish and squid. The UK is home to the largest Manx shearwater colonies in the world.
Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Fulmars resemble gulls but are actually related to albatrosses. These seabirds are excellent flyers and are often seen gliding effortlessly over the waves. They breed on cliffs around the UK’s coasts, especially in Scotland, and feed on fish and squid by skimming the water’s surface.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
The lesser black-backed gull is smaller and slimmer than its great black-backed relative, with a dark grey or black back and yellow legs. These birds are highly adaptable, breeding on both cliffs and rooftops in urban areas. They feed on fish, invertebrates, and sometimes scavenge human waste.
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Sanderlings are small, pale waders that can be found running along the edge of the surf on sandy beaches. These birds migrate long distances from their Arctic breeding grounds to UK coasts, where they feed on small invertebrates. They are known for their rapid, scurrying movements as they search for food.
Great Skua (Stercorarius skua)
Also known as “bonxies” in the UK, great skuas are aggressive seabirds that often harass other birds to steal their food. They breed in remote areas of Scotland and feed on fish, but they are also known to scavenge and even prey on other seabirds. Their powerful build and dark plumage make them distinctive.
Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)
The Arctic skua is smaller and more agile than the great skua, known for its aerial acrobatics as it chases terns and gulls to steal their catch. These birds breed on moorland and coastal heath in northern Scotland and the Northern Isles. They are migratory, spending winters at sea.
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Whimbrels are medium-sized waders, closely related to curlews but smaller, with a shorter, more curved bill. They are migratory, passing through the UK during spring and autumn as they travel between their breeding grounds in the Arctic and wintering areas in Africa. They feed on invertebrates in coastal mudflats.
Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)
The storm petrel is one of the smallest seabirds, often seen far out at sea. These birds breed in colonies on remote islands, including in Scotland. Storm petrels feed on plankton and small fish, and they are known for their ability to “walk” on water while feeding at the surface.
Leach’s Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa)
Similar to the storm petrel but slightly larger, Leach’s storm petrel is also a pelagic species, spending most of its life far from land. It breeds on the UK’s remote islands, including St Kilda, and feeds on planktonic crustaceans and small fish. Their fluttering flight and nocturnal habits make them hard to spot.
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)
The common eider is a large sea duck, well known for its soft down feathers, which have been harvested for insulation. These ducks breed on coasts and islands around the UK, especially in Scotland. They are excellent divers, feeding on mussels and other shellfish from the seabed.
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Although a common gull species, the black-headed gull is often seen on coastal mudflats, estuaries, and wetlands. During the breeding season, they have a distinctive dark brown (not black) head, which fades in winter. These opportunistic feeders eat fish, invertebrates, and human food waste.
Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)
Once rare in the UK, the Mediterranean gull has become more common in recent years, especially along the south coast. These birds are similar to black-headed gulls but are larger, with a pure white plumage in winter and a jet-black head during the breeding season. They feed on fish, invertebrates, and refuse.
Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
The smallest of the UK’s tern species, the little tern breeds in colonies on sandy beaches and saltmarshes. They are highly agile in flight, diving into the water to catch small fish. Little terns are a species of conservation concern due to the loss of suitable breeding habitats.
Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra)
The common scoter is a sea duck that breeds in the UK and can be found in coastal waters during winter. Males are entirely black, while females are brown. Scoters dive for molluscs and crustaceans, which make up the bulk of their diet. They are most commonly seen in large flocks offshore.
Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
Similar to the common scoter but larger, the velvet scoter is another winter visitor to the UK’s coasts. These ducks are distinguished by the white patches on their wings. Like other scoters, they feed on shellfish, which they dive for in coastal waters.
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
The ringed plover is a small wader with a distinctive black and white head pattern. These birds breed on sandy and gravelly beaches and can be found feeding on mudflats and estuaries around the UK. They feed on small invertebrates and are often seen running in short bursts along the shore.
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Grey plovers are large, stocky waders that are winter visitors to the UK’s coasts. They feed on invertebrates in mudflats and saltmarshes and are easily recognised by their bold black and white plumage in the summer. During winter, they lose their breeding plumage and become more subdued in colour.
Knot (Calidris canutus)
The knot is a medium-sized wader that migrates in huge numbers to the UK’s estuaries and mudflats during the winter. They are known for their striking reddish breeding plumage, which fades to grey in winter. Knots feed on shellfish and other invertebrates, often in large flocks.
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Bar-tailed godwits are large waders with long, slightly upturned bills. They are winter visitors to the UK, found in estuaries and on coastal mudflats. These birds feed on worms and other invertebrates buried in the mud, and they are known for their long migrations from Arctic breeding grounds.
Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
The common snipe is a small, elusive wader often found in wetlands and marshes near the coast. With their long, straight bills, snipes probe the mud for invertebrates. They are well-camouflaged, with brown and black plumage that makes them difficult to spot.
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
The greenshank is a large, elegant wader found on mudflats, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. These birds have long greenish legs and a slightly upturned bill, which they use to feed on small fish and invertebrates. Greenshanks are migratory, passing through the UK during spring and autumn.
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)
The black guillemot is a small, stocky seabird with striking black plumage and white wing patches during the breeding season. These birds are often seen around rocky coasts, diving for fish and crustaceans. They breed in crevices and under rocks on islands in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Conclusion
The UK’s coastal and seabird species are a vital part of its natural heritage, with each species playing an important role in the coastal ecosystem. From the dramatic plunge dives of the gannet to the graceful migrations of the Arctic tern, these birds contribute to the rich biodiversity of the UK’s marine environments. However, many of these species face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and human disturbance, highlighting the need for continued conservation efforts to ensure their survival for future generations.