Ever wonder what different types of birds can be found in the National Marine Sanctuary System? Explore this section to find where birds and what species of birds inhabit special ocean and Great Lakes areas protected by the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
Most diving seabirds prefer being in and under the water rather than flying in the air. These birds use their wings underwater as flippers to swim after prey like fish and krill. In Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, you can view the Common Murre, Cassin’s Auklet, Tufted Puffin, and many more diving seabirds.
In Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, there are a variety of tube-nosed seabirds that pass through this sanctuary. From black-footed albatrosses to northern fulmar and sooty shearwater, you may be able to spot these birds that are highly migratory.
Pelagic shorebirds usually have narrow heads, small eyes, and long, slim necks that help them probe to feed. There are only two pelagic shorebirds that are able to be viewed at Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Red-Necked Phalarope and Red Phalarope.
Sanctuary waters are among the most important in the world as measured by the sheer numbers of seabirds supported year-round, but are also important to several species of special concern because of their small world populations.
The shoreline and coastal wetlands that border the Monterey Bay sanctuary are also relatively important to birds. Shorebirds reach their greatest densities during October through March in Elkhorn Slough, which is centrally located along the sanctuary shoreline.
The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is home to a variety of seabirds from loons to ducks and eagles. Use this species bird list from the sanctuary to learn more about which seabirds visit the sanctuary, their scientific names, and their preferred habitat.
