Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
- Class
- Bird
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 1,425
- Most observed in
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx shearwaters were called Manks puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word (Middle English pophyn) for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters. The Atlantic puffin acquired the name much later, possibly because of its similar nesting habits.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Manx shearwater”.