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Auks, Gannets & Cormorants
Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
One of the recent records is of a single individual seen near the shores of Marsascala in September 2010.
A small bird, white bellied, black back, orange feet and a large orange to greenish bill. Bill in juveniles almost black, and much less deep than in adults. Adults in winter plumage also show much darker bill and cheeks than in summer. At a distance head gives an all dark impression, with characteristic dark "shadow " in front of the eye. Wings rounded with dark undersides. "Thighs" dark. Flight fluttering and energic, with shifting weight and angle.
Diet
Small fish but occasionally crustaceans.
Longevity record
45 years (A shot bird at Iceland, 56309)
Purċinell tal-Baħar
Fratercula arctica
Charadriiformes
Alcidae
Very rare
Usually seen in
-
Occasionally seen in
January, March, October, December
Click on the image to open slideshow
Ad. summer
Ad. summer
Ad. summer
1/2
Pictures taken abroad
Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
28 - 34
50 - 60
320 - 480
Razorbill
Razorbill
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Last record of a single individual seen in the Maltese - Gozo channel on January 2022.
At a distance quite similar to Guillemot. Bill deep, rectangular and with white markings. Flanks unstreaked and armpits white. Tail longer than in Guillemot, with legs not protruding behind tail in flight. Tail often held clear of the surface when swimming. Cheeks white in winter, with broad, short and black eye stripe. Neck collar short and wide. Upperparts blacker, and underparts whiter than Guillemot. Heavy neck, head and bill, in combination with the long tail, gives it a front heavy, and different profile from Guillemot, whether perched, swimming or flying. Top of head in line with tip of uptilted bill when swimming.
Diet
Small fish but occasionally crustaceans.
Longevity record
42 years 0 months
(Controlled by a ringer in the UK, AT 73954)
Mus tal-Baħar
Alca Torda
Charadriiformes
Alcidae
Vagrant
Usually seen in
-
Occasionally seen in
January, November, December
Click on the image to open slideshow
1/1
Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
38 - 43
60 - 69
600 - 840
Northen Gannet
Northern Gannet
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but can be seen in small groups.
White with black wing tips and yellow-buff at back of head. Juveniles brown with small pale speckles, white u-shaped rump patch and pale underparts. Fully coloured only after 5 years, and patchy, intermediate plumages often seen. Unmistakable bird at close range or with favorable light, but can be confused with shearwaters at a distance and/or in strong wind. Differs from those by long tail and much longer neck and head. Alternates between powerful, even and shallow wing-beats and glides. Flight becomes more shearwater-like in strong winds.
Diet
Mostly fish and squid.
Longevity record
37 years (Found dead in the UK, 1010527)
Sula
Morus bassanus
Suliformes
Sulidae
Scarce
Usually seen in
October - March
Occasionally seen in
April, September
Click on the image to open slideshow
Immature (3rd/4th-cal.-yr)
Yellowish head so 3rd yr+. Secondaries are still dark so this bird is still not in its full adult plumage. the back cannot be seen so it should either be a 3rd or 4th-cal. yr.
Ad.
Yellowish head and white secondaries indicative of an adult.
Ad.
Yellowish head and white secondaries indicative of an adult.
Immature (3rd/4th-cal.-yr)
Yellowish head so 3rd yr+. Secondaries are still dark so this bird is still not in its full adult plumage. the back cannot be seen so it should either be a 3rd or 4th-cal. yr.
1/7
Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (kg):
85 - 97
170 - 192
2.9 - 3.2
Brown Booby
Brown Booby
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
A vagrant for our islands with the first recorded sighting along the coast of Gozo on the 13th February 2024. The pictures on this site were taken by Mr. Claudio Cini.
A large seabird with a fairly long neck, heavy pointed bill, long wings, and a rather long, pointed tail. It has stout, short legs with large webbed feet.
Adults are rich chocolate brown with starkly contrasting white bellies and central underwings. They have pale bills and bright yellow feet. Juveniles are dark-billed and mostly brown overall. Subadults are intermediate between juveniles and adults, with dirty white bellies and underwings.
Diet
Mostly fish and squid.
Longevity record
28.5 years (Australia, ABBBS-1305)
Sula Kannellija
Sula leucogaster
Suliformes
Sulidae
Vagrant
Usually seen in
---
Occasionally seen in
February
Click on the image to open slideshow
1/6
Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (kg):
64 - 85
132 - 155
0.95 - 1.7
Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen in small groups but can be seen in flocks and single individuals.
A large, heavy built with a thick neck blackish bird. Head diagnostically wedge-shape, with the back of the head as the highest point. Bill never yellow (but yellow naked area at base of bill). Often dives without jumping, more common in brackish water, often flies high, and often chooses high ground or objects when perching.
Diet
Mostly fish and occasionally crustaceans.
Longevity record
32 years (Found dead in Iceland, 623)
Margun
Phalacrocorax carbo
Suliformes
Phalacrocoracidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
September - March
Occasionally seen in
April - May
Click on the image to open slideshow
Juv.
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Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (kg):
77 - 94
121 - 149
2.2 - 3.6
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*Some information was sourced from ''BirdID Nord University''.
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