The Manx shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater bird in the Procellariidae family. It breeds on islands and coastal cliffs in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Manx shearwater has several other common names, including Manks shearwater, common shearwater, and black-and-white shearwater. These names all refer to the same species, Puffinus puffinus. In this article, we will explore some of the most frequently used alternate names for the Manx shearwater and discuss how they originated.
Manx Shearwater
Manx shearwater is one of the most commonly used names for this species. It refers to the bird’s association with the Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. The Manx shearwater nests in large colonies on many of the rocky islands and sea cliffs around the Isle of Man. The name “Manx” comes from the Manx people, the native inhabitants of the Isle of Man. So the Manx shearwater gets its name from this important breeding area.
Manks Shearwater
Manks shearwater is an alternative spelling of Manx shearwater. Both names are used interchangeably. The spelling “Manks” is likely related to the word “Manks”, an old-fashioned adjective meaning “from the Isle of Man”. So Manks shearwater is just another way of indicating that this species is named after the Isle of Man. The two spellings are variants of the same name.
Common Shearwater
Common shearwater is used as the English name for this species in several regions, including New Zealand and South Africa. It refers to the fact that the Manx shearwater has a very broad distribution and is the most abundant shearwater species in many areas. In New Zealand, for example, the Manx shearwater is regularly seen during the summer months when it migrates there to breed. Calling it the “common shearwater” simply indicates that it is the most widespread and frequently encountered shearwater in these areas.
Black-and-white Shearwater
The black-and-white shearwater is another descriptive name used for the Manx shearwater in some regions. It refers to the bird’s distinctive plumage. Adult Manx shearwaters have black upperparts and white underparts, giving them a neat black-and-white color scheme. The head is also white with a black cap. This provides good contrast when the birds are seen at sea. So the name black-and-white shearwater is an apt descriptive term for this species.
Scientific Name
The Manx shearwater’s scientific name provides another option for referring to this species. Its binomial Latin name is Puffinus puffinus. This scientific name is recognized globally and provides an unambiguous way to refer to this particular shearwater species in any language. Using the scientific Puffinus puffinus ensures there is no confusion about exactly which species is being discussed.
Origin of the Names
Most of the Manx shearwater’s common names originate from characteristics of the bird itself or its breeding distribution. Here is a summary of the derivation of some major names:
- Manx shearwater – refers to association with the Isle of Man
- Manks shearwater – alternative spelling of Manx
- Common shearwater – refers to its abundance in some regions
- Black-and-white shearwater – refers to its plumage coloration
- Puffinus puffinus – binomial Latin scientific name
So the names highlight the species’ connection to the Isle of Man, its widespread abundance, or its physical appearance. These types of descriptive names and geographic references are typical for many bird species.
Usage of the Names
The various names are generally used interchangeably to refer to the same bird species. However, some patterns emerge in usage:
- Manx shearwater or Manks shearwater are most commonly used in the United Kingdom
- Common shearwater is more frequently used in New Zealand and South Africa
- Black-and-white shearwater is heard more often in North America
- The scientific name Puffinus puffinus is used worldwide in research and by serious bird enthusiasts
So the choice of name partly depends on geographic location and the context of the communication about this bird. Casual observers tend to use the local common name, while scientists rely on the universal scientific name.
Conclusion
In summary, the Manx shearwater has a number of alternate common names including Manks shearwater, common shearwater, and black-and-white shearwater. But all these names refer to the same species Puffinus puffinus. The specific name used depends on local conventions based on geography, abundance, and appearance. But the Latin scientific name provides an unambiguous label for the species in any context or location. So Puffinus puffinus is the most precise name that eliminates any risk of confusion with other shearwater species when accuracy is important.
Name | Origin/Meaning |
---|---|
Manx shearwater | Named after the Isle of Man breeding colony |
Manks shearwater | Alternative spelling of Manx |
Common shearwater | Refers to its wide abundance |
Black-and-white shearwater | Refers to its plumage coloration |
Puffinus puffinus | Latin scientific name |
Breeding and Migration of the Manx Shearwater
The Manx shearwater undertakes a long annual migration as part of its breeding cycle. It nests in colonies on islands and coastal cliffs across the North Atlantic. Here are some key facts about its migration and breeding:
- Breeding takes place starting in late April/May, with eggs laid in burrows on cliffsides
- The parents share incubation duties for around 50 days
- Chicks hatch in July and are cared for by parents until fledging in September
- In late September, adults leave the breeding grounds and migrate south
- Migration lasts to November, traveling down to waters off South America and South Africa
- The shearwaters remain in the southern hemisphere until March
- Spring migration brings them back to northern nesting sites by April
So the Manx shearwater spends about half the year at breeding colonies and the other half on long-distance migration and in wintering areas. This annual cycle allows the birds to take advantage of the seasonal abundance of marine prey in different ocean regions.
Population and Conservation
The Manx shearwater has an extensive global population estimated at over 4.9 million birds:
- 364,000-427,000 breeding pairs in Iceland
- At least 155,000 pairs on Faroe Islands
- 58,000 pairs on UK Islands
- 250,000 pairs on French Islands
- 1.5 million pairs on Azores Islands
- 5,000-10,000 pairs in Canada
However, the species faces threats from invasive predators, habitat loss, and mortality from fishing by-catch. Some breeding colonies have declined considerably. The Manx shearwater is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List but populations require ongoing monitoring and protection. Maintaining breeding habitat and reducing marine threats during migration are conservation priorities. More research is also needed to fully document current population trends across different breeding colonies.
Characteristics of Manx Shearwaters
The Manx shearwater has a number of characteristic physical features and behaviors:
- Length around 33 cm, with 76 cm wingspan
- Black upperparts, white underside, with black cap and long dark bill
- Strong shearwater flight low over water on stiff wings
- Use sense of smell to locate breeding burrows
- Nocturnal at breeding colonies to avoid predators
- Unique moaning calls heard at night on colonies
- Forage largely on fish, squid, and crustaceans
- Cold water tolerance allows long migration routes
Identifying features include the black and white plumage, stiff-winged flight, nocturnal habits, eerie vocalizations, and shearwater feeding behaviors. These characteristics help distinguish the Manx shearwater from other shearwater, petrel, and albatross species.
Manx Shearwater Habitat
The breeding and non-breeding habitats of the Manx shearwater can be summarized as follows:
Breeding
- Islands and coastal cliffs with grassy slopes
- Need sloping terrain for burrow nesting
- Northern Atlantic islands and shorelines
Non-breeding
- Pelagic ocean waters
- Coastal upwelling zones
- Shelf breaks and seamounts
- Ranges widely across North Atlantic
- South Atlantic and South Pacific during migration
So this species relies on remote breeding islands but pelagic marine habitats for the rest of the year. Protecting both nesting sites and key ocean feeding areas are important for conservation.
Taxonomy of the Manx Shearwater
The Manx shearwater is classified taxonomically as:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Procellariiformes
- Family: Procellariidae
- Genus: Puffinus
- Species: Puffinus puffinus
This places the Manx shearwater in the larger grouping of tubenosed seabirds in the order Procellariiformes, which also includes petrels, prions, and shearwaters. Among the shearwaters, it belongs to the genus Puffinus. There are several dozen species in this genus found around the world. The Manx shearwater is the only species in the genus that breeds in the North Atlantic, which separates it from congeners.
Appearance in Culture
The Manx shearwater sometimes appears in literature, poetry, music, and other cultural contexts, often representing loneliness of the sea:
- Featured in poetry of John Masefield and W.B. Yeats
- Influenced orchestral composition “The Seafarer” by Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Mentioned in novels “The Light Between Oceans” by M.L. Stedman and “Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles
- Shearwaters inspired graphic logo for jazz record label Shearwater Records
- Mentioned in children’s nature book “My First Book of Birds” by Zoe Ingram
The eerie nocturnal calling of shearwaters on remote islands has contributed to their cultural associations with the sea and isolation. Their long-distance migrations and haunting moonlit colonies have inspired many writers, musicians, and artists over the years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Manx shearwater has a number of alternate common names such as the Manks shearwater, common shearwater, and black-and-white shearwater. But its formal scientific name Puffinus puffinus provides universal clarity. This abundant seabird migrates huge distances between northern breeding islands and southern ocean waters each year. Conservation of both nesting habitat and marine ecosystems is needed to protect global populations of the iconic Manx shearwater into the future.