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Some 35 species of seabirds live south of the
Antarctic Convergence, but only 19 of these breed on the Antarctic
continent itself. These include pelagic, or free-ranging, species such
as the albatrosses and petrels. Coastal species, by contrast, forage
close to the shore, and among them are found skuas, cormorants, terns
and sheathbills.
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Penguins
The penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost
exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Most penguins feed on krill,
fish, squid, and other forms of sealife caught while swimming
underwater. There are seventeen species worldwide and 7 species which
occur in Antarctica.
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Albatrosses
The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great
albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any
extant birds. There are 21 species worldwide and 5 species which occur
in Antarctica.
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Cormorants
The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal,
fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage
colouration varies with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some
species being black and white, and a few being colourful. There are 38
species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Antarctica.
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Sheathbills
The sheathbills are scavengers of the Antarctic regions. They have white
plumage, and look plump and dove-like, but are believed to be similar to
the ancestors of the modern gulls and terns. There are 2 species and 1
species which occurs in Antarctica.
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Gulls
Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gulls
and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black
markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed
feet. There are 55 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in
Antarctica.
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