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Razorbill

Razorbill

The razorbill has a characteristically thick, black bill, with a white stripe across it. It nests with other seabirds, such as guillemots, but prefers the lower ledges and rocky bottoms of cliffs and deep ravines.

Great Skua

Great skua

A fierce pirate of the sea, the great skua is renowned for stealing fish from other seabirds and dive-bombing anyone that comes near its nests. It breeds on the Scottish Isles.

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed gull

The black-headed gull is actually a chocolate-brown headed gull! And for much of the year, its head even turns white. Look out for it in large, noisy flocks on a variety of habitats.

Common Gull

Common gull

Despite its name, the common gull is not as common as some of our other gulls. It can be spotted breeding at the coast, but is also partial to sports fields, landfill sites and housing estates in winter.

A Herring Gull – our most typical "seagull" in the UK.

Herring gull

The herring gull is the typical 'seagull' of our seaside resorts, though our coastal populations have declined in recent decades.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser black-backed gull

The lesser-black backed gull can be spotted around the coast in summer, with the biggest colony on Walney Island, Cumbria. Look for it over fields, landfill sites and reservoirs during winter.

Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) feeding on corpse of Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) near the Cairns of Coll, Scotland. July 2011.

Great black-backed gull

This huge gull can be seen around most of the UK's coasts in summer, with some venturing inland in winter.

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

A pretty, little gull, the kittiwake can be spotted nesting in colonies on clifftops and rock ledges around the UK's coast. It spends the winter out at sea.

Little Tern

Little tern

Found around our coasts during the breeding season, the little tern is a diminutive seabird. Despite its size, it performs remarkable aerial courtship displays.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich tern

Found around our coasts during the breeding season, the large Sandwich tern can be spotted diving into the sea for fish such as sandeels. It nests in colonies on sand and shingle beaches, and islands.

Common Tern

Common tern

During the breeding season, the common tern can be seen around our coasts and also inland at gravel pits, reservoirs and lakes. It nests in noisy colonies and can be spotted plunge-diving for fish.

Mute Swan

Mute swan

One of our most iconic waterbirds, the mute swan is famed for its grace and beauty. It is also considered to be a romantic of the bird world because partners form a perfect love heart with their necks.