Seabirds

ocean · adaptation · evolution · amazing swimmers

Ocean masters. Seabirds have special bodies built for life on the water, with waterproof feathers, strong wings for diving or gliding, and the ability to drink salty seawater without getting sick.

Ancient ancestors. The first seabirds appeared during the Cretaceous period, which was millions of years ago when dinosaurs still roamed Earth.

Similar solutions. Even though seabirds come from different families, they often evolved similar features to solve ocean living challenges, like streamlined bodies for swimming or large wings for soaring over waves.

Modern families. The seabird families we see today, like penguins, albatrosses, and puffins, took their current shapes during the Paleogene period, a time after the dinosaurs disappeared.

Fishing skills. Different seabirds hunt in different ways, some diving straight down from the sky, some swimming underwater, and some skimming fish right off the surface with their beaks.