top of page

Seabirds of New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a state located in the northeastern region of the United States. It is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Many of these species are native to the area and play important roles in the ecosystem. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most notable animals that are native to New Hampshire.

Black-Backed Gull

The Black-Backed Gull is a species of gull that is native to the North Atlantic Ocean, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive black back and wings, as well as its white head, body, and tail.

Black-Backed Gulls are opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of a wide variety of food sources, including fish, crustaceans, and carrion. They are also known for their strong social bonds, often nesting in large colonies on rocky islands and cliffs.

Black-Backed Gulls are highly adaptable birds, living in a variety of habitats, from the coast to inland wetlands and fields. They are also known for their ability to tolerate harsh weather conditions, making them a common sight along the coast of New Hampshire even in the depths of winter.

Despite their adaptability, Black-Backed Gulls are vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation, as well as to pollutants in the environment that can harm their health and survival. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the implementation of protective measures and the reduction of pollutants in the environment.

Overall, the Black-Backed Gull is a fascinating species that plays an important role in the ecosystem and adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire.

Northern Gannet

The Northern Gannet is a large seabird that is native to the North Atlantic Ocean, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive appearance, with its white plumage, long, narrow wings, and distinctive yellow head.

Northern Gannets are pelagic birds, spending most of their lives far from shore and only coming to land to breed. They feed primarily on fish, diving from the air to capture their prey.

Northern Gannets are highly migratory birds, spending the breeding season along the North Atlantic coast and then flying south to the warmer waters of the tropics for the winter. Despite their long migrations, they are able to navigate great distances using their keen sense of sight and their ability to detect the earth's magnetic field.

Despite their adaptability, Northern Gannet populations have declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, overfishing, and the use of toxic chemicals in the environment. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of harmful pollutants in the environment.

Overall, the Northern Gannet is a fascinating species that adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire and along the North Atlantic coast. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.

Tufted Puffin

The Tufted Puffin is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of the North Pacific Ocean, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive appearance, including its large, colorful bill and its tufted head feathers.


The Tufted Puffin is a highly skilled hunter, using its sharp bill to catch small fish and other prey from the water's surface. It is also known for its complex social behavior, living in large colonies and engaging in elaborate courtship rituals.


Tufted Puffins spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to breed. During the breeding season, they nest in large colonies on rocky islands and cliffs, where they lay a single egg in a burrow or crevice.


Unfortunately, the Tufted Puffin population has declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, fishing, and climate change. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of harmful fishing practices.


Overall, the Tufted Puffin is an important and fascinating species that is unique to the coastal waters of New Hampshire and the North Pacific Ocean. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.

Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron is a species of bird that is native to the North American coast, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is characterized by its large size, striking blue-gray plumage, and long, powerful neck and bill.


Great Blue Herons are excellent hunters, using their long, sharp bills to catch fish and other prey in the water. They are also known for their slow, deliberate hunting style, often standing still for long periods of time as they wait for their prey to come within reach.


Great Blue Herons are highly adaptable birds, living in a variety of habitats, from salt marshes and beaches to freshwater wetlands and woodlands. They are also known for their social behavior, often nesting in large colonies with other herons and egrets.


Despite their adaptability, Great Blue Herons are vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation, as well as to pollutants in the water that can harm their health and survival. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the implementation of protective measures and the reduction of pollutants in the water.


Overall, the Great Blue Heron is a fascinating species that plays an important role in the ecosystem and adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire.

Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic Puffin, also known as the Common Puffin, is a species of seabird that is native to the North Atlantic Ocean, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive appearance, with its colorful beak, black and white plumage, and distinctive tuft of feathers on its head.


Atlantic Puffins are excellent divers, plunging into the water to catch fish and other prey. They are also known for their strong social bonds, often nesting in large colonies on rocky islands and cliffs.


Atlantic Puffins are highly migratory birds, spending the breeding season in the North Atlantic and then flying south to the warmer waters of the tropics for the winter. Despite their long migrations, they are able to navigate great distances using their keen sense of sight and their ability to detect the earth's magnetic field.


Unfortunately, the Atlantic Puffin population has declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, fishing, and climate change. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of harmful fishing practices.


Overall, the Atlantic Puffin is an important and fascinating species that is unique to the coast of New Hampshire and the North Atlantic Ocean. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.

Herring Gull

The Herring Gull is a species of gull that is widely distributed throughout the North Atlantic Ocean, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive appearance, with its white head and body, dark back, and yellow bill.


Herring Gulls are omnivores, feeding on a wide variety of food sources, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and even small mammals and birds. They are also known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities, often using tools and working together to obtain food.


Herring Gulls are highly adaptable birds, living in a variety of habitats, from the coast to inland wetlands and fields. They are also known for their strong social bonds, often nesting in large colonies and forming lifelong pair bonds.


Despite their adaptability, Herring Gull populations have declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, overfishing, and the use of toxic chemicals in the environment. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of harmful pollutants in the environment.


Overall, the Herring Gull is a fascinating species that plays an important role in the ecosystem and adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.

Laughing Gull

The Laughing Gull is a species of gull that is native to the North Atlantic Ocean, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive appearance, with its black head, white body, and gray wings.


Laughing Gulls are opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of a wide variety of food sources, including fish, crustaceans, and carrion. They are also known for their social behavior, often nesting in large colonies on sandy beaches and estuaries.


Laughing Gulls are highly migratory birds, spending the breeding season along the North Atlantic coast and then flying south to the warmer waters of the tropics for the winter. Despite their long migrations, they are able to navigate great distances using their keen sense of sight and their ability to detect the earth's magnetic field.


Despite their adaptability, Laughing Gull populations have declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, overfishing, and the use of toxic chemicals in the environment. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of harmful pollutants in the environment.


Overall, the Laughing Gull is a fascinating species that adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire and along the North Atlantic coast. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.


Leach's Storm-Petrel

Leach's Storm-Petrel is a small, seabird that is native to the North Atlantic Ocean, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is known for its distinctive appearance, with its black plumage, white rump, and long, narrow wings.


Leach's Storm-Petrels are pelagic birds, spending most of their lives far from shore, and only coming to land to breed. They feed primarily on small fish and crustaceans, which they capture by diving into the water from the air.


Leach's Storm-Petrels are highly migratory birds, spending the breeding season along the North Atlantic coast and then flying south to the warmer waters of the tropics for the winter. They are also known for their strong homing instincts, often returning to the same breeding site year after year.


Despite their adaptability, Leach's Storm-Petrel populations have declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, overfishing, and the use of toxic chemicals in the environment. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of harmful pollutants in the environment.


Overall, Leach's Storm-Petrel is a fascinating species that adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire and along the North Atlantic coast. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.

Razorbill

The Razorbill is a seabird that is native to the North Atlantic Ocean, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive appearance, with its black plumage, white underparts, and large, flattened bill.


Razorbills are pelagic birds, spending most of their lives far from shore and only coming to land to breed. They feed primarily on fish and other marine animals, diving into the water from the air to capture their prey.


Razorbills are highly migratory birds, spending the breeding season along the North Atlantic coast and then flying south to the warmer waters of the tropics for the winter. Despite their long migrations, they are able to navigate great distances using their keen sense of sight and their ability to detect the earth's magnetic field.


Despite their adaptability, Razorbill populations have declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, overfishing, and the use of toxic chemicals in the environment. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of harmful pollutants in the environment.


Overall, the Razorbill is a fascinating species that adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire and along the North Atlantic coast. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.

Willet

The Willet is a large shorebird that is native to the coasts of North America, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive appearance, with its gray plumage, white underparts, and long, black-and-white striped wings.


Willets are shorebirds, spending most of their time foraging for food along the shoreline and in tidal flats. They feed primarily on small crustaceans and other small animals, using their long beaks to probe the sand and mud for their prey.


Willets are highly migratory birds, spending the summer along the North Atlantic coast and then flying south to the warmer waters of Central and South America for the winter. Despite their long migrations, they are able to navigate great distances using their keen sense of sight and their ability to detect the earth's magnetic field.


Despite their adaptability, Willet populations have declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, coastal development, and the use of toxic chemicals in the environment. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of harmful pollutants in the environment.


The Willet is a fascinating species that adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire and along the North Atlantic coast. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.

Double-Crested Cormorant

The Double-Crested Cormorant is a species of seabird that is native to the North American coast, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is characterized by its black plumage, long, hooked bill, and distinctive double crest of feathers on its head.


Double-Crested Cormorants are excellent swimmers and divers, using their powerful legs and webbed feet to propel themselves through the water in search of fish and other prey. They are also known for their social behavior, often nesting in large colonies on rocky islands or cliffs.


Despite their strong swimming ability, Double-Crested Cormorants are vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation, as well as to pollutants in the water that can harm their health and survival. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the implementation of protective measures and the reduction of pollutants in the water.


Overall, the Double-Crested Cormorant is a fascinating species that plays an important role in the marine ecosystem and adds to the diversity of wildlife in New Hampshire.

Common Loon

The Common Loon is a species of bird that is native to the North American coast, including the coast of New Hampshire. This bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive appearance, including its large size, striking black-and-white plumage, and powerful, webbed feet.


Common Loons are strong swimmers and divers, using their powerful legs and webbed feet to catch fish and other prey in the water. They are also known for their haunting, mournful calls, which can be heard echoing across the water during the breeding season.


Common Loons spend most of their lives on the water, only coming to land to breed. During the breeding season, they build their nests on the shores of lakes and ponds, where they lay their eggs and raise their young.


Unfortunately, the Common Loon population has declined in recent years due to factors such as habitat loss, fishing, and climate change. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and its habitat, including the establishment of protected breeding areas and the reduction of pollutants in the water.


Overall, the Common Loon is an important and fascinating species that is unique to the coast of New Hampshire and the North American continent. By protecting this bird and its habitat, we can ensure that future generations will be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing species.

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page