A seabird is any bird that spends most of its life near or over the ocean, relying on the sea for food. Seagulls, pelicans, puffins, and albatrosses are all seabirds. These birds have special adaptations that help them thrive in marine environments: webbed feet for swimming, waterproof feathers, and the ability to drink salt water (they have special glands that remove the salt).

Seabirds are skilled hunters and scavengers. Some dive deep underwater to catch fish, while others snatch prey from the surface. Certain seabirds, like the Arctic tern, make astonishing migrations, traveling thousands of miles between polar regions each year. The wandering albatross has the longest wingspan of any living bird and can glide for hours without flapping its wings, riding ocean winds effortlessly.

Despite living at sea, most seabirds return to land to nest, often gathering in huge colonies on coastal cliffs or remote islands. Seabirds face serious threats from pollution, especially plastic waste in the ocean, which they sometimes mistake for food. Scientists study seabirds closely because their health reveals a lot about the overall condition of ocean ecosystems.