Sooty Shearwater

The Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea) is a large, dark seabird with uniform sooty-brown plumage and long, slender wings adapted for dynamic soaring over the ocean. Seen occasionally on our tours in Faxaflói Bay, these birds are remarkable long-distance migrants, traveling between their breeding grounds in the Southern Hemisphere and feeding grounds in the North Atlantic. Sooty Shearwaters forage by diving beneath the surface, pursuing small fish and squid with impressive agility. Their presence in the bay offers a rare opportunity to witness one of nature’s great travelers, highlighting the global connectivity of marine ecosystems.