Definition:
(adjective) Describes a bird that spends a significant portion of its life on the open ocean, rarely venturing to land except to breed. Pelagic birds may be found hundreds or thousands of miles offshore and are powerful fliers that can remain aloft for hours while gliding or soaring. When the birds rest, they do so floating on the water. Pelagic birds typically feed on fish, squid and crustaceans as well as offal from fishing ships or trash dumped into the ocean.
There are dozens of pelagic bird species with a great range of sizes and ranges. Types of pelagic birds include shearwaters, albatrosses and petrels.
Pronunciation:
puh-LAA-jik
Also Known As:
Oceanic Bird, Seabird, Marine Bird
