Manx shearwater night-time clamour. Manx shearwater The Manx shearwater ("Puffinus puffinus") is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: "Manx shearwaters" were called "Manks puffins" in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word (Middle English "pophyn") for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters. The Atlantic puffin acquired the name much later, possibly because of its similar nesting habits. The shearwaters form part of the family Procellariidae, a widespread group containing nearly 100 species of medium to large seabirds. They have long, narrow wings and the characteristic “tubenose”. The large genus
Buller's shearwater blackish also; the two black areas do not meet at the hand however; the area between them is a rather light grey, under bright light it may appear almost white. With the bird facing upwards, the pattern gives the impression of a broken black "M", with light grey interspersing areas. The underside is bright white; on the head the upperside's grey extends town to eye height and the white cheeks may shine up conspicuously, as in the smaller shearwaters of "Puffinus sensu stricto". The rectrices are blackish and the tail is wedge-shaped; bill and iris are dark. Fledged juveniles already