Are there any birds that don't live on land? Are there any birds that spend most of their time in the water or in the air?

Asked in Sycamore (Year 3 and 4), Wednesday 10th September 2025

Look below for information to help explore this question.

Use these links to consider what scientists already have discovered about seabirds. Remember, don't just accept what you read or watch as 'true' or 'accurate'. Think about it carefully. Compare it to information from other places. Ask where the information came from in the first place. Bear in mind that information about animals can be exaggerated to make it more interesting or exciting.

Link: Albatrosses spend most of their life at sea, only coming to land to breed, lay eggs and rear chicks. The rest of their life is spent soaring over the water, searching for food, and resting on the surface.

How could a scientist find out whether any birds spend most of their life away from land, either on the sea or in the air?

How could a scientist observe this? What measurements could she make? What equipment might she make use of? Where would she go to do this? How could she work with other scientists?