Search | Smithsonian Ocean

Showing results for "All"

Midway Atoll, where these photos were taken, is more than 2,000 miles from the nearest land.

slideshow

Laysan Albatrosses’ Plastic Problem

Laysan albatrosses (Phoebastria immutabilis) are incredible birds. They have a...

Fri, 05/10/2013 - 14:47

A polar bear and its cub in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.

slideshow

Celebrating Marine Moms

The ocean is home to many moms of all shapes and sizes: from charismatic polar...

Wed, 04/24/2013 - 17:29

A screenshot from the video showing illustration of penguins on ice.

video

Penguins: Popularity, Peril and Poop

Penguins are odd birds. For one, they cannot fly (but they are amazing swimmers),...

Fri, 08/11/2017 - 09:34

A puffin with a mouthful of fish.

Personal Perspectives

Watching for Fish in the Puffin's Beak

In recent years, I have taken to watching flying fish along the Maine coast. Not...

November 2013

An albatross soars over the ocean.

Is It Love? Why Some Ocean Animals (Sort Of) Mate For Life

We often hear stories of animal love—tales of rare monogamy in the animal kingdom...

February 2015

With their brown and yellow markings, seaside sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus) blend in well with marshgrass.

Beyond the Sea: How Oil Spills in the Ocean Affect Birds On Land

In marshlands along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, it's easy to hear the sharp,...

December 2014

An adult and juvenile killer whale frolic in the water.

Personal Perspectives

Menopausal Moms: A Mammal Mystery

In honor of Mother's Day, the Citizens of the Sea blog salutes ocean-going mothers...

May 2011

Laysan albatross with a chick in a volcano looking nest on the ground made of earth.

Photo

Laysan Albatross with a Chick

The Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) breeds mainly in Hawaii and other...

Magellanic penguin parents typically lay two eggs under a bush or in a burrow, taking turns swimming out to sea to catch food for their chicks.

Photo

Magellanic Penguin Parent and Chick

A parent Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) sits with its big chick....

Gentoo penguin mother with her chick in Antarctica.

Photo

Gentoo Penguin Mother and Chick

A gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) mother stands with her chick in Antarctica....

Band-rumped Storm-petrels (Oceanodroma castro) are quite a bit larger and heavier than Wilson's storm petrels, but share their amazing sense of smell, which they use to find food that may be miles away.

Photo

Band-rumped Storm-petrels

Band-rumped Storm-petrels (Oceanodroma castro) are quite a bit larger and heavier...

Pomarine Jaegers (Stercorarius pomarinus) are predatory and pirate-like seabirds that will often steal prey from other birds.

Photo

Pomarine Jaeger Skims the Surface

Pomarine Jaegers (Stercorarius pomarinus), also known as Pomarine Skuas, are...