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Pelagic Definition

Pelagic is a complicated term for a rather simple concept: the open sea. Birds that live primarily on the open sea rather than on land or inland waters are occasionally referred to as pelagic birds, but that's essentially an interchangeable term with oceanic birds.

Identification
- Pelagic comes from the Greek term pelagikos, which means "open sea." Specifically, the pelagic zone refers to the entire ocean water column, from top to bottom.
Fun Fact
- Of all the zones on earth where life resides, the pelagic zone, measuring 330,000,000 cubic miles with a range of 36,000 vertical feet, is the largest.
Types
- Pelagic birds include puffins, albatrosses, gannets, boobies, petrels and fulmars.
Pelagic vs. Coastal
- Some consider seabirds the same as pelagic birds, but there is a distinction. Seabirds include coastal birds, but pelagic birds refer to only those residing on the open ocean.
Birding
- Pelagic birds are a favorite of birding enthusiasts worldwide. Popular pelagic birding destinations include North Carolina, New England, Cape Town and the Gulf Coast.

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