6 to 9 m / 6 to 8 tonnes
Uncommon. The minke whale is a "small" representative of the family of baleen whales. Its slender outline allows it to reach remarkable speeds (30 km / h). It feeds on schools of fish and krill.
➢ To spot it: the birds' agitation above the surface leads one to suspect its presence; its blow is quite low (2 metres); solitary habits.
➢ To identify it: dorsal fin, falciform, fused body, white spot on the pectoral fins, very arched back and caudal not visible during immersion.

2 to 2.5 m / 70 to 135 kg
Common. It can dive up to 300 m to feed. Its diet is mainly composed of schools of fish. Its lifespan is 25 to 30 years.
➢ To spot it: near the boat (at the bow) or at a distance when it jumps or reveals its dorsal fin. Often in large groups (more than 10).
➢ To identify it: dark grey back descending in the middle of the flank, yellowish patch at the front of the flank and grey-blue patch at the rear, quite long beak, rather receding forehead, light dorsal fin with dark edges.

1.4 to 2 m / 40 to 90 kg
Uncommon. It is a coastal species that feeds on fish, octopus and squid. Longevity is 10 to 15 years.
➢ To spot it: discreet, rarely jumps. Avoiding or indifferent to boats. In a small group or individually.
➢ To identify it: dark grey above, lightening clearly on the flanks and the belly, pronounced forehead, beak almost absent, medium size dorsal fin, triangular and wide at the base.

0.5 - 3 m / 1000 kg on average.
Pelagic. The Sunfish is the largest of the bony fishes. It feeds on jellyfish, plankton, squid, crustaceans, small fish...
➢ To spot it: usually alone and offshore; detectable with its dorsal fin appearing on the surface or its white silhouette floating like a large piece of plastic. In the latter case, it is not uncommon to see gulls directly on its body to rid it of parasites.
➢ To identify it: whitish disc-shaped body, dorsal and anal fins well back and opposite each other.

0.8 - 2.5 m / 20 - 300 kg
Pelagic and migratory. Its speed (up to 90 km / h) allows it to hunt fish in schools. Its longevity is estimated between 20 and 50 years.
➢ To spot it: hunting schools of fish, it is often detected thanks to the surface swirls and the many birds attracted by the abundance of fish.Gregarious.
➢ To identify it: torpedo-shaped body, dark blue back, medium grey-blue sides and grey-white belly. When only glanced or observed at a distance, note the very compact silhouette, the narrow dorsal fin and the vertical tail to avoid confusion with a dolphin!

1.5 to 4 m / 40 to 180 kg
Common and cosmopolitan (present in almost all the seas of the globe). Its diet is very diverse: squid, fish (including other species of sharks), octopus, etc. It can live up to 16 - 20 years.
➢ To spot it: sometimes close to the boat. When the sea is calm and transparent, it is visible underwater. The caudal and dorsal fins sometimes appear on the surface.
➢ To identify it: cobalt blue head and back, whitish flanks and belly, tapered body, very long pectoral fins.

Wingspan: 72 - 82 cm
The smallest shearwater around our shores. It nests in the British Isles but also on Breton islands (archipelago of Sept-Iles, Molène, Houat).It winters off the coast of South America.
➢To spot it: with binoculars
➢To identify it: silhouette and shearwater flight (long wings kept straight, alternation of series of planes and beats of wings); differs from the Balearic Shearwater by its more "clean", contrasting and "black and white" appearance.

Wingspan: 78 - 90 cm
Surely one of the stars of Mor Braz, since we can find several hundred (even thousands) of individuals! This shearwater breeds only on the Balearic archipelago. Its population is estimated at about 20,000 individuals. The Morbihan waters play an important role in the migration and dispersal of this species considered to be in critical danger of extinction.
➢ To spot it: with binoculars, often low-flying
➢ To identify it: silhouette and shearwater (long wings kept straight, alternating series of hovers and wing beats); differs from the Manx Shearwater by its more "dirty", faded and low contrasting appearance (brown and dirty white).

Sooty Shearwater - Puffinus griseus
Wingspan: 94 - 109 cm
Perhaps the most elegant flying shearwater, with its long wings and large orbs above the waves. Present on our shores only in summer and autumn, this great migrant breeds in the South Atlantic and Oceania.
➢ To identify it: with binoculars
➢ To identify it: silhouette and shearwater flight (long wings kept straight, alternation of series of planes and beats of wings); entirely dark with the exception of the underside of the wings.

Wingspan: 100 - 118 cm
This breeding bird of the South Atlantic only shows up in France during his return migration, at the end of summer and in autumn.
➢ To spot it: with binoculars, often low-flying
➢ To identify it: silhouette and shearwater flight (long wings kept straight, alternating series of hovers and wing beats); large size, armpits marked with dark, grey-brown dark top, white collar, black bill.

Wingspan: 121 - 144 cm
This is the largest shearwater in the Mor Braz. It breeds notably in Madeira and the Azores.It frequents our coasts in summer and autumn.
➢ To spot it: with binoculars, often low-flying
➢ identify it: silhouette and shearwater flight (long wings kept straight, alternating series of hovers and wing beats); large size, medium brown top, no collar, white underside (underwings included), yellow bill.

Wingspan: 165 - 180 cm
The largest seabird of our coast, with almost a two metre wingspan for the largest individuals! Present all year long, it breeds in Brittany in the Sept-Îles archipelago. Its extraordinary fishing technique is worth a look: when it spots a school of fish, it folds its wings about 20 m from the surface, dives, catches its fish and swallows it before even returning to the surface. Seeing it always go back with an empty bill, the Scottish fishermen dubbed him "crazy".
➢ identify it: with the naked eye near the boat or with the binoculars
➢ To identify it: large size, long neck and beak, characteristic adult, entirely white excluding the tip of the black wing, the yellowish head and grey beak.

Wingspan: 36 - 39 cm
Hardly bigger than a swallow, storm petrels breed in the Mediterranean and in the north-east Atlantic (including Brittany). It is present during breeding and migration (absent in winter).
➢ To spot it: with binoculars
➢To identify it: dark hue, fluttering flight, very small size, light band under the wing, feet not exceeding the tip of the tail.

Wingspan: 38 - 42 cm
Very rare in France. Visitor in late summer / early autumn.
➢ To spot it: with binoculars
➢ To identify it: dark hue, fluttering flight, very small size, under the dark wing, feet protruding from the tip of the tail.

Wingspan: 90 - 105 cm
Close cousin of the cormorant, the shag often keeps it company on the coast. Its fishing method is close to that of the shag but the prey it consumes are smaller.
➢ To spot it: with binoculars
➢ To identify it: in flight, differs from its cousin the cormorant by its smaller size, its thin neck and its wings placed behind the centre of gravity.

Wingspan: 130 - 160 cm
Present throughout the year in Brittany, the cormorant is an excellent fisherman. It chases and captures fish by diving and swallows them on the surface.
➢ To spot it: with binoculars
➢ To identify it: in flight, differs from the shag by its greater size, thick neck and wings placed at the centre of gravity.

Wingspan: 110 - 125 cm
Like all other skuas, the parasitic skua is a true "pirate": it specialises in the theft of prey from other species of seabirds. For this, it does not hesitate to relentlessly pursue the bird on which it has set its sights, until it eventually releases or regurgitate his prey. The arctic skua is present in Brittany only during migration (April to May and August to November).
➢ To spot it: with binoculars, especially when trying to parasitise another bird.
➢ To identify it: a rather small skua (distinctly smaller than a herring gull), variable plumage (entirely dark or very contrasting), always with white patches above and below the wing. Tail tapers to a point in the adult.

Wingspan: 132 - 140 cm
Like the arctic skua, it is kleptoparasite (an animal stealing the food of another animal). Its imposing size allows it to attack large birds like the gannet. It is mostly seen from summer to early winter.
➢ To spot it: with the naked eye near the boat or binoculars, especially when trying to parasitise another bird.
➢ To identify it: silhouette of "flying barrel", evoking a squat gull, entirely dark brown with the exception of the clear white patches above and below the wing.

Wingspan: 135 - 145 cm
THE Gull par excellence, well known to all (although some still take it for a black-headed gull!). At sea, it feeds on fish (dead or alive), molluscs and crustaceans. It is present all year round.
➢ To spot it: with the naked eye near the boat or with the binoculars
➢ To identify it: adult with a rather light grey top, yellow beak, the tip of the wing marked with black, pinkish legs.

Wingspan: 152 - 167 cm
Like the herring gull, the great black-backed gull has a fairly diversified diet. Its size and powerful bill allow it to adopt predatory behaviour more frequently, compared to other seabirds. It is present all year round.
➢ To spot it: with the naked eye near the boat or with the binoculars
➢ To identify it: the largest of the gulls; adult with almost black top, very bright yellow bill and flesh-coloured legs.

Wingspan: 124 - 127 cm
Its way of life is similar to that of the herring gull. The lesser black-backed gull nevertheless has a more pronounced migratory behaviour. It is present all year round.
➢ To spot it: with the naked eye near the boat or with the binoculars
➢ To identify it: dark grey top, tip of the wing marked with black, yellow beak and legs.

Wingspan: 94 - 110 cm
Very common on the coast or inland. It is present all the year.
➢ To spot it: with the naked eye near the boat or with the binoculars
➢ To identify it: dark underside of the wing and above the grey and white with black trailing edge; dark brown head in adults

Wingspan: 98 - 105 cm
Present all the year, but becomes scarce from April to June when it leaves Brittany to join its breeding area.
➢To spot it: with the naked eye near the boat or with the binoculars
➢To identify it: the nuptial adult has a unique combination: black head and wings entirely light grey (appearing almost white)

Wingspan: 81 - 87 cm
This species of the high Arctic appears in small numbers in Brittany from the end of summer to the end of autumn. Outside the breeding season, its habits are much more pelagic than other gulls.
➢To spot it: with the binoculars
➢ To identify it: characteristic pattern on top with wide grey area on the arm and black band on the leading edge of the wing

Wingspan: 86 - 105 cm
The largest of Brittany terns. Its diet consists of small fish caught after an aerial dive. Present all year.
➢ To spot it: with binoculars
➢ To identify it: quite big, long wings, light grey upper body and wings, underside of the wing with black posterior band and top with a black patch, black tapered bill.

Wingspan: 72 - 83 cm
Large migrant, it returns to our country in March - April for breeding and leaves between August and October. It feeds on fish caught at the end of a dive.
➢ To spot it: with the binoculars
➢ To identify it: rather small, upper body and wings medium grey, below the wing with black back band and above with a black beach, red beak with black tip.

Black Scoter, Pomarine Skua, Kittiwake, Little Gull, Black Tern, Arctic Tern, Guillemot...