While songbirds could be found in every wood, field and garden, sea birds were less well known to the average Victorian (except, presumably, the Victorian who lived by the sea!) Several of the articles below take advantage of the new art of photography to capture images of the great concentrations of sea-birds on various coastal rocks and islands. Fresh-water birds were often regarded primarily as game birds, and articles about these tend to focus on their value for hunting.

A Trip to Ailsa Crag (Leisure Hour, 1868)

The sea-bird life on a great rock island off the coast of Scotland.

Among the Waterfowl of the West (Harper's Monthly, 1874-Nov)

In the Cave of the Guapacos (Demorest, 1882)

Inside a cave filled with sea-birds in the Andes.

Sea-Birds at the Farne Islands [Northumberland], by Bryan Hook (Century Magazine, 1886B)

The Ways of Wagtails (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887)

Flying Underwater, by John R. Coryell (Harper's Monthly, 1889A)

Some unusual water birds from around the world.

The Frigate-Bird (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

Michaelmas Geese (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

A look at geese overall, historic, domestic, and wild.

Mound-Making Birds (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

A look at a number of exotic jungle and riverine birds.

Wading Birds (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

River Birds, by M.G. Watkins (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1891)

Bird Dwellers by the Sea, by F.A. Fulcher (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1892)

The Camera Amongst Sea-Birds, by Benjamin Wyles (The Strand, 1892B)

A Sea-Farer's Home [The Rock-Pipit], by F.A. Fulcher (Argosy, 1893)

Zig-Zags at the Zoo 4: Zig-Zag Miscellavian, by Arthur Morrison and J.A. Shepherd (The Strand, 1892)**

Herons, flamingos, and other wading birds.

Zig-Zags at the Zoo 9: Zig-Zag Conkavian , by Arthur Morrison and J.A. Shepherd (The Strand, 1893)**

Pelicans, storks, etc.

Sea-Birds at Home, by R.B. Lodge (Windsor Magazine, 1896B)

Tame Moor-Hens (Good Words, 1902)

See also:

• Song Birds & Game Birds

• Bird Species

• Bird Stories

**See the complete ZigZags at the Zoo series.