General

Pigeon Guillemot: Medium-sized seabird with black body and large white wing patches interrupted by black bars. Wings are paler below. Bill is black, pointed, and long. Legs and feet are bright red. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has white face, dark eyestripe, mottled upperparts, and white underparts.

Range and Habitat

Pigeon Guillemot: Breeds on coasts and islands from southern Alaska south to southern California; spends winters offshore.

Breeding and Nesting

Pigeon Guillemot: One or two white, pale blue or yellow, dark-spotted eggs are laid in a crevice or burrow. Incubation ranges from 29 to 32 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Pigeon Guillemot: Diet consists of small fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and marine worms; forages by diving from the surface, appearing to fly underwater while searching for food.

Vocalization

Pigeon Guillemot: Song consists of high, thin whistles and squeaks.

Similar Species

Pigeon Guillemot: Black Guillemot has black bars on white wing patches. Male White-winged Scoter has duck-like bill and white on face.