Ancient Murrelet

Synthliboramphus antiquus

Order

CHARADRIIFORMES

Family

Auks, Murres and Puffins (Alcidae)

Code 4

ANMU

Code 6

SYNANT

ITIS

Breeding Location:

Lakes, Rocky places, Rivers

Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Colonial

Breeding Population:

Uncommon to common

Egg Color:

Light to olive brown, sometimes speckled.

Number of Eggs:

Incubation Days:

Egg Incubator:

Both sexes

Nest Material:

Lined with dry grass, twigs, and leaves.

Migration:

Nonmigratory

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General

Ancient Murrelet: Small, pelagic seabird with black head and dark gray back and wings. White underparts extend up onto face as a cheek patch. Bill is short and yellow. Sexes are similar. An open ocean species vaguely resembling a small penguin that can fly.

Range and Habitat

Ancient Murrelet: Breeds on offshore islets of north Pacific and mainland shores south to central British Columbia. Spends winters south to southern California; also winters in Asia.

Breeding and Nesting

Ancient Murrelet: One to two large, light to olive brown eggs, sometimes speckled with blue and brown, are laid in a nest made of dried grass in a burrow or fallen log from late April to mid-May. Incubation ranges from 33 to 36 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Ancient Murrelet: Diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks; forages by diving from the surface.

Vocalization

Ancient Murrelet: Emits low, shrill whistling notes.

Similar Species

Ancient Murrelet: Marbled Murrelet has dark bill and white patch on flanks.

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden2.

Field Guide to Birds of North America