Kittlitz's Murrelet

Brachyramphus brevirostrisOrder: CHARADRIIFORMES Family: Auks, Murres and Puffins (Alcidae)

Codes: Common Name: KIMU Scientific Name: BRABRE ITIS Taxonomic No.: 176998

Kittlitz's Murrelet: The breeding adult Kittlitz’s Murrelet is mottled brown and white overall with paler belly, dark wings, and a short, dark white-edged tail. The bill is black and pointed.

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Overview

Kittlitz's Murrelet: Small, chubby seabird, mottled brown and white overall with paler belly, dark wings and short, dark white-edged tail. Dark bill is short and pointed. Legs and feet are black. Dives and swims with wings when submerged. Feeds on small crustaceans and fish.

Range and Habitat

Kittlitz's Murrelet: Breeds on coasts of Bering Sea, Aleutians, and southeastern Alaska; also in Asia. Nests on talus slopes of high mountains; winters on ocean waters and glacier bays.

Topo Map: Upright-perching Water-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"squawk"

Interesting Facts

The critically endangered Kittlitz’s Murrelet is unusual for seabirds in that it is not colonial, nesting instead in isolated locations on mountain tops.

This bird was known by Native Americans for many years before ornithologists, skeptical of their existence, were convinced to research them.

The common name for this species commemorates the German zoologist Heinrich von Kittlitz, who collected the first specimen.

A group of auks has many collective nouns, including a "colony", "loomery", and "raft" of auks.

Bird Term Glossary

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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 forbidden.

Kittlitz's Murrelet

● Song: "squawk"

● Foraging & Feeding: Kittlitz's Murrelet: Eats small crustaceans and small fish; forages by diving.

● Breeding & nesting: Kittlitz's Murrelet: One olive, blue-green, or yellow-green egg is laid in a nest on bare rock well away from the ocean. Eggs are incubated for about 15 days by both parents.

● Similar species: Kittlitz's Murrelet: In summer, Marbled Murrelet has longer bill, less white on belly, darker, more rufous back, and lacks white on tail feathers; in winter, has partial collar, black back of neck, and black cap extending below bill.

Flight Pattern

Flies up from water rapidly and skims close to surface on rapidly whirring wings.

Kittlitz's Murrelet Breeding Adult Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Kittlitz's Murrelet: Breeds on coasts of Bering Sea, Aleutians, and southeastern Alaska; also in Asia. Nests on talus slopes of high mountains; winters on ocean waters and glacier bays.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationFairly common, but local, Accidental

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight7.9 Ounces

Upright-perching Water-like Body

Belly

The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America