General

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. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has dark gray upperparts, white face with dark broken eye-ring, dark neck band, and white underparts; white patch on dark wings is sometimes visible on swimming birds and always visible in flight. Juvenile resembles winter adult but is paler with lightly mottled underparts and face.

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.

Breeding and 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.

Foraging and Feeding

Kittlitz's Murrelet: Eats small crustaceans and small fish; forages by diving.

Vocalization

Kittlitz's Murrelet: Call is a loud, strong squawk.

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.