Common Murre
Image: breckencreatures (cc-by-nc)
NameCommon Murre
Common NameCommon Murre
Scientific NameUria aalge
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)67
Length (cm)42
Weight (g)975
Plumage DetailsAdults have dark brown to black upperparts, head, and neck, contrasting sharply with clean white underparts. Some individuals exhibit a 'bridled' morph with a white eye-ring and a thin white line extending behind the eye.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations are typically guttural growls, rumbles, and grunts, often described as 'arrr' or 'karrr', especially heard at noisy breeding colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal waters, open ocean, rocky cliffs
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in temperate and boreal regions of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, including coasts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters at sea, often near breeding grounds but can disperse widely.
Identifying Featuresdark brown/black upperparts and head, white underparts, long, pointed, slender bill, torpedo-shaped body, upright posture when on land, powerful underwater swimmer, some individuals have a white eye-ring and stripe (bridled morph)
Description
The Common Murre is a large seabird with a sleek, torpedo-shaped body, highly adapted for diving and underwater pursuit of prey. They spend most of their lives at sea, congregating on crowded cliff ledges only during the breeding season.
