Long-billed Murrelet
NameLong-billed Murrelet
Common NameLong-billed Murrelet
Scientific NameBrachyramphus perdix
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)43
Length (cm)25
Weight (g)220
Plumage DetailsIn breeding plumage, it is mottled dark brown and rufous with a pale throat. In non-breeding plumage, it is dark slate-gray above and white below, with a prominent white collar and white scapulars.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea. At nesting sites, it produces a variety of soft whistles, trills, and growls, often described as 'keer-keer' or 'krr-krr' calls.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, forest
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeBreeds in eastern Russia, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, and northern Japan. Winters along the coasts of Japan, Korea, and China, with occasional vagrants recorded along the Pacific coast of North America.
Identifying Featureslong, slender bill, mottled brown breeding plumage, distinct white collar in non-breeding plumage, small, stocky body, rapid wingbeats in flight
Description
A small, stocky seabird of the North Pacific, the Long-billed Murrelet is known for its solitary nature at sea and its unique habit of nesting in old-growth coniferous forests. It exhibits rapid, direct flight over the water.
