Thick-billed Murre
NameThick-billed Murre
Common NameThick-billed Murre
Scientific NameUria lomvia
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)69.5
Length (cm)44
Weight (g)1100
Plumage DetailsIn breeding plumage, the Thick-billed Murre has a solid black head, neck, back, and wings, contrasting sharply with a pure white belly and flanks. A key feature is a thin white stripe along the gape (mouth line) extending towards the eye. Non-breeding birds have more white on the face and throat.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations are typically deep, guttural growls, grunts, and purrs, especially heard in their noisy breeding colonies. They are generally silent at sea.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeCircumpolar in the Arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, breeding on coasts of North America, Greenland, Iceland, Europe, and Asia.
Identifying FeaturesThick, dark bill, White stripe along gape (breeding plumage), Black head, neck, and back, White belly, Upright posture on land
Description
The Thick-billed Murre is a medium-sized seabird with a distinctive black and white plumage, adept at diving for food in cold northern waters. It spends most of its life at sea, coming to land only to breed in dense colonies on coastal cliffs.
