Brünnich’s Guillemot
Brünnich’s Guillemot, also known as the Thick-Billed Murre, is one of the most numerous seabirds in the Northern Hemisphere.
Facts about Brünnich’s Guillemot
- Arctic
- Canada
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Jan Mayen
- Svalbard
- Europe
- Norway
Brünnich’s Guillemot Quick Overview
Scientific Name: Uria lomvia
Population: Estimated at 15–20 million globally
Regions: Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere
Destinations: Jan Mayen, Iceland, Canada, Svalbard, Greenland, Norway
Average Length: Adult: Males: ~0.43 m (1.4 ft), Females:~0.41 m (1.35 ft); Newborn: ~6.5 cm (0.2 ft)
Average Weight: Adult: Males:~1.1 kg (2.4 lbs), Females: ~0.9 kg (2.0 lbs); Newborn: ~70–80 g (0.15–0.18 lbs)
Diet Habits: Primarily Arctic cod and sand lance, but also crustaceans and small cephalopods
Brünnich’s Guillemot Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Uria
Species: Uria lomvia
Brünnich’s Guillemot Explorer Passport
English: Brünnich’s Guillemot / Thick-billed Murre
Danish: Polarlomvie
Chinese: 厚嘴海鸦 (Hòu zuǐ hǎiyā)
Swedish: Spetsnäbbad simfågel
Finnish: Paksunokkaliitäjä
Norwegian: Polarlomvi
Polish: Nurzyk grubodzioby
Japanese: ハシブトウミガラス (Hashibuto-umigarasu)
Spanish: Arao de Brünnich / Arao de pico grueso
French: Guillemot de Brünnich / Guillemot à bec épais
Unlocking the Secrets of the Brünnich’s Guillemot
Where does the Brünnich’s Guillemot live?
Brünnich’s Guillemots are typically found in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, inhabiting various waters, including those of Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland (Canada). However, many remain in the Barents Sea year-round.
What does a Brünnich’s Guillemot look like?
The Brünnich’s Guillemot is a stout, sturdily built black and white auk. The largest of the auks, measuring 40-44 cm long, with a wingspan of 64-75 cm and weighing between 800 and 1,100 g, where the male is the largest. It is black on the upper side and white on the underside, while the pointed beak is strong and with white edges. Its legs and feet are grey and can be seen behind the tail in flight.
What does the Brünnich’s Guillemot eat?
They mostly feed on arctic cod and sand lance, but also crustaceans and small cephalopods.
Thick-Billed Murre vs Common Murre: What are the differences between these two birds?
The Brünnich’s Guillemot is distinguishable from the Common Guillemot by its shorter and thicker bill, which has a white line along the sides of the upper mandible, and by the absence of dark mottling on the flanks. In breeding plumage, the head, neck, and back are black, while the underparts are white. The white breast forms a narrow wedge towards the dark foreneck. In winter plumage, the neck and throat are white, but contrary to the Common Guillemot, the darker colouring of the head extends well below the eye and down to the cheeks. The juvenile resembles the adult in winter plumage, but its bill is smaller.
A group of Brünnich’s Guillemots huddles tightly on a narrow cliff
How Many of These 10 Brünnich’s Guillemot Facts Did You Already Know?
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #1:
Thick-billed murre dive can reach over 200 meters deep into the water.
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #2:
The thick-billed murre is like a charming little penguin, but what's really special is that it can actually fly!
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #3:
The rocky Arctic cliffs are the ideal thick-billed murre habitat.
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #4:
The thick-billed murre range stretches across the entire Arctic Circle.
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #5:
A thick-billed murre egg is pear-shaped to keep it from rolling off cliffs.
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #6:
Thick-billed murres breed in midsummer and lay a single large egg.
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #7:
They can remain submerged for 4 minutes during a single dive.
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #8:
According to IUCN, the conservation status of the thick-billed murre is of low concern.
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #9:
Brünnich’s Guillemots can also be distinguished from the Common Guillemot by their smaller size.
Brünnich’s Guillemot Fact #10:
It is among the most numerous seabirds in the northern hemisphere.
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