Common Guillemot
The Common Guillemot, or Common Murre, is among the most abundant seabirds in the Northern Hemisphere.
Facts about Common Guillemot
- Arctic
- Canada
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Jan Mayen
- Svalbard
- Europe
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Portugal
- Norway
- Scotland
- Spain
Common Guillemot Quick Overview
Scientific Name: Uria aalge
Population: Estimated at 18 million globally
Regions: Temperate and sub-Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and parts of the Arctic Ocean
Destinations: Jan Mayen, Iceland, Canada, Svalbard, Greenland, Denmark, France, Norway, Spain, Portugal, England, Scotland
Average Length: Adult: Males & Females: ~41 cm (16 in) – they are sexually monomorphic; Newborn: ~6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) at hatching
Average Weight: Adult: ~900–1100 g (2.0–2.4 lbs); Newborn:~60–90 g (2.1–3.2 oz)
Diet Habits: Primarily small fish such as capelin, sand lance, sprat, and herring, but also consumes crustaceans and marine worms
Common Guillemot Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Uria
Species: Uria aalge
Common Guillemot Explorer Passport
English: Common Guillemot / Common Murre
Danish: Lomvie
Chinese: 普通海鸦
Swedish: Sillgrissla
Finnish: Etelänkiisla
Norwegian: Lomvi
Polish: Nurnik zwyczajny
Japanese: ウミガラス (Umigarasu)
Spanish: Arao común
French: Guillemot de Troïl
Unlocking the Secrets of the Common Guillemot
Where does the Common Guillemot live?
The Common Murre's environment is the temperate and colder regions of the northern hemisphere, with large populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and adjacent areas of the Arctic Ocean. In the northeast Atlantic, its range extends from Portugal in the south to Svalbard and Novaya Zemlya in the north and includes the Baltic. Bjørnøya is the most significant breeding area for the Common Guillemot in Svalbard and the entire Barents Sea.
What does a Common Guillemot look like?
Common Murres characteristics for males and females are very similar. They have identical external appearances, with adult birds measuring 41 cm in length and weighing between 900 and 1100g. Their upper parts are brown-black, while their under parts are white. In breeding plumage, the entire head is dark, and the white breast forms a sharp peak towards the dark throat. Some individuals, referred to as the ”bridled” morph, exhibit a white ring around the eye and a white stripe extending backwards from the eye towards the neck. The occurrence of the bridled morph increases from nearly 0% at the southernmost part of the species’ range to over 50% in the northern region of Svalbard.
READ MORE: YOUR GUIDE TO THE LIFE AND FACTS OF ARCTIC SKUAS
What distinguishes a Common Guillemot from a Brünnich Guillemot?
The Common Guillemot differs from the Brünnich's Guillemot by having a longer, more pointed bill without the white stripe at the base of the upper mandible, as well as dark mottled markings along the flanks. In winter, its neck and sides of the head are white, featuring a dark stripe that extends from the eye across the ear-coverts. Juveniles closely resemble adult winter plumage but have shorter bills.
What does the Common Guillemot eat?
As piscivorous and foraging seabirds, Common Guillemots primarily feed on small fish such as capelin, sand lance, sprat, and herring. They also consume marine invertebrates like crustaceans and marine worms, especially when fish are less available.
Two Common Guillemots glide gracefully through calm Arctic waters
How Many of These 10 Common Guillemot Facts Did You Already Know?
Common Guillemot Fact #1:
Northern ocean cliffs are the usual Common Murre habitat.
Common Guillemot Fact #2:
Common Murre predators include gulls and foxes, particularly during the nesting season.
Common Guillemot Fact #3:
An alternative name for the Common Murre is the Common Guillemot, especially in Europe.
Common Guillemot Fact #4:
A Common Murre egg is pear-shaped and has many different colour variations, including white, brown, pale blue, and shades from light to dark green.
Common Guillemot Fact #5:
The common murre population is about 18 million worldwide.
Common Guillemot Fact #6:
A Common Murre egg size averages about 3.5 inches (9 cm) in length.
Common Guillemot Fact #7:
Common Murre winter plumage features a white face and throat, replacing the dark head they wear in summer.
Common Guillemot Fact #8:
The Common Murre diet mainly consists of small fish such as herring and capelin.
Common Guillemot Fact #9:
A Common Murre baby leaps off the cliff shortly after hatching—long before it can fly!
Common Guillemot Fact #10:
The Common Murre has a lifespan of about 20 years in the wild.
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