Are Murres endangered?

What is the scientific name for a murre bird?

Murres 1 Guillemots 2 Alcidae. The murres are members of the auk family and in North America there are two species of this seabird. 3 References to Other Bird Sites: These are links to websites pertaining to the different birding institutions, societies and organizations here in North America.

What does a common murre look like?

Nonbreeding adults have a pale throat and face with a dark line behind the eye. Some Atlantic adults in breeding plumage have a “bridle”: a white eyering with white line extending behind it. Common Murres typically nest in dense, busy colonies crowded onto high cliff ledges. They fly with very rapid wingbeats to keep their heavy bodies aloft.

How many species of murres are there?

The murres are members of the auk family and in North America there are two species of this seabird. The Common Murre and the sub-species Bridled Common Murre are regarded as the same species.

Where do common murres breed?

Almost 90% of eastern North American common murres breed in Newfoundland, with about 67% (400 000 to 450 000 pairs) at Funk Island . Breeding distribution of thick-bills is also restricted; most breed at 11 sites in the eastern Arctic.

What is a thick billed murre?

The Thick-billed Murre is the second type. This bird is of a similar size to the Common Murre with the same black and white colouring. It is identified by its larger bill and a white line starting from the corner of its bill to below its eyes.

What are the different types of murres?

Two species of murre reside in the park: the common murre and the thick-billed murre. We see the common murre most frequently, usually at close range along the edge of nesting sites on rocky cliffs. The common murre is dark brown, appearing black, on its head, back, and wings.

How do common murres recognize their own eggs?

The high degree of variation in color and markings of Common Murre eggs may allow parent murres to recognize their own egg when they return to the colony from time at sea. The egg of a Common Murre is so pointed at one end that when placed on a flat surface and pushed, it rolls around in a circle.

Do murres make nests?

Common murres do not make nests and lay their eggs on bare rock ledges, under rocks, or the ground. They first breed at four to nine years old, but most individuals recruit into the breeding population at ages six or seven, although birds may disperse (permanently depart their natal colony) if space is limited.

What happened to the common murre bird?

— BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2021 With plankton depleted, many species on which the murre depend for prey saw declines in body condition. — oregonlive, 21 Jan. 2020 The birds – a species known as the common murre – likely died of starvation due to the warm water, which severely disrupted the birds’ food supply.

How does a thick billed murre fly?

The thick-billed murre’s flight is strong and direct, and they have fast wing beats due to the short wings. Like the other auks, these birds forage for food by using their wings to ‘swim’ underwater.

How do thick-billed murres breed?

Thick-billed murres form vast breeding colonies, sometimes composed of over a million breeding birds, on narrow ledges and steep cliffs which face the water. They have the smallest territory of any bird, requiring less than one square foot per individual. A breeding pair will lay a single egg each year.

What is the difference between a common murre and a thick-billed murre?

Their sharp, slender bill is often pointed upwards. The common murre weighs just over two pounds and is 17.5 inches long with a wingspan up to 26 inches. The thick-billed murre, which is rare in the park, is more robust than the common, with a heavier head and neck.

How long can a murre bird stay underwater?

These surface divers can remain underwater for up to one minute before returning to the surface to breathe. Common murres typically spend their winters close to their breeding grounds, often alongside other nesting birds including Atlantic puffins and storm petrels .

Where do murres live in the US?

Cape Meares, Oregon is home to one of the most populous colonies of nesting common murres on the North American continent. Nominate subspecies, eastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, northern Ireland and Britain, southern Norway, possibly New England or a separate subspecies.

What is the genus and species of the murre?

The common murre is placed in the guillemot (murre) genus Uria ( Brisson, 1760), which it shares with the thick-billed murre or Brunnich’s guillemot, U. lomvia. These species, together with the razorbill, little auk and the extinct great auk make up the tribe Alcini. This arrangement was originally based on analyses of auk morphology and ecology.

How many different types of murres are there?

There are only two murre species, the common murre and the thick-billed murre, both of which are found in northern oceans. These species are part of the Alcidae bird family with other types of auks, including puffins and guillemots.

What is the difference between a thick billed murre and a bill murre?

Bill is longer and more slender than similar Thick-billed Murre; but can be difficult to judge at a distance. Also note browner plumage and streaky sides on Common Murre. Breeds in colonies on rocky islands and cliffs; spends the rest of the year on the ocean.

How do common murres fly?

Common Murres typically nest in dense, busy colonies crowded onto high cliff ledges. They fly with very rapid wingbeats to keep their heavy bodies aloft. They typically sit on the ocean surface between making deep dives for fish during which they flap their wings for propulsion.

How fast can a thick-billed murre fly?

The thick-billed murre swims far better than it flies. Takeoff is awkward, but once it’s airborne, the thick-billed murre can fly at about 75 miles an hour.

How do thick-billed murres leave the nest cliff?

Young Thick-billed Murres leave the nest cliff while still flightless and only about a fourth the size of an adult. Encouraged by their father, they take a seemingly death-defying leap off their nest ledge and use their tiny, undeveloped wings to glide and flutter downward.

Where is the best place to see thick-billed murres?

A bustling colony of Thick-billed Murres is a thrilling sight—Alaska, Newfoundland, and Iceland are good places to take such a trip. In winter, pelagic (ocean-going) birding trips in New York or New England waters may turn up Thick-billed Murres.

Where do common murres live?

Cape Meares, Oregon is home to one of the most populous colonies of nesting common murres on the North American continent. Nominate subspecies, eastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, northern Ireland and Britain, southern Norway, possibly New England or a separate subspecies.

What is a thick billed murre called?

In areas such as Newfoundland and Labrador, the birds, along with the related thick-billed murre, are referred to as ‘turrs’ or ‘tuirs’, and are consumed. The meat is dark and quite oily, due to the birds’ diet of fish.

Where can I see the murre?

The thick-billed murre predominates from the Aleutians northward. The murre is seen in greater numbers on the bay tour than on an all day tour. The south side of Cape Resurrection has birds nesting on many ledges and in caves. Barwell Island is the most populated murre nesting site in our area.