Guadalupe Murrelet
Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
Small black-and-white diving seabird, unlikely to be seen from land. Usually found as singles or pairs, well offshore, and not usually associating with other seabirds. Like most small alcids, dives when alarmed or takes off and flies straight away from the boat. Very similar to Scripps’s Murrelet (the two were once lumped as Xantus’s Murrelet), but white in face more extensive, such that eye stands out in a white area rather than merging into the black cap. Underwings bright white overall, like Scripps’s but unlike dusky underwings of Craveri’s Murrelet.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
- Authority
- (Xántus, J, 1860)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Alcidae
- Genus
- Synthliboramphus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- MA : ec North Pacific coast: is. Guadalupe and San Benito (w of c Baja California, nw Mexico)
- Non-breeding range
- n to coastal n California
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Guadalupe murrelet feeds far out at sea, often in association with large pelagic predatory fish like tuna, on larval fish like anchovies, sardines and Sebastes rockfish. Like all auks it is a wing-propelled diver, chasing down prey under the water with powerful wingbeats. There is some speculation that it may feed cooperatively in pairs, as it is almost always observed in pairs, even during the non-breeding season. It flies well, and can take off without taxiing.<p>It nests in small crevices, caves and under dense bushes on arid islands in loose scattered colonies. It returns to the colony only at night, laying two eggs which are incubated for about a month. Like other synthliboramphine murrelets (e.g. the ancient murrelet) the chicks are highly precocial, leaving the nest within two days of hatching and running actively towards the sea, where the parents call to them. Once at sea the family swims to offshore waters.<p>Little is known about the time at sea due to difficulties in studying them.
Conservation
By the end of the 20th century, the Xantus's murrelet complex was considered to be among the most endangered group of auk. This has changed since, but not because the present species' status has improved, but because other auks have become rarer.<p>Guadalupe murrelet is mainly threatened by oil spills, as much of its population lives near the busy shipping lanes connecting Los Angeles to other ports. Because a large part of its small population nests in such a small area a single catastrophic oil spill could have far reaching implications. It is also threatened by introduced species such as rats and feral cats; this threat has been lessened lately by efforts to restore its habitat by removing introduced predators.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Band-bellied Crake
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Skulky and difficult to see, this medium-sized crake is often detected through its unique song, a hollow hoot-knocking that can be likened to a wood rattle or rapidfire tapping on a tiny high-pitched drum. Favors extremely well-vegetated marsh margins, often in areas with bushes and short trees, and sometimes near cultivation. If seen well, note dull gray-brown back, orange face, throat, and chest, and black-and-white striped sides. Ruddy-breasted Crake can be very similar, but note Band-bellied’s grayer back, duller red legs, more extensive white barring on the sides, and white-striped coverts (not always visible).
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