Ancient MurreletSynthliboramphus antiquusSmall seabird with attractive grayscale pattern. Mostly black head set off by white collar, pencil-thin white streaks which form an eyebrow, and gray back. Sides show a scaly pattern. Short bill has a pale yellow tip. All plumages are fairly similar; breeding birds show bolder eyebrow streaks and darker throat. Breeds on offshore islands; found in small flocks on coastal waters. Dives underwater for fish.Alcidae bird family
Order Charadriiformes · 9 selected species
Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.
Ancient MurreletSynthliboramphus antiquusSmall seabird with attractive grayscale pattern. Mostly black head set off by white collar, pencil-thin white streaks which form an eyebrow, and gray back. Sides show a scaly pattern. Short bill has a pale yellow tip. All plumages are fairly similar; breeding birds show bolder eyebrow streaks and darker throat. Breeds on offshore islands; found in small flocks on coastal waters. Dives underwater for fish.
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaChunky seabird, the shape of a football. Black above and white below with pearly face and thick multicolored bill. Orange legs and feet. Nonbreeding and young birds show darker face and duller bill. In breeding season, rarely seen far from breeding colonies on rocky islands and cliffs in the North Atlantic. Winters on open ocean, almost never seen from land. Distinctive if seen well; the only puffin in its range.
Common MurreUria aalgeBlack-and-white seabird with crisp patterning. Dark brownish-black above with white belly. Head entirely dark in breeding plumage; nonbreeding show white face with curved dark line below eye. Sides usually show some messy dark streaks. 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. Usually single or in loose small groups; in the Atlantic, sometimes seen in loose association with Razorbills.
Crested AukletAethia cristatellaDumpy, dark alcid with pale eyes; very small, only slightly larger than a sparrow. Note the thin white “whiskers” trailing backwards from behind each eye. Breeding birds are dark gray-black overall, with a droopy forward-arching crest and a bright orange bill with an uptilted gape which gives them a maniacally grinning appearance. Non-breeding adults and immatures are duller, with a smaller, darker bill and the barest hints of a crest. Breeds in immense colonies on remote rocky islands and forages out at sea. Very vocal at colonies, but also gives occasional yapping barks when out foraging in groups.
Japanese MurreletSynthliboramphus wumizusumeSmall, plump seabird of marine habitats, closer to shore during breeding season, in open waters otherwise; occasionally visits inlets and harbors, especially in late winter and spring. Similar to thinner-billed Ancient Murrelet, both being gray above, white below, darker flight feathers and white underwing coverts. In nonbreeding plumage, Japanese has white throat and lores, white stippling in crown; in breeding plumage, white plumes in crest much broader than Ancient. Sharp “chi-chi-chi” call recalls buntings’ flight calls.Japanese MurreletSynthliboramphus wumizusumeSmall, plump seabird of marine habitats, closer to shore during breeding season, in open waters otherwise; occasionally visits inlets and harbors, especially in late winter and spring. Similar to thinner-billed Ancient Murrelet, both being gray above, white below, darker flight feathers and white underwing coverts. In nonbreeding plumage, Japanese has white throat and lores, white stippling in crown; in breeding plumage, white plumes in crest much broader than Ancient. Sharp “chi-chi-chi” call recalls buntings’ flight calls.
Marbled MurreletBrachyramphus marmoratusSmall seabird that breeds in old-growth evergreen forests, sometimes far from the coast. Often in small flocks on coastal waters, where it dives underwater searching for fish. Breeding plumage is dark brown with few contrasting marks; slightly darker cap and blotchy pale belly. Nonbreeding birds are sharply patterned black, white, and gray. Note black cap that extends below the eye, a white collar, and dark grayish pattern on back. Bill is very short and thin. Similar to several other species of murrelets and difficult to distinguish without good views, but note details of face pattern and range.
RazorbillAlca tordaBlack-and-white seabird with a thick and blunt bill. Breeds in colonies on rocky islands; winters on the ocean. Black above and white below with thin white line in front of eye. In winter, white throat wraps up behind eye, but pattern is less crisp than on Common Murre. Similar to other murres but note different bill shape and longer tail that is sometimes held up. Found singly or in flocks. Sometimes seen from shore in large numbers following the passage of a winter storm. Frequently dives underwater searching for fish.
Tufted PuffinFratercula cirrhataThe largest puffin, this chunky seabird has an entirely black body, white face, and fetching tuft of yellowish feathers curling around its nape. Thick orange bill and orange feet. Nonbreeding and young birds have reduced yellow tuft, gray face, and smaller, duller bill. Young birds could be confused with Rhinoceros Auklet, but bill is longer and thicker. Horned Puffin smaller with white underparts. Breeds in colonies on rocky islands and cliffs, further south than Horned Puffin. Winters on open ocean.