Black Guillemot vs Thick-billed Murre

Cepphus grylle compared with Uria lomvia

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Black Guillemot Thick-billed Murre
Scientific Name Cepphus grylle Uria lomvia
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Alcidae Alcidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 30.8 cm (12.1 in) 41.4 cm (16.3 in)
Weight 421.8666666666666 g (14.88 oz) 945.75 g (33.36 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1-2 1
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Black Guillemot only

None

Thick-billed Murre only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Black Guillemot

Least Concern

Thick-billed Murre

About These Birds

Black Guillemot

Black Guillemot, 30–32 cm, is a compact North Atlantic alcid, distinctive in summer: entirely black with bold white wing patches and vivid red feet. Resident on rocky Arctic and boreal shores year-round; does not undertake long pelagic migrations. Dives to 50 m for blennies and sand eels near shore.

Thick-billed Murre

Thick-billed Murre (Brünnich's Guillemot), 39–43 cm, breeds in enormous cliff colonies across the Arctic from Newfoundland to Siberia. Thicker, shorter bill with white gape line. Dives to 200+ m — deepest diver among alcids. Piscivore; takes capelin, cod. Vulnerable to climate change in the High Arctic.

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