Ancient Murrelet vs Japanese Murrelet

Synthliboramphus antiquus compared with Synthliboramphus wumizusume

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Ancient Murrelet Japanese Murrelet
Scientific Name Synthliboramphus antiquus Synthliboramphus wumizusume
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Alcidae Alcidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Vulnerable
Length
Wingspan 27.1 cm (10.7 in) 24.0 cm (9.4 in)
Weight 208.16666666666666 g (7.34 oz) 171.6 g (6.05 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2 1-2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Ancient Murrelet only

Japanese Murrelet only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Ancient Murrelet

Vulnerable

Japanese Murrelet

About These Birds

Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet, 24–27 cm, breeds in burrows on North Pacific islands from British Columbia to Japan. Black hood, grey back, white underparts with yellow bill. Nocturnal at colonies to avoid predators. Chicks lead-march to sea within days of hatching — abandoning the nest very early. Planktivore and piscivore.

Japanese Murrelet

Japanese Murrelet, 26–28 cm, is a Vulnerable alcid endemic to Japan, breeding on rocky islets in the Pacific. Black head with a small white supercilium stripe; grey back. Nests in rock crevices; chicks led to sea while still tiny. Piscivore; threatened by gill-net bycatch and feral predators on islands.

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