Ancient Murrelet vs Common Murre
Synthliboramphus antiquus compared with Uria aalge
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ancient Murrelet | Common Murre |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Synthliboramphus antiquus | Uria aalge |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.1 cm (10.7 in) | 39.3 cm (15.5 in) |
| Weight | 208.16666666666666 g (7.34 oz) | 984.0 g (34.71 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Ancient Murrelet
Least Concern
Common Murre
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.
Common Murre
Common Murre, 38–46 cm, is among the most abundant seabirds in the North Atlantic and Pacific. Breeds on cliff ledges in huge colonies; single pear-shaped egg rolls in a circle rather than off the ledge. Piscivore; dives to 180 m for fish. Flies with rapid wingbeats; waddling gait on land.