Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) | Photos, Calls and ID

LCLeast ConcernFish

MarineCavity nestLarge · 378 g

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle), photo 3 — Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Kelson assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle), photo 4 — Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Kelson assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain

What the Black Guillemot sounds like

Sonogram of the Black Guillemot: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.

Recorded by Doug Hynes · Call, song · Country Island, Nova Scotia, Canada · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The black guillemot is a medium-sized bird with adults normally 30 to 32 centimetres (12 to 12+1⁄2 inches) in length and with wingspans of 52 to 58 cm (20+1⁄2 to 23 in). The bodyweight can range from 300 to 460 grams (10+1⁄2 to 16 ounces). Adults have both summer and winter plumage and there is no sexual difference in this that can be identified in the field. The English common name "Black Guillemot" references their strikingly black breeding summer plumage which is totally black except for a large white patch on the upper side of their wings.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Black Guillemot

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is July, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Black Guillemot

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 20 countries with regular records, and 3 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, France, Spain.

About the Black Guillemot

The black guillemot or tystie is a medium-sized seabird of the Alcidae family, native throughout northern Atlantic coasts and eastern North American coasts. It is resident in much of its range, but large populations from the high arctic migrate southwards in winter. The bird can be seen in and around its breeding habitat of rocky shores, cliffs and islands in single or smalls groups of pairs. They feed mainly by diving towards the sea floor feeding on fish, crustaceans or other benthic invertebrates. They are listed on the IUCN red list as a species of least concern.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Pigeon GuillemotCepphus columbaThe pigeon guillemot is a medium-sized auk, 30 to 37 cm (12 to 15 in) in length and weighing 450 to 550 g (16 to 19 oz).

Spectacled GuillemotCepphus carboThis species is about 38 cm (15 in) long, with red legs, black bill, and a blackish iris.

Side by side: Black Guillemot vs Razorbill · Black Guillemot vs Pigeon Guillemot

Watch the Black Guillemot on live cams

Puffin Loafing Ledge stream preview — **Puffin Loafing Ledge**Seal Island, Maine, USA · Audubon Seabird Institute on explore.org

Guillemot Burrow Cam stream preview — **Guillemot Burrow Cam**Seal Island, Maine, USA · Audubon Seabird Institute on explore.org

Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.

Learn the Black Guillemot in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

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