Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylle
The Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) is a common auks, puffins, and murr found in 23 countries, weighing about 378 g. The black guillemot or tystie is a medium-sized seabird of the Alcidae family, native throughout northern Atlantic coasts and eastern North American coasts.
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.
How to identify it
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.
What the Black Guillemot sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Black Guillemot can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Black Guillemot on live cams
- Puffin Loafing LedgeSeal Island, Maine, USA · Streaming now
- Guillemot Burrow CamSeal Island, Maine, USA · Streaming now
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black Guillemot?
- 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). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black Guillemot?
- The Black Guillemot is a large sized bird weighing about 378 g.
- Where can you see a Black Guillemot?
- The Black Guillemot occurs in 23 countries, including Canada, Sweden, the United States, Norway and Finland.
- What does a Black Guillemot sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Black Guillemot on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Black Guillemot?
- The Black Guillemot is most easily confused with the Pigeon Guillemot and the Spectacled Guillemot.
- Is the Black Guillemot endangered?
- The Black Guillemot is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black Guillemot for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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