Common Murre vs Thick-billed Murre

Common Murre

Uria aalge

Large992 gMarine

The common murre is 38–46 cm (15–18 in) in length with a 61–73 cm (24–29 in) wingspan. Male and female are indistinguishable in the field and weight ranges between 945 g (2 lb 1+1⁄2 oz) in the south of their range and 1,044 g (2 lb 5 oz) in the north. A weight range of 775–1,250 g (1 lb 11+1⁄2 oz – 2 lb 12 oz) has been reported. In breeding plumage, the nominate subspecies U. a. aalge is black on the head, back and wings, and has white underparts. It has a thin dark pointed bill and a small rounded black tail.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Call · Fréhel, Cotes-d'Armor, Brittany, France · CC0

Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0

Thick-billed Murre

Uria lomvia

Large964 gMarine

Since the extinction of the great auk in the mid-19th century, the murres are the largest living members of the Alcidae. The thick-billed murre and the closely related common guillemot (or common murre, U. aalge) are similarly sized, but the thick-billed still bests the other species in both average and maximum size. The thick-billed murre measures 40–48 cm (16–19 in) in total length, spans 64–81 cm (25–32 in) across the wings and weighs 736–1,481 g (26.0–52.2 oz). The Pacific race (U. l. arra) is larger than the Atlantic race, especially in bill dimensions.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by steve · Call · Svalbard, Norway · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sowls, Art - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Common Murre and Thick-billed Murre.