Japanese Murrelet
Synthliboramphus wumizusume
The Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume) is a legendary auks, puffins, and murr found in 4 countries, weighing about 198 g. The Japanese murrelet or crested murrelet is a small seabird in the auk family that occurs along the remote rocky coasts and in the offshore waters of Japan, and may also be found after the breeding season as far as Sakhalin to the north and in particular off South Korea.
About the Japanese Murrelet
The Japanese murrelet or crested murrelet is a small seabird in the auk family that occurs along the remote rocky coasts and in the offshore waters of Japan, and may also be found after the breeding season as far as Sakhalin to the north and in particular off South Korea. With a small and declining population, estimated as of 2017 to total 2,500–10,000 individuals, it is the rarest alcid, and the most at risk of extinction.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Japanese murrelet is a smallish seabird 24–26 cm (9.4–10.2 in) in length, with a wingspan of 43 cm (17 in), and weighing some 164–183 g (5.8–6.5 oz). Its upperparts are blackish and bluish grey, its throat and underparts white, legs and feet a yellowish grey, and short, thick bill a bluish grey, the culmen being darker; the iris is a dark brown. The black head features a white stripe from the top of each eye that meets on the nape, although this is less visible in winter.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Japanese Murrelet?
- The Japanese murrelet is a smallish seabird 24–26 cm (9.4–10.2 in) in length, with a wingspan of 43 cm (17 in), and weighing some 164–183 g (5.8–6.5 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Japanese Murrelet?
- The Japanese Murrelet is a medium sized bird weighing about 198 g.
- Where can you see a Japanese Murrelet?
- The Japanese Murrelet occurs in 4 countries, including Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Russia.
- What birds look similar to a Japanese Murrelet?
- The Japanese Murrelet is most easily confused with the Guadalupe Murrelet, the Craveri's Murrelet and the Scripps's Murrelet.
- Is the Japanese Murrelet endangered?
- The Japanese Murrelet is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Japanese Murrelet for real
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