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Long-billed Murrelet

Brachyramphus perdix

Near Threatened · IUCN Red List

NTNear ThreatenedInvertebratesMarinePlatform nestMedium · 220 g
Long-billed Murrelet (Brachyramphus perdix), photo 1
Photo: MPF · CC BY 2.5
Long-billed Murrelet (Brachyramphus perdix), photo 2
Photo: MPF · CC BY 2.5

ID tip

The long-billed murrelet is a small (25 cm long), chunky auk with a slender black bill. It has pointed wings and plumage that varies by season. The non-breeding appearance is typically white underneath with a black crown, nape, wings and back. The breeding plumage is mainly brown, with pale feather edges giving a scaly appearance; the central underparts, normally below the surface on a swimming bird, are white. The long-billed murrelet is longer billed, slightly larger, and 20% heavier than the marbled murrelet, and has a white eye ring.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Long-billed Murrelet

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Long-billed Murrelet

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 3 countries with regular records, and 4 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.

Russia South Korea Japan

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China.

About the Long-billed Murrelet

The long-billed murrelet is a small seabird from the North Pacific. The genus name Brachyramphus is from Ancient Greek brakhus, "short", and rhamphos, "bill". The species name perdix is Latin for "partridge" Pallas described this auk as Magnitudine Perdicis. "Murrelet" is a diminutive of "murre", a word of uncertain origins, but which may imitate the call of the common guillemot.

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

Easily confused with

Kittlitz's Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) Kittlitz's MurreletBrachyramphus brevirostrisKittlitz's murrelet is a small alcid found in the waters off Alaska and Eastern Siberia. Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) Marbled MurreletBrachyramphus marmoratusThe marbled murrelet is a small (25 cm), chunky auk with a slender black bill.

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