#murrelets

Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus

1/18/2024 Los Angeles County, California

Photo: Eric Ellingson

"A strange, mysterious little seabird. Although it is fairly common off the northern Pacific Coast, its nesting behavior was essentially unknown until the 1970s. In the Pacific Northwest, now known to nest high in trees in old-growth forest several miles inland from coast. Even where numerous, it is usually seen on the water in pairs or aggregations of pairs, not in large flocks; pairs flush from the water in front of approaching boats, fly away low with very rapid wingbeats."

Photo: Tom Benson

"This small seabird nests on islands off the west coast of Baja, and rarely wanders north into California waters. It was formerly combined with Scripps's Murrelet under the name Xantus's Murrelet. These two are very similar in appearance as well as in habits, but the Guadalupe Murrelet has more white extending up onto the face, around the eye."

Photo: Eric Ellingson

"Elegantly marked, a diving bird of the northern Pacific Coast. More agile in flight than most auks, able to take off directly from water, flocks often banking and turning in unison. Breeding behavior unusual for a seabird: Males 'sing' at night from tree branches and other high perches at nesting colonies; the species regularly raises two young (most auks raise only one); it raises its young at sea, leading them away from the nest within a few days after they hatch. The name 'Ancient' results from gray back, with fancied resemblance to a shawl draped across an old person's shoulders."

Marbled Murrelet