DSC5129 Guillemot... - a photo on Flickriver

            Guillemot /Murre - Uria aalge

The common murre or common guillemot (Uria aalge) is a large auk. It is also known as the thin-billed murre in North America. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring in low-Arctic and boreal waters in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. It spends most of its time at sea, only coming to land to breed on rocky cliff shores or islands.

Common murres have fast direct flight but are not very agile. They are more manoeuvrable underwater, typically diving to depths of 30–60 m (98–197 ft). Depths of up to 180 m (590 ft) have been recorded.

Common murres breed in colonies at high densities. Nesting pairs may be in bodily contact with their neighbours. They make no nest; their single egg is incubated on a bare rock ledge on a cliff face. Eggs hatch after ~30 days incubation. The chick is born downy and can regulate its body temperature after 10 days. Some 20 days after hatching the chick leaves its nesting ledge and heads for the sea, unable to fly, but gliding for some distance with fluttering wings, accompanied by its male parent. Chicks are capable of diving as soon as they hit the water. The female stays at the nest site for some 14 days after the chick has left.

Both male and female common murres moult after breeding and become flightless for 1–2 months. In southern populations they occasionally return to the nest site throughout the winter. Northern populations spend the winter farther from their colonies. 

Some individuals in the North Atlantic, known as "bridled guillemots", have a white ring around the eye extending back as a white line. This is not a distinct subspecies, but a polymorphism that becomes more common the farther north the birds breed.

The common murre nests in densely packed colonies (known as "loomeries"), with up to twenty pairs occupying one square metre at peak season.[citation needed] Common murres do not make nests and lay their eggs on bare rock ledges, under rocks, or the ground. They first breed at four to nine years old, but most individuals recruit into the breeding population at ages six or seven, although birds may disperse (permanently depart their natal colony) if space is limited. Annual survival probability for birds aged 6–15 is 0.895, and average lifespan is about 20 years. Breeding success increases with age up to age 9-10 to 0.7 fledglings per pair, then declines in the oldest age birds, perhaps indicating reproductive senesence.

High densities mean that birds are close contact with neighbouring breeders. Common murres perform appeasement displays more often at high densities and more often than razorbills.

 Allopreening is common both between mates and between neighbours. Allopreening helps to reduce parasites, and it may also have important social functions. Frequency of allopreening a neighbour correlates well with current breeding success.
Allopreening may function as a stress-reducer; ledges with low levels of allopreening show increased levels of fighting and reduced breeding success. 

Alloparenting behaviour is frequently observed. Non-breeding and failed breeders show great interest in other chicks, and will attempt to brood or feed them. This activity is more common as the chicks get older and begin to explore their ledge. There has also been a record of a pair managing to raise two chicks. Adults that have lost chicks or eggs will sometimes bring fish to the nest site and try to feed their imaginary chick.

At time of extreme food stress, the social activity of the breeding ledge can break down. 

On the Isle of May colony in 2007, food availability was low. Adults spent more of their time-budget foraging for their chicks and had to leave them unattended at times. Unattended chicks were attacked by breeding neighbour which often led to their deaths. Non-breeding and failed breeders continued to show alloparental care. 

In areas such as Newfoundland, the birds, along with the related thick-billed murre, are referred to as 'turrs' or 'tuirs', and are consumed. The meat is dark and quite oily, due to the birds' diet of fish. Eggs have also been harvested.
 Eggers from San Francisco took almost half a million eggs a year from the Farallon Islands in the mid-19th century to feed the growing city.

Population:

UK breeding:
    950,000 pairs

Taken on: May 20, 2022

Tags:

Guillemot

Guillemots

Animal

Animals

Birds.

Bird

Bird Photography

Countryside

Coastal Birds

Coastline

Coast

Cliffs

Sea Birds

Summer Migrant

Seashore

Jeff Lack Photography

Ornithology

Nature

Nature Photography

Nikon

Wildlife.

Wildbirds

Wildlife Photography

Sea « less

Sets appears in: • Guillemot

Groups appears in: • Wildlife Photography • UK Wildlife Trusts more » • Unlimited Birds • *I Love Birds* • "Bird Brained" • ***The Wildlife Photography • A Guide To The Birds Of Europe • WelshFlickrCymru • TMI: your ART & NATURE **NO PEOPLE OR MAN-MADE OBJECTS** P1♥C1 • Wings Of The World • The Worlds Best Nature, Wildlife, And Macro Photography • The European Nature And Wildlife Group • * Birds of Britain * • BBC Wales Nature & Landscapes • **Simply Superb (P 1- A 2)** • All birds all the time • Wales Online Photography Flickr Group • Wildlife UK • Avian Photography • !*Flickr Award Group*! (GIVE 5 AWARDS) • Wales Birders • the RSPB • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Photographing Birds • Wildlife of the British Isles • RSPB Love Nature • World of Birds • UK - Wildlife & Nature • Amazing Birds ***No Rules, No Banning, No Sweepers*** • AWESOME BIRDS ! (Award 2 Please) • 4 Birds only • Uk birdwatchers • :: | Bird Photography |:: • [][][]Nature.. Light and Color[][][] • Wild Bird Photography • Welsh Wildlife Group • BBC Wildlife aspirations • Spectacular Bird Photos • The Best Wildlife Photography on Planet Earth. • Audubon magazine • Avian Wonders • World of Wildlife • UK wild life watching • RSPB Cymru Photo Group • "Watch The Birdie" P2 C2***Only birds*** NO OTHER IMAGES • AVES DEL MUNDO -- BIRDS OF THE WORLD -- OISEAUX DU MONDE • Wildlife and Landscape Photography • Treasures of the World • * Wonderful World of Wildlife * • Wildlife Sightings UK • Illuminations in the Wild • The Wonderful Wildlife UK • This is Nature • "Birds Flock Together" (one bird a day ♥ only birds) • Amateur Photographer Magazine • Worldwide Fauna • The World of Birds • Taken in Wales • Aardvark To Zyzzyva • *Birds Photography* • Stunning wildlife • Birds..wild birds field guide of Britain • Worldwide Birds (opted out 30/60). • The Best of British Birds and Wildlife • WildPlanet • All Birds UK « less

Stats: 2,581 views / 97 comments