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Black Guillemot
last update: Mar 04, 2009 03:17 PM
Latin name: Cepphus grylle
Longevity: unknown
Population: 250,000-500,000 pairs
Cites classified: Least Concern
Where found: northern seas, the Black Guillemot breeds along the coasts of Canada and Greenland.
Wingspan: 52-58 cm
Length: 30-32 cm
Weight: 320-485 g
Mating/Breeding: Their breeding habitat is rocky shores, cliffs and islands on northern Atlantic coasts in eastern North America as far south as Maine, and in western Europe as far south as Ireland. Some birds breed in Alaska where their range overlaps with the Pigeon Guillemot. They also breed throughout the Arctic, in Greenland, Iceland, Northern Europe, and Russia. They usually lay their eggs in rocky sites near water.
Eggs: Dull white to pale green, boldly marked with dark spots and blotches. 1-2 eggs per clutch
Hibernation: Winters near breeding colonies, but retreats from advancing sea ice
Aggressive?: Shows various lunges, turns of the head, and other posturing in territorial interaction with other Black Guillemots.
Hunting Habits: Black Guillemots dive under water to capture prey, using its wings to swim. Small prey swallowed under water; larger items brought to surface.
Feed on: They mainly eat fish and crustaceans, also some mollusks, insects and plant material, and marine invertebrates
Predators: Locally introduced predators, oil spills, and commercial gill-net fishing may impact guillemots; however there are no serious threats globally.
Colour/Looks: Medium-sized to small waterbird with a thin, straight, black bill, large white wing patches, bright red feet, and a relatively long, thick neck. All black with white wing patches in summer. Mostly white with dusky back in winter.
Interesting Trivia:
- The Black Guillemot can stay underwater for up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
- The Black Guillemot breeds colonially, with different densities at different sites. Colonies tend to be smaller in the southern portion of breeding range, perhaps because prey is more widely distributed. In the high Arctic, where food is more concentrated, some colonies have 2,000-10,000 pairs.
