Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 17.7 in
45 cm - Weight
- 26.5–52.2 oz
750–1481 g
Other Names
- Brünnich's Murre, Brünnich's Guillemot
- Guillemot de Brünnich (French)
Cool Facts
- The Thick-billed Murre is one of the deepest underwater divers of all birds, regularly descending to depths of more than 100 m, and occasionally below 200 m. It can remain submerged for more than three minutes.
- The Thick-billed Murre does not build a nest, but incubating birds often shift pebbles or other debris, sometimes dropping them close to the site. When cemented by feces, these fragments may help to keep the egg from rolling off ledge if it is dislodged.
Habitat
Ocean
Food
Fish
Fish, crustaceans, squid, and other marine invertebrates.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Egg Description
- Very pointed at one end. Color variable, ranging from white to tan without markings, to dark green or turquoise with extensive black spots and scrawls.
- Condition at Hatching
- Covered in down, able to stand within one day.
Nest Description
Shallow depression in rocky ledge on steep cliff. Nests in colonies.
Nest Placement
Cliff
Behavior
Surface Dive
Dives underwater to capture prey, using its wings to swim.
Conservation
Least Concern
Numerous, but vulnerable to oil spills and gill-netting. Atlantic populations appear to be stable or slightly increasing. Greenland population decreasing.
Credits
- Gaston, A. J., and J. M. Hipfner. 2000. Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia). In The Birds of North America, No. 497 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.