ExploreBird

Common Murre

Uria aalge

The Common Murre is a sleek bird that looks a bit like a penguin. It dives deep to catch fish and is very good at swimming!

Habitat: Coastal areas and rocky cliffs

Appearance

The Common Murre is a sleek, black-and-white seabird with a slender body and short wings, often looking dark brown in dimmer light. It has a sharp, pointed bill and an upright posture both in water and on land. Some have a distinct white eye-ring with a stripe behind the eye.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyAlcidaeGenusUria

Common Murre

Interesting facts

Murre chicks jump from cliffs at just 2-3 weeks old, before they can fly!

Some Murres have a white "bridle" pattern around their eye, like tiny glasses!

Their single egg is pear-shaped, preventing it from rolling off narrow cliff ledges!

They gather in huge, noisy colonies, sometimes with hundreds of thousands of birds!

Special abilities

Common Murre can "fly" underwater using its powerful, short wings, which helps them chase fast-moving fish deep below the surface.

Common Murre can dive to impressive depths of over 150 meters (nearly 500 feet), allowing them to hunt for prey far beneath the waves.

Common Murre has amazing balance that helps them safely nest on narrow, precarious cliff ledges, protecting their single egg.

Measurements & details

Length: 38-46 cm
Wingspan: 61-73 cm
Weight: 0.8-1.2 kg
Lifespan: 15-30 years
Top Speed: 80 km/h
Clutch Size: 1
Incubation: 28-34 days
Migration Distance: 500 km

Diet & Feeding

These seabirds are expert underwater hunters, mainly feasting on small fish and ocean critters.

Age differences: Young chicks are fed regurgitated fish by their parents; they start fishing for themselves after fledging.

Primary Foods

Capelin
Sandlance
Herring
Cod
Small crustaceans
Squid

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eaten by

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Adults and chicks are hunted by this large coastal raptor.

eaten by

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Gulls prey on murre eggs and young chicks in colonies.

eaten by

Orca

Orcinus orca

Prey on adult murres while they are at sea.

hunts

Capelin

Mallotus villosus

A primary food source, pursued by murres underwater.

hunts

Pacific Sand Lance

Ammodytes hexapterus

Murres dive deep to catch these schooling fish.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

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Aerial

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Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.