Common Murre
ExploreBirds
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
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
1
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
Ability
Underwater Flight
Common Murre can "fly" underwater using its powerful, short wings, which helps them chase fast-moving fish deep below the surface.
Ability
Deep Diver
Common Murre can dive to impressive depths of over 150 meters (nearly 500 feet), allowing them to hunt for prey far beneath the waves.
Ability
Cliff Navigator
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
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Feathered
Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Aerial
Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Also known as
Guillemot
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Common Murre?
38-46 cm
What is Common Murre's wingspan?
61-73 cm
How much does Common Murre weigh?
0.8-1.2 kg
How long does Common Murre live?
15-30 years
How fast can Common Murre move?
80 km/h
What does Common Murre eat?
These seabirds are expert underwater hunters, mainly feasting on small fish and ocean critters.
Where is Common Murre usually found?
Coastal areas and rocky cliffs
How does Common Murre hunt?
Pursuit
Snap Map
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