Black Guillemot

Cepphus grylle

Order CHARADRIIFORMES - Family ALCIDAE

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

A black-and-white bird of the northern seas, the Black Guillemot breeds along the coasts of Canada and Greenland. Unlike other members of the puffin family, it prefers to forage in relatively shallow near-shore waters.

Cool Facts

• The Black Guillemot carries fish crosswise in its bill. Some adults seem to show a preference for the direction in which the fish heads point; this "handedness" may be related to the selection of foraging sites.
• The Black Guillemot can stay underwater for up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

• The Black Guillemot shows a considerable amount of geographic variation in the amount of white in its winter plumage. Higher-latitude populations show more white background color than do southern populations, and can be nearly pure white with black wings.

• 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.

Description

• Size: 30-32 cm (12-13 in)
• Wingspan: 52-58 cm (20-23 in)
• Weight: 320-485 g (11.3-17.12 ounces)

• Medium-sized to small waterbird.
• Thin, straight bill.
• Large white wing patches.
• Bright red feet.
• Relatively long, thick neck.
• All black with white wing patches in summer.
• Mostly white with dusky back in winter.

• Mouth lining bright red.
• Pointed tail.
• Rounded wings with white wing linings.
• Bill black.
• Eyes dark brown.
• May show thin dark line in middle of wing patch.

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Brownish black all over, with bold white oval-shaped wing patches.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Black feathers with white edges on head and upperparts. White face, neck, and underparts.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Immature

Similar to nonbreeding adult, but with more mottling on head and neck, and black markings breaking the white wing patches.

Similar Species

• White-winged Scoter larger and heavier, with small white patch only on rear of wing.
• Pigeon Guillemot, which overlaps in distribution only in the Bering Sea, is very similar, but has gray wing linings and a broad black wedge across each white wing patch. Black Guillemot may show a thin black line down the middle of the white wing patch.

Sound

High-pitched, thin twitters and piping calls. Alarm call is a loud, wavering whistle.

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds near northern coast of Canada, including Hudson Bay and James Bay, to Atlantic coast of Quebec and maritime provinces, to Maine. Also throughout the Arctic, in Greenland, Iceland, northern Europe, and Russia.

Winter Range

Winters near breeding colonies, but retreats from advancing sea ice.

Habitat

Nests on rocky coastlines; forages in near-shore waters.

Food

Fish, crustaceans, and marine invertebrates.

Behavior

Foraging

Dives under water to capture prey, using its wings to swim. Small prey swallowed under water; larger items brought to surface.

Displays

Shows various lunges, turns of the head, and other posturing in territorial interaction with other Black Guillemots.

Courtship

In courtship display, male stands upright, points bill down, and walks around female with exaggerated steps.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Nest may consist of shells, pebbles, seaweed, and bones, or egg may be laid directly on rock with no nest material at all. Placed on rocky coast, often under overhang or boulder, or in a cavity.

Egg Description

Dull white to pale green, boldly marked with dark spots and blotches.

Clutch Size

Usually 2 eggs. Range: 1-2.

Condition at Hatching

Covered with black down and can move about on land.

Conservation Status

Lack of accurate census data makes determination of population trends difficult. The Black Guillemot is more susceptible to ingestion and biomagnification of marine pollution than other alcids because it takes prey from shallow water or at the sea floor. Studies have shown accumulation of mercury, pesticides, and crude oil residues in body tissues and eggs. Oiling of feathers from spills at sea usually results in death. Global warming may also affect populations.

Other Names

Guillemot à miroir (French)

Sources used to construct this page:

Butler, R. G., and D. E. Buckley. 2002. Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle). In The Birds of North America, No. 675 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.