Common Murre (Uria aalge) - Brids Around Me 0105

The Common Murre (Uria aalge), also called the Common Guillemot, is a striking seabird of the auk family (Alcidae) found across the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. With a length of 38–46 cm and a wingspan of 64–71 cm, it is one of the largest members of its family. Its black‑and‑white plumage gives it a tuxedo‑like appearance, often earning it the nickname “flying penguin.”  

Common Murre (Uria aalge)

Common Murre (Uria aalge)
Iceland, July 2025

Murres spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land during the breeding season. They nest in vast, noisy colonies on steep coastal cliffs and rocky islands, where thousands of birds crowd together. Unlike most seabirds, they do not build nests; instead, females lay a single pear‑shaped egg directly on bare rock. The egg’s unique shape prevents it from rolling off the cliff ledges.  

Common Murre (Uria aalge)

Common Murre (Uria aalge)

These birds are superb divers, using their wings to “fly” underwater in pursuit of fish, squid, and crustaceans. They can dive to depths of 100 meters (330 feet), making them among the deepest‑diving of all auks. In flight, murres are fast but not particularly agile, relying on strong wingbeats to cover long distances across open seas.  

The Common Murre has a circumpolar distribution, breeding from Alaska and California across Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the British Isles, and northern Europe. After breeding, they disperse widely across ocean waters, often remaining close to their colonies during winter.  

Globally, the species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though local populations face threats from oil spills, overfishing, and climate change.

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https://birds.rekabira.in/p/this-is-list-of-birds-i-clicked-since.html 

Ashutosh Jhureley @BirdsAroundMe

Common Murre (Uria aalge)
Iceland, July 2025

Common Murre (Uria aalge)
Iceland, July 2025

Common Murre (Uria aalge)
Iceland, July 2025