Table Of Contents
- Description
- Behavior
- Biology
- Reproduction and Life History
- Morphology
- Trophic Strategy
- Ecology and Distribution
- Distribution
- Habitat
- Conservation
- Trends and Threats
- Relevance
- Uses
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- References and More Information
- Literature References
- Specialist Projects
- Common Names
Description
The guillemot is the commonest member of the auk family in the British Isles (3). The head as well as the upperparts are dark brown in colour; the underparts are white. In winter a variable part of the head also becomes white (3). A 'bridled' form occurs in which the eye is bordered with white, and a white line extends backwards from the eye towards the neck (3). The bill is thin, uniformly dark and pointed, and the tail is short, so that in flight the legs are clearly visible; these features allow the guillemot to be distinguished from the razorbill (Alca torda), which also has darker upperparts (3). Young guillemots in their first summer are generally similar in appearance to adults, but have a white area on the throat (3). In breeding colonies, this species is particularly vocal, producing a variety of calls including a deep 'mmmmm' (3), which has given rise to an alternative common name for this species, the 'murre' (4).
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