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Guillemonts, Murres and Razorbills
Black Guillemont (Cepphus grylle) (Pigeon) length: 33 cm wing-span: 61 cm bill: 3 cm
The black guillemot is one of our most common resident seabirds. A coastal diver, it is easily differentiated from murres and puffins by its black summer coat with white wing patches. In winter, guillemots are silvery white. Blazing red legs and feet are a prominent feature. They occur all around the island. You may see two or more small groups together but they are usually nesting alone in rock crevices. Guillemots eat small fish and marine worms. Look for them close to rocks at headlands of harbours and more isolated coves. We have seen them in large numbers in the bays north of Cape Race.
Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia) (Turr) length: 42 cm wing-span: 72 cm bill: 3 cm
The thick-billed murre is a look alike to the common murre, but its bill is larger and heavier compared to the dagger-like bill of the common murre. About 1,000 pairs nest at Cape St. Mary's, the world's most southerly colony. Most thick-billed murres breed in the high Arctic from where they start an amazing migration to their Newfoundland wintering grounds. The young swim their first 1,000 kilometers and complete the journey flying. Although they are often seen nesting in the same colonies, these birds are not as abundant as the common murre.
Common Murre (Uria aalge) (Turr) length: 40.6 cm wing-span: 76 cm bill: 4.5 cm
This seabird, referred to as a 'turr' in Newfoundland, is totally dependent on land for breeding but spends most of its life at sea. Look from the cliffs to see it flying underwater to depths of 50 meters in search of food. Like other members of the alcid family, all murres are black above and white underneath providing them with a protective camouflage to blend in with the rocky cliffs where they gather in large groups. Each pair lays a single, pointed egg on the bare rock. Forty-five kilometers off the northeast coast are the Funk Islands, home to 400,000 breeding pairs. There are also large colonies at Witless Bay and Cape St. Mary's.
Razorbill (Alca torda) (Tinker) length: 42 cm wing-span: 66 cm bill: 3 cm
The razorbill murre wears the same black and white uniform as the common and thick-billed murres. As well, it breeds in the same colonies on the island but in much lower numbers than the common and thick-billed murres.
The razorbill has a longer tail than the other two and a deep knife-like bill with a distinguishing white vertical band around it.
Like its cousin alcids, the razorbill is a superb underwater flyer, with a body designed to chase and catch fish.
The Gannet Islands in Southern Labrador are home to the largest colony of razorbills in North America. About 30,000 razorbills are found around the Labrador coast.
More Newfoundland Flyers
Web Site Developer Susan Guerrero
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