Ancient Murrelet [Synthliboramphus antiquus]
Description
The Ancient Murrelet is a small, puffin-like bird measuring around 25-28 cm in length with a wingspan of 46-50 cm. It has a dark head, neck, upperparts and a white underbody. The bird is named 'Ancient' because its grey back gives it a mottled, old look. They are known for their unique breeding behavior. Instead of raising their chicks in the nest, Ancient Murrelet parents abandon them a couple of days after hatching. The chicks then make their way to the sea and locate their parents by their call. They are found in the north Pacific, breeding in colonies in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska and Siberia. They spend winters off the coast of Japan, Korea and China.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Charadriiformes
|
| Family |
Auks, Murres, and Puffins
Alcidae
|
| Genus |
Ancient Murrelet
Synthliboramphus
|