Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Black Guillemot
Scientific Name:
Cepphus grylle
Scientific Family:
Alcidae
Length:
32-38cm
Wingspan (mm):
49-58cm
Weight:
420g Description
Smaller than common Guillemot, body plump and pear-shaped. Summer breeding plumage: Body all black with large oval white upperwing patches; underwing white with dark trailing edge, red legs and feet. Winter plumage: Underparts become white and the upperparts barred white but white wing patch still obvious. Juvenile/1cy: similar to adult winter but white wing patch heavily barred; head and breast duskier than adult.
Distribution
mostly on the Scottish west coast, Orkneys and Shetland Isles.
Habitat
Winters at sea. Breeds on rocky coasts.
Diet
Mostly fish, crustaceans
Behaviour
Flies close to water with fast whirring wing beats.
Reproduction
Clutch size = 2 eggs which are white with black spots, laid in May to June. Incubation takes 21-25 days. Young fledge after 34-40 days. Only 1 brood per year.
Population
Approx 18,550 breeding pairs - Wintering populations are around 58,000-80,000 birds for Britain and Ireland. (?)
Status
Resident breeder.
Conservation: AMBER uk. Least concern global.
Did You Know?
Fish are carried crossways in bill but always pointed in the same direction either left or right depending on the individual bird!