Xantus's murrelet Synthliboramphus hypoleucus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 8 inches
• Sexes similar
• Small to medium size alcid that dives for food from water surface
• Thin, short, dark bill
• White chin, throat, breast, belly, and undertail coverts
• Very dark lores, crown, nape, back, wings, and tail
• White wing linings
• Incomplete white eye ring
• One form has more white around the eye
• Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
• United States range mostly confined to coastal southern California

Similar species:

Among similarly-sized alcids, only the Xantus's and Craveri's murrelets have bold black upperparts contrasting with white underparts. Craveri's can be told from Xantus's by its dark wing linings, black extending onto the sides of the breast, black chin, and longer, thinner bill.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.