Xantus's murrelet
Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
Identification Tips:
- 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.