Ancient murrelet
Synthlibormaphus antiquus
Identification Tips:
- Length: 8 inches
- Sexes similar
- Immature like basic adult but has whiter chin and throat
- Small alcid that dives for food from water surface
- Short, yellow bill
- Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
Adult alternate
- Black chin, throat, face, crown, and nape
- White side of neck, breast, belly, and undertail coverts
- Gray back and wings
- White streaked line behind eye to nape
- White wing linings
Adult basic
- Black on throat less extensive and with some white feather edging
- White line behind eye mostly obscure
- White streaking on nape largely absent
Similar species:
In all plumages, the pale bill, black chin, and the contrast between the
black nape and gray back are each distinctive marks.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.