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.