Explore: Marbled Murrelet

The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a small seabird from the North Pacific. It is a member of the family Alcidae, which includes auklets

and southern Japan. The Marbled Murrelet, in contrast tends to remain closer to its breeding grounds. The long-billed murrelet is a small (25 cm long)

brachyramphine murrelets Brachyramphus Marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix Kittlitz's murrelet, Brachyramphus

Siberia. This near threatened species is, like the closely related marbled murrelet, unusual for seabirds in not being colonial, nesting instead in isolated

after their common ancestor, a bird probably similar to a stout Xantus's murrelet, had spread to the coasts of the Atlantic. Apparently, by that time, the

the auk family, Alcidae, which includes the guillemots, typical auks, murrelets, auklets, puffins, and the razorbill. The rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca

forests or on mountain tops. The long-billed murrelet was considered conspecific with the marbled murrelet until 1998, when Friesen et al. showed that

Common murre C C C C Pigeon guillemot C C - - Marbled murrelet F F U U Xantus's murrelet - - U - Ancient murrelet U - U F Cassin's auklet F F C C Rhinoceros

Martin G.; Piatt, John F., eds. (1995). Ecology and Conservation of the Marbled Murrelet (Report). Vol. PSW-152. Albany, California: USDA Forest Service. Dunn

primary species of the rainforest, spawning in the forest streams. The marbled murrelet nests in old growth trees at night, but feeds in the ocean during the