Photo: McNight, Alyson / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Kittlitz’s Murrelet
Brachyramphus brevirostris
Kittlitz's Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
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The Kittlitz’s Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) is a member of the Alcidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 234 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Alcidae Auks
- Genus Brachyramphus
- Species brevirostris
Where it lives
Arctic to subarctic northwest to northeastern North Pacific coasts: patchily from Wrangel I. (north of northeastern Siberia), Chukotka, northeastern Kamchatka, northern Sea of Okhotsk (eastern Russia); Bering Sea and Aleutian Is., Gulf of Alaska to southeastern Alaska; nests up to 75 km inland
Quick facts
- Weight
- 234 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Kittlitz’s Murrelet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Kittlitz’s Murrelet is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Kittlitz's Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) is a species of auks in the family Alcidae, order Charadriiformes. It is found in Europe & Northern Asia, North America — Arctic to subarctic nw to ne North Pacific coasts: patchily from Wrangel I. (n of ne Siberia), Chukotka, ne Kamchatka, n Sea of Okhotsk (e Russia); Bering Sea and Aleutian Is., Gulf of Alaska to se Alaska; nests up to 75 km inland.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Kittlitz’s Murrelet?
The Kittlitz’s Murrelet is a large bird that weighs around 234 g.
Where does the Kittlitz’s Murrelet live?
The Kittlitz’s Murrelet is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA Arctic to subarctic nw to ne North Pacific coasts: patchily from Wrangel I. (n of ne Siberia), Chukotka, ne Kamchatka, n Sea of Okhotsk (e Russia); Bering Sea and Aleutian Is., Gulf of Alaska to se Alaska; nests up to 75 km inland, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Kittlitz’s Murrelet belong to?
The Kittlitz’s Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) belongs to the Alcidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Kittlitz’s Murrelet eat?
The Kittlitz’s Murrelet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Kittlitz’s Murrelet migrate?
The Kittlitz’s Murrelet is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Kittlitz’s Murrelet endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
How large is the Kittlitz’s Murrelet's range?
The Kittlitz’s Murrelet has a mapped global range of about 709,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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