Marbled Murrelet
Brachyramphus marmoratus
Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a member of the Alcidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 220 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Alcidae Auks
- Genus Brachyramphus
- Species marmoratus
Where it lives
Coastal strip of temperate central, eastern North Pacific: Aleutian Is. to central California; nests up to 100 km inland
Quick facts
- Weight
- 220 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Marbled 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 Marbled Murrelet is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a species of bird in the Alcidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA coastal strip of temperate c, e North Pacific: Aleutian Is. to c California; nests up to 100 km inland.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 220 g, with a wing length of about 12.4 cm and a tail of around 3.1 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Marbled Murrelet?
The Marbled Murrelet is a large bird that weighs around 220 g.
Where does the Marbled Murrelet live?
The Marbled Murrelet is found across North America with a range covering NA coastal strip of temperate c, e North Pacific: Aleutian Is. to c California; nests up to 100 km inland, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Marbled Murrelet belong to?
The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) belongs to the Alcidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Marbled Murrelet eat?
The Marbled Murrelet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Marbled Murrelet migrate?
The Marbled Murrelet is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Marbled Murrelet endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Marbled Murrelet make?
1 real field recording of the Marbled Murrelet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Marbled Murrelet's range?
The Marbled Murrelet has a mapped global range of about 1.7 million 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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