Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Kelson assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Black Guillemot

Cepphus grylle

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

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Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

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Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island Birds of Quebec Birds of Saskatchewan

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The Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) is a member of the Alcidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 378 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Alcidae Auks
Genus Cepphus
Species grylle

Where it lives

Coasts of high Arctic to northern temperate North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean

Quick facts

Weight: 378 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Alcidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black Guillemot 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 Black Guillemot is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) is a species of bird in the Alcidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL coasts of high Arctic to n temperate North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 378 g, with a wing length of about 15.4 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Black Guillemot — Call

Recorded by Anthony McGeehan Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black Guillemot?

The Black Guillemot is a large bird that weighs around 378 g.

Where does the Black Guillemot live?

The Black Guillemot is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL coasts of high Arctic to n temperate North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Black Guillemot belong to?

The Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) belongs to the Alcidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Black Guillemot eat?

The Black Guillemot hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Black Guillemot migrate?

The Black Guillemot is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Black Guillemot endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Black Guillemot make?

1 real field recording of the Black Guillemot — 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 Black Guillemot's range?

The Black Guillemot has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million km².