Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Common Murre

Uria aalge

Common Murre (Uria aalge) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of British Columbia Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Nunavut Birds of Prince Edward Island Birds of Quebec Birds of Yukon Territory Birds of England Birds of Bristol

By family

Auks, Murres & Puffins of British Columbia Auks, Murres & Puffins of Yukon Territory

See what's near you right now

The Common Murre (Uria aalge) is a member of the Alcidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 992 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 Uria
Species aalge

Where it lives

Subarctic to temperate (locally Arctic) northern coasts

Quick facts

Weight: 992 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Alcidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

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

The Common Murre (Uria aalge) belongs to the Alcidae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL subarctic to temperate (locally Arctic) n coasts.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 992 g, with a wing length of about 19.6 cm and a tail of around 5 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 1.5 million km².

Songs & calls

Common Murre — Call, sound of sea crashing on rocks

Recorded by Roland Arnison Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Common Murre?

The Common Murre is a very large bird that weighs around 992 g.

Where does the Common Murre live?

The Common Murre is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL subarctic to temperate (locally Arctic) n coasts, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Common Murre belong to?

The Common Murre (Uria aalge) belongs to the Alcidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Common Murre eat?

The Common Murre hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Common Murre migrate?

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

Is the Common Murre 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 Common Murre make?

1 real field recording of the Common Murre — 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 Common Murre's range?

The Common Murre has a mapped global range of about 1.5 million km².