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==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Nests on six of the Channel Islands (Santa Barbara, San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Catalina, and San Clemente) in southern California, USA, and on Los Coronados, Guadalupe, and San Benito islands off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. Outside of the breeding season, it ranges along the continental shelf from Baja California north, frequently to northern California and more rarely to British Columbia. | + | Nests on six of the Channel Islands ([[Santa Barbara]], [[San Miguel]], [[Santa Cruz]], [[Anacapa]], [[Santa Catalina]], and [[San Clemente]]) in southern [[California]], [[USA]], and on [[Los Coronados]], [[Guadalupe]], and [[San Benito]] islands off the coast of [[Baja]] California, [[Mexico]]. Outside of the breeding season, it ranges along the continental shelf from Baja California north, frequently to northern California and more rarely to [[British Columbia]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
Revision as of 17:37, 28 August 2008
- Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
Identification
Length 9.75 inches (25 cm), wingspan 15 inches (38 cm). Distinguished from two other murrelets in range, Craveri's and Marbled, by white wing linings, shorter bill and less black on face than Craveri's, longer bill and more solidly black upperparts than Marbled.
Distribution
Nests on six of the Channel Islands (Santa Barbara, San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Catalina, and San Clemente) in southern California, USA, and on Los Coronados, Guadalupe, and San Benito islands off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. Outside of the breeding season, it ranges along the continental shelf from Baja California north, frequently to northern California and more rarely to British Columbia.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies, which are generally separable in the field. Nominate southern subspecies has white crescent in front of and above eye. Northern subspecies (S. h. scrippsi) has much smaller white eye arcs. Some taxonomists consider the northern form a separate species, Scripps's Murrelet (S. scrippsi).
Habitat
Nests on arid, rocky islands; otherwise pelagic in warm waters. Rarely seen from shore.
Behaviour
The diet includes tuna, anchovies, sardines and rockfish.
It nests in small crevices, caves and under dense bushes on arid islands in loose scattered colonies. 2 eggs are laid and are incubated for about a month. It returns to the colony only at night. The chicks leave the nest within two days of hatching and running actively towards the sea, where the parents call to them.
External Links
With a populations estimated to total only 5,600 birds and a very small breeding range, Xantus's Murrelet is considered to be at high risk of extinction on several bird conservation lists:
BirdLife International: Vulnerable - http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3311&m=0
Audubon WatchList 2007: Red - http://web1.audubon.org/science/species/watchlist/profile.php?speciesCode=xanmur
American Bird Conservancy WatchList 2007: Red - http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/science/watchlist/xantus_murrelet.html
U.S. Endangered Species Act: Candidate - http://ecos.fws.gov/species_profile/servlet/gov.doi.species_profile.servlets.SpeciesProfile?spcode=B098
