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| | ;Cepphus columba | | ;Cepphus columba |
| − | [[Image:Pigeon_Guillemot.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by jvhigbee]] | + | [[Image:Pigeon_Guillemot.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by jvhigbee <br/>Location: Tacoma, Washington ]] |
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| − | Location: Tacoma, Washington
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| | ==Identification== | | ==Identification== |
| − | Adult birds have black bodies with a white wing patch broken by a black wedge, a thin dark bill and red legs and feet. They are similar in appearance to the Black Guillemot but show dark wing linings in flight. In winter, the upperparts are mottled grey and black and the underparts are white. They walk well, and habitually have an upright posture.
| + | Black body, white wing patch broken by a black wedge, a thin dark bill and red legs and feet. |
| − | They closely resemble the other members of the genus Cepphus, particularly the Black Guillemot, which it is slightly larger than.
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| | ==Distribution== | | ==Distribution== |
| − | The Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) is a medium-sized alcid endemic to the Pacific. Pigeon Guillemots range across the Northern Pacific from the Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia to coasts in western North America from Alaska to California. After the breeding season birds in Alaska migrate south to open waters, whereas some birds from California move north to the waters off British Columbia. Birds usually return to their natal colony to breed.
| + | [[North America]] from Alaska to California. |
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| | ==Taxonomy== | | ==Taxonomy== |
| | ==Habitat== | | ==Habitat== |
| − | Their breeding habitat is rocky shores, cliffs and islands on northern often forming small loose colonies.
| + | Rocky shores, cliffs and islands. |
| | ==Behaviour== | | ==Behaviour== |
| − | They usually lay their eggs in rocky cavities sites near water, but will often nest in any available cavity including caves, disused burrows of other seabirds and even old bomb casings. Unusually for auks two eggs are laid. Unlike many alcids Pigeon Guillemots are diurnal and feed the chicks constantly throughout the day, and consequently can fledge faster than equivalent sized auks that are only provisioned at night.
| + | Nests are made in rocky cavities. 2 eggs are laid. |
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| − | They dive for food from the surface, swimming underwater, feeding on benthic prey, which is usually obtained close to shore. They mainly eat fish and other aquatic animals, particularly sculpins, sandfish (Trichodon), cods, capelin, and crabs. Chick diet varies slightly, with more fish than invertebrates, particularly rockfish.
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| | + | Diet includes fish and other aquatic animals |
| | ==External Links== | | ==External Links== |
| | {{GSearch|Cepphus+columba}} | | {{GSearch|Cepphus+columba}} |
| | *[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?p=1&action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=999&Bird_Family_ID=106&pagesize=1 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] | | *[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?p=1&action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=999&Bird_Family_ID=106&pagesize=1 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] |
| | [[Category:Birds]] | | [[Category:Birds]] |
- Cepphus columba
Photo by jvhigbee
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Identification
Black body, white wing patch broken by a black wedge, a thin dark bill and red legs and feet.
Distribution
North America from Alaska to California.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Rocky shores, cliffs and islands.
Behaviour
Nests are made in rocky cavities. 2 eggs are laid.
Diet includes fish and other aquatic animals
External Links
