Alcid ID?
I found this year-old shot and I'm having trouble deciding between a Common Murre and Thick-billed Murre. The image was taken on the Pacific Coast in mid-September 2008, about 30 miles south of San Francisco. It appears to be a juvenile, and was swimming in the surf near the beach, heading South. What gets me is the bill: it just doesn't look as long and sharp as a typical Common Murre's. What are your thoughts?
This is a tough one. I photographed a thick-billed murre on the East coast last winter but it looks a bit different, maybe because yours is a juvi. The bill of a common murre would be longer in my opinion.
Thick-billed Murre
Common Murre:
Peter- the tell-tale sign here is the white patch above and behind the eye which indicates that this is a Common Murre (Guillemot in Europe), going into winter plumage. Thick-billed Murres are dark above and behind the eye in winter.
It may well be a young bird as evidenced by the rounded head and stubby bill. You may know that murre chicks leave the colony at about half adult size and join the male parent who looks after the chick at sea for the next couple of months. It is hard to tell how big this bird is but if it had not attained adult size it may have been associating with its parent, which would have been close by.
Good to know, thanks for the correction.Originally Posted by John Chardine
Common Murre it is, then! Awesome, guys! Thanks a lot for the lightning responses.
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