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Deepseawaters
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Sea BirdsPigeon guillemot
Pigeon guillemot
Common Name: Pigeon guillemot
Scientific Name: Cepphus columba
Description
Guillemots are the most
neritic members of the marine bird family Alcidae, which includes
murres, puffins, and auks. Guillemots first breed at 2 years
of age and adults have high annual survivorship. Young guillemots
normally return to the natal area to breed. Nest site fidelity
of breeding pairs is high and even in instances when pairs
relocate nests, the distances involved are usually small(<30
m).
Eggs are laid in a wide variety of natural crevices and holes, but most nest sites in the study area are located in cavities in rock masses. Eggs are usually laid about 50 cm from the entrance of the nest crevice, thus eggs, chicks, and attending adults are frequently accessible for data collection. Guillemots are unusual among alcids in that they normally lay two-egg clutches and raise two chicks per nesting attempt. Guillemots carry whole fish in their bills to the nest-site crevice to feed their young. Thus, individual prey items can be identified, weighed, measured, and, if necessary, collected for contaminant analyses.
Bluff Nester
Pigeon guillemots nest in rocky crevices or sandy bluffs in late spring and summer. Nest sites occur on Smith, Sentinel, Flower, and Protection Islands. Nests can also be found in bluffs on the east side of Vashon, Fox, and Anderson Islands. Guillemots often seek the cover of overhanging soil and plants on high bluffs for nesting.
Pigeon guillemots dig holes
in cliffs for nest sites. They use their narrow beaks to pry
out stones, and sharp toe nails to scrape. Cliff nests are
placed in crevices or hollows where one or two greenish, dark
spotted eggs are laid.
Pigeon Guillemot Facts
Winter White
In the winter, pigeon guillemots display a white head and mottled underparts.
White Patch
Mature pigeon guillemots have a white wing patch while at rest or in flight; immature guillemots have a mottled wing patch. Length: About 10 ½ inches. Sexes: look similar. Narrow, dark bill. Dark inside wings.
Red feet and legs
In all seasons, pigeon guillemots can be identified by brilliant red legs and feet.
Listen for whistles
The pigeon guillemot makes high whistles near breeding bluffs in the spring
Identification Tips
Length: 10.5 inches
Sexes similar
Immature like basic adult but has mottled wing patch
Medium size alcid that dives for food from water surface
Thin, dark bill
Large white patch in wing visible at rest and in flight
Small, dark wedge in white wing patch
Dark wing linings
Red legs and feet
Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
Adult Alternate
Entirely black plumage
Adult Basic
White neck and underparts
Dark areas on face
Gray, mottled back
Black wings and tail
Similar Species
The Pigeon Guillemot is most similar in plumage
to the Black Guillemot but their ranges only overlap in Alaska.
In all plumages, the Pigeon Guillemot has dark wing linings
and a dark wedge intruding into the white wing patch. In breeding
plumage the male White-winged Scoter is vaguely similar but
has a differently shaped bill and profile, white secondaries
rather than coverts, and some white on the face. Basic and
juvenile plumage Marbled
Murrelets are somewhat similar but lack the wing patches,
have shorter necks, and smaller bills.
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