Marbled murrelet

The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a small seabird from the North Pacific. It belongs to the family Alcidae, which also includes auklets, guillemots, murres, and puffins. This bird is special because it nests in old-growth forests or on the ground where trees cannot grow.

Marbled murrelets have had trouble because people cut down many tall, old trees where they build their nests. This started in the late 1800s and has made the number of these birds go down. Because of this, the marbled murrelet has become a symbol for people who work to protect forests. Its situation has helped show the need for forest protection in many places.

Taxonomy

The marbled murrelet was first described in 1789 by the German scientist Johann Friedrich Gmelin. It was later placed in its current genus, Brachyramphus, which means "short bill". The name marmoratus describes its marbled look.

At first, the long-billed murrelet was thought to be the same bird, but research showed they are different. Today, the marbled murrelet is known as its own special species with no subspecies.

Description

The marbled murrelet is a small, chunky bird, about 25 cm long. It has a slender black bill and pointed wings. Its feathers change with the seasons. When it is not breeding, it has white feathers underneath and black on its head, neck, wings, and back. During breeding time, it gets a brown mottled body and face. This bird looks very similar to the long-billed murrelet, another type of auk, but it is slightly smaller and does not have a pale white throat like the long-billed murrelet. In winter, the marbled murrelet has a white neck collar, which the long-billed murrelet does not have.

Main article: Auk
Further information: Plumage , Long-billed murrelet , Conspecific

Distribution and habitat

Marbled murrelets live along the coast of North America, from Alaska down to California. In summer, they stay close to the coast, usually within a couple of miles of the ocean. In winter, they stay in similar areas but might move away from the very northern parts where ice forms.

These birds live near the ocean but sometimes go far inland. They have been seen up to 59 miles away from the coast in places like Washington, Oregon, and California. They like old-growth forests near the coast for nesting, with big trees and lots of moss. In areas without big trees, they may nest on the ground or in rocky spots near the ocean. They hunt for food in the ocean close to shore and sometimes on freshwater lakes.

Behavior

The marbled murrelet hunts for food at sea. It likes to eat small fish and creatures like sand lance, Pacific herring, and some shrimp-like animals. It hunts alone or with a partner and sometimes in groups during winter.

These birds have a special way of making their homes. They build nests in old forests in trees such as western hemlock, Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir, and coastal redwood. They lay one egg on soft lichen or moss. In colder places, they may build their nests on the ground. After about a month, the baby bird leaves the nest and flies to the ocean. They begin to make nests when they are two years old, usually from mid-April to late September.

Predators

Steller's jays and common ravens can eat marbled murrelet eggs and young birds. These birds may threaten the small seabirds when they are nesting in old-growth forests or on the ground where trees cannot grow.

Status and Conservation

The marbled murrelet is considered globally endangered, with its population going down. This is according to the IUCN Red List. Reasons include the loss of old-growth forest areas where they nest and warmer ocean temperatures. Efforts to help, like the Northwest Forest Plan, aim to protect their homes on land and in the sea. Human activity can also affect their chicks, showing why careful conservation is important.