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Common guillemot
Scientific name: Uria aalge
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Family: ALCIDAE
Group: Birds
Shyness: Suspicious
Safe distance: 30 m
Breeding season / Courtship: 01.04-31.05
Gestation: N/A
Births: 01.06-31.07
Habitat:
Sea cliffs, islands, and rocky coasts of northern regions, especially in Europe and North America
Description:
The Common Guillemot is a seabird characterized by its black and white plumage, and its streamlined body which allows it to swim with agility. It measures about 40 to 45 cm in length and weighs between 500 and 700 g. Its head is black with sharp white eyes, and its wings are short and pointed, suited for diving. The Common Guillemot primarily lives on coastal cliffs, where it nests in very dense colonies, often on inaccessible sites. It is found mainly in Northern Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and Iceland, but also along the coasts of the North Atlantic. The Common Guillemot is an excellent diver, primarily feeding on fish, particularly small herring and capelin, which it catches by diving underwater in search of prey. While the species is not endangered, it is vulnerable to marine pollution, climate change, and disruption of its breeding sites.
Recommended lens:
>=300 mm
Photography tips:
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