Photo: Robin Corcoran / USFWS · Eastern Bering Sea, Alaska · U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service · Public Domain
← Kodiak species
Seabirds
Common Murre
Uria aalge
A sleek, torpedo-shaped seabird with a pointed bill and black-and-white plumage. One of the most numerous seabirds in the North Pacific, nesting in dense colonies on Kodiak's offshore rocks and cliffs.
Where to look
Barren Islands and offshore rocks; seen from Kodiak harbor, Cape Chiniak, and pelagic trips year-round.
Habitat
Open ocean and coastal waters; nests on cliff ledges and rocky outcrops.
Diet
Fish, squid, and marine invertebrates.
Natural history note
Common Murres lay their eggs directly on bare rock ledges; the pear-shaped eggs roll in a tight circle rather than off the cliff.