Saturday 15 June Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
Marbled murrelet fact file - Find out more - Print factsheet
Marbled murrelet description The marbled murrelet is a small,
chubby seabird that has a very short neck (3). During the
breeding season it has dark brown to blackish upperparts and a
white belly and throat that are greatly mottled. During the
winter the upperparts become grey, dark marks form on the sides
of the breast and a white ring develops around the eye (2).
Males and females are similar in appearance and size (3) (4).
Juveniles are similar to the adult winter plumage, but with
dusky mottling on the underparts (2). Vocalisations include a
sharp ‘keer’ or low ‘kee’ (3). - Length: 25 cm (2) Marbled
murrelet biology In California, breeding occurs from mid-March
to early September, but the season is shorter further north (2).
The nest is built on large branches in high elevation forests or
on the ground on some islands. Incubation of the yellowish
spotted eggs takes around 30 days and th