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black guillemot

seabird
Also known as: Cepphus grylle, tystie

Quick Summary

The black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) is a seabird belonging to the auk family. These birds are characterized by their black and white plumage, pointed black bills, and red legs. During the breeding season, they are primarily black with white wing patches, but in winter, they become mostly white below and speckled brown and white above.12

Black guillemots are deep divers that forage on the seabed. They typically breed around the Arctic Circle and migrate south for the winter, staying close to land and avoiding large flocks. The species lays two spotted eggs in crevices, and the young remain in the nest for about six weeks until they can fly.1

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