The thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) is a member of the auk family. It is the largest member of this family, and one of the largest seabirds. The thick-billed murre is found in the North Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Iceland and from northern Russia to Greenland. It breeds on rocky cliffs, making its nest in a crevice or hole.
This black-and-white bird has a large bill and a plump body. The male and female look similar, but the female is uually slightly smaller than the male. The thick-billed murre can live for up to 20 years.
The thick-billed murre eats fish, squid, and crustaceans. It dives underwater to catch its food. It can stay underwater for up to two minutes!
The thick-billed murre is an excellent swimmer and flyer. It can fly up to 55 kilometers per hour!
The thick-billed murre is somtimes called the guillemot.
How Deep Can A Thick-billed Murre Dive?
Thick-billed Murres are among the deepest underwater divers of all birds, regularly descending to depths of more than 100 meters, and occasionally below 200 meters (656 feet). They can dive for more than 3 minutes.
What Does Thick-billed Murre Eat?
Thick-billed murre eats mostly small fish, along with squid, shrimp, and small crustaceans. They forage alone or in flocks, often with other seabird species. Like other auks (alcids), Thick-billed Murres capture prey with the bill during deep dives.
Can Thick-billed Murres Fly?
Thick-billed murres are capable of flying, but take-off can be awkward for them. Once airborne, however, they can fly at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour.
What Does A Common Murre Look Like?
The Common Murre (Uria aalge) is a seabird in the auk family. It is similar in appearance to the othr auks, such as the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) and the Razorbill (Alca torda). The Common Murre has a black back and head, with a white throat and belly. The wings are short and pointed, and the tail is short and square. The bill is long and thin, with a hooked tip. The legs are short and webbed, and the feet are used for swimming. The Common Murre can reach a length of 38 cm (15 inches) and a weight of 1 kg (2 pounds).
What Is The Deepest Diving Bird?
The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the deepest diving bird, with a recorded depth of 564 metres (1,850 feet). Emperor penguins are found in Antarctica and breed on the ice, spending up to 75% of their time in the water in search of food. They primarily eat fish, but also eat squid and crustaceans.
What Do Murres Eat?
Murres are small, spindle-shaped seabirds that live in cold waters alog the coasts of North America, Europe, and Asia. They eat small fish, such as capelin and sand lances. Murres hunt by diving into the water from a height of up to 30 meters. They can stay underwater for up to two minutes and reach depths of up to 60 meters.
What Seabirds Stance And Coloring Closely Resembles A Penguin?
The most notable similarity between penguins and murres is teir upright stance. Both birds have a set of wings that are used primarily for swimming; as a result, their legs are positioned far back on their body, giving them a distinctive upright posture. In addition, both penguins and murres are black and white in coloration. However, there are some key differences between the two birds. For instance, penguins are native to the southern hemisphere while murres are found in the northern hemisphere. In addition, penguins are much larger than murres; an adult penguin can weigh up to 30 pounds, while an adult murre only weighs about 2 pounds.
What Does Murre Mean In English?
A murre is a seabird of the genus Uria, in the auk family. The common murre (Uria aalge) is a black-and-white bird found in northern seas. Murres are closely related to guillemots and auks, and like these birds, they spend most of their time at sea, only coming to land to breed. Murres lay their eggs in crevices on cliff faces, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks.
Where Do Murre Birds Live?
Murres are birds of northern ocean waters. Watch for them from shore (use a spotting scope for best results) or while out on a birding pelagic, whale watching trip, or other ocean excursion. They’re present all year along the West Coast; mainly in winter in the East as far south as New Jersey.
Do Murres Mate For Life?
Yes, Murres mate for life. Common Murres are monogamous and often stay partnered for several years consecutively.
How Long Do Common Murres Live?
The Common Murre’s lifespan is about 20 years. They breed in colonies, they don’t make nests, and nesting pairs are in bodily contact with their surrounding birds. Birds incubate a single egg upon a large rock on cliffs.
How Fast Can A Murre Fly?
Murres are able to fly at speeds of up to 75 km per hour. Their wings are smaller in comparison to other flying birds of similar size, so they have to flap their wings very quickly in order to take off from the surface of the water. Oftentimes, murres will bounce off the top of waves before becoming airborne. Once in the air, however, they are able to maintain high speeds and fly relatively effortlessly.
What Is A Murre Egg?
A murre egg is a large egg laid by a member of the bird family Alcidae. The eggs are typically pointed at one end, and are pyriform in shape. It is believed that the pyriform shape allws the egg to spin on its axis or in an arc when disturbed.
Can You Eat Murres?
Murres are a type of seabird that are found in cold, coastal waters around the world. Historically, murres were a popular food source for many cultures, including the Inuit, Beothuk, and Coast Salish peoples. Murres are stll harvested for food by some communities today.
The meat of a murre is dark and oily, with a strong fishy flavor. It is typically dried or smoked before being eaten. The oil from murre meat was also traditionally used as a fuel source or for lighting lamps. The eggs of murres are also edible and were often collected as a food source.
Meet The Underwater Torpedo Bird | National Geographic
Conclusion
Thick-billed murre populations are in decline due to a number of factors, including climate change, overfishing, and habitat loss. Despite thee challenges, thick-billed murres are still found in large numbers in some areas of the world. With proper conservation efforts, it is possible that these birds will continue to thrive for many years to come.
