Pigeon guillemot
Cepphus columba
- Not on exhibit
- Animal type
- Birds
- Ecosystem
- Coastal waters
- Relatives
- Puffins, murres, murrelets, auks; Family: Alcidae
- Diet
- Small fishes, molluscs, crustaceans, and marine worms
- Range
- From Arctic Sea to Japan; Alaska to Southern California
- Size
- 13–14 inches (33–36 cm)
Meet the pigeon guillemot
If you visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you can observe pigeon guillemots from our decks. Look for black birds with white upper wing patches marked by a black triangle. Pigeon guillemots have long black bills, slender necks, and distinctive red legs. You might also see them nesting on ledges under the Aquarium.
Conservation
Pigeon guillemots feed in shallow nearshore waters, a habitat vulnerable to oil spills. These birds' populations have been declining as a result of past oil spills, pollution, and warming climate conditions that also harm their habitats and the fish they eat.
Cool facts
- In spring, pairs gather together and perform a courtship "water-dance"—calling, diving, and chasing each other.
- The pigeon guillemot uses its wings to swim while searching for food. They appear to fly under water.
- Both parents feed their chicks one fish at a time, bringing them an average of 16 loads a day. Chicks eat the fishes whole and head-first. Chicks gain weight rapidly, tripling their weight within 10 days.
- Pigeon guillemots nest in rock crevices and under tree roots at the top of rocky cliffs and steep slopes. This helps protect them from predators such as mammals and other birds.
Up next in coastal waters
Animal
Sandbar shark
True to its name, the sandbar shark is often found in sandy or muddy areas close to land.
Keep exploring
Animal
Sea otter
Beyond their cute faces and fluffy fur, sea otters play an irreplaceable role in their coastal habitats.