[Length 13.5 in. Wingspan 23 in.]

Pigeon Guillemots are easily distinguished from other members of the Alcid family (Puffins, Murres, Murrelets, and Auklets) by the combination of dark upperparts and white wing patch. They also have bright red legs and feet, which are unique among most of the Alcids (only Puffins are similar with bright yellowish-orange legs and feet). The red feet can be seen when the birds are resting on rocks or cliffs, and sometimes when the birds are in flight. They breed along the west coast of North America from northwest Alaska to southern California and out along the Aleutian Islands. They winter along the inner Aleutians, southern coast of Alaska, west coast of Canada, and the extreme northwest of the state of Washington in the US. This Pigeon Guillemot in flight was photographed at Kodiak, Alaska. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: June 1989)

[Length 13.5 in. Wingspan 23 in.]

This Pigeon Guillemot in flight was photographed at the Northwest Point sea watch at the village of Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1989)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

Common Murres occur along the northern coasts of North America, Europe, and the Pacific coast of Asia south to Japan. In North America they breed on rocky islands and headlands in western Alaska and eastern and western Canada. Some Atlantic Common Murres show a white eye-ring and trailing white stripe behind the eye, as this "Bridled" Common Murre does. The Common Murre and Thick-billed Murre are almost identical in plumage. The Thick-billed Murre has a slightly thicker bill (hence the name "Thick-billed") with a white stripe. Both are distinguished from their cousins, the Puffins, by their basic "black above and white below" pattern WITHOUT any facial pattern. This "Bridled" Common Murre was photographed in Witless Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: July 1994)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

Common Murres occur along the northern coasts of North America, Europe, and the Pacific coast of Asia south to Japan. In North America they breed on rocky islands and headlands in western Alaska and eastern and western Canada. The Common Murre and Thick-billed Murre are almost identical in plumage. The Thick-billed Murre has a slightly thicker bill (hence the name "Thick-billed") with a white stripe. Both are distinguished from their cousins, the Puffins, by their basic "black above and white below" pattern WITHOUT any facial pattern. This one was photographed at the nesting cliffs of St. Paul Island in the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Ektachrome 200 film pushed to 400. (Date: June 1989)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This Common Murre was photographed at Lerwick, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland, Great Britain. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: June 10, 2004)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This winter plumaged Common Murre was photographed in Monterey Bay, California. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: November 1981)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This Common Murre in flight was photographed in Witless Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: July 1994)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This Common Murre was photographed at Lerwick, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland, Great Britain. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: June 10, 2004)