Pigeon Guillemot

About

The Pigeon Guillemot is a medium-sized seabird belonging to the auk family (Alcidae). It is known for its striking black plumage with prominent white wing patches and bright red legs and mouth lining, especially during the breeding season. These birds are adept divers, using their wings to 'fly' underwater in pursuit of prey. They are typically found in coastal waters of the North Pacific.

Size & lifespan

Length

30-37 cm (12-15 in)

Wingspan

52-58 cm (20-23 in)

Weight

450-550 g (16-19 oz)

Lifespan

Up to 15-20 years in the wild

Diet

Carnivore (primarily fish and marine invertebrates)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Breeding adults are entirely sooty black with a large, oval white patch on each wing, bisected by a thin black line (visible on the underside of the wing). Non-breeding adults and juveniles are mottled gray and white, with the white wing patch still visible but less distinct.

Beak shape

Slender, pointed, and black. The inside of the mouth is bright red, visible when the bird calls or yawns.

Eye color

Dark brown, often appearing black.

Leg color

Vivid red in breeding adults, duller orange-red in non-breeding adults and juveniles.

Distinguishing features

The combination of all-black breeding plumage (except for the white wing patch), bright red legs, and red mouth lining is diagnostic. In flight, the white wing patches are very conspicuous.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults, with mottled gray and white plumage. Their legs are duller orange-red, and the white wing patch is present but often smudged with gray.

Seasonal changes

Breeding plumage (sooty black with white wing patches, bright red legs) is worn from spring through late summer. Non-breeding plumage (mottled gray and white, duller legs) is seen from late fall through winter. The white wing patch remains visible in all plumages.

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females are outwardly similar in plumage and size.

How to identify

1. 1

   Breeding Plumage

   Look for the entirely sooty black body with a prominent, oval white patch on the upperwing, often with a thin black line through it. Bright red legs and a red mouth lining are key.

2. 2

   Non-breeding/Juvenile Plumage

   Mottled gray and white body, but still retain the white wing patch (though it may be smudged). Legs are duller orange-red. Often seen on the water.

3. 3

   Flight

   Fast, direct flight low over the water with rapid wingbeats. The white wing patches are very obvious against the dark body.

4. 4

   Behavior

   Often seen diving from the surface, disappearing for extended periods. They frequently perch on rocks or cliffs near the water.

5. 5

   Vocalizations

   Listen for their distinctive high-pitched whistles, trills, and squeals, especially near breeding colonies.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Marine, Coastal

Geographic range

North Pacific Ocean, from northeastern Siberia and Alaska south to California, and across to Japan and Korea. Breeding occurs along rocky coastlines.

Elevation range

Sea level to nearshore waters; nests on cliffs and rocky shores.

Preferred environments

Rocky coastlines, sea cliffs, offshore islands, and nearshore marine waters. They prefer areas with abundant prey and suitable nesting crevices or burrows.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal, active during daylight hours for foraging and breeding activities.

Feeding habits

Primarily piscivorous, feeding on small fish (e.g., sandlance, sculpins, blennies, herring) and marine invertebrates (e.g., crabs, shrimp, polychaete worms, squid). They are pursuit divers, using their wings to propel themselves underwater, often diving to depths of 10-30 meters (30-100 feet) and staying submerged for up to 1-2 minutes.

Social behavior

Colonial breeders, nesting in loose colonies. Outside the breeding season, they are often seen singly or in small groups on the water. They can be quite vocal and interactive at breeding colonies.

Flight pattern

Direct and rapid, with fast, whirring wingbeats. They fly low over the water, often in a straight line. On land, they walk awkwardly.

Migration pattern

Mostly resident or short-distance migrants. Northern populations may move south to ice-free waters in winter, while southern populations are largely sedentary, remaining near their breeding grounds year-round.

Territoriality

Defend a small territory around their nest site, often a crevice or burrow. They can be aggressive towards intruders near their nest.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

May to August, with peak egg-laying in May-June.

Nesting habits

Nests in natural crevices, caves, or burrows on rocky cliffs, talus slopes, or under boulders, often near the high tide line. They may also use abandoned burrows of other seabirds or dig their own in soft soil. Nests are typically unlined or sparsely lined with pebbles or shell fragments.

Clutch size

1-2 eggs

Egg description

Typically 1-2 eggs (rarely 3), pear-shaped, pale greenish-blue to buff, heavily spotted and blotched with dark brown, black, or purplish markings, especially at the larger end.

Incubation period

28-32 days

Fledging period

34-50 days (average 35-40 days)

Parental care

Both parents share incubation duties and feed the chicks. Chicks are fed small fish and invertebrates brought back to the nest in the parents' bills. Young are precocial, leaving the nest and becoming independent shortly after fledging.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Scan rocky shorelines. Use binoculars or a spotting scope to scan rocky outcrops, cliffs, and the water surface near them. They often perch conspicuously.
2. Look for diving activity. Watch for birds that repeatedly dive from the surface and resurface a short distance away. This indicates foraging.
3. Visit breeding colonies. During late spring and summer, visit known seabird colonies where they nest. Their calls will often give them away.
4. Observe flight patterns. Their direct, low flight with flashing white wing patches is a good identification cue, even at a distance.

Similar species

Quick facts

Primary Habitat:

Rocky coastal waters

Diet:

Small fish and marine invertebrates

Nesting Site:

Crevices, burrows in cliffs/rocky shores

Distinctive Feature:

White wing patch, red legs, red mouth lining

Conservation Status:

Least Concern

Fun facts

• Pigeon Guillemots use their wings to 'fly' underwater, making them highly efficient pursuit divers.
• The bright red mouth lining is thought to be a display feature, possibly for courtship or territorial defense.
• They often carry multiple small fish crosswise in their bill when returning to the nest to feed chicks, a behavior common among auks.
• Despite their name, they are not closely related to pigeons; the 'Pigeon' refers to their somewhat pigeon-like head shape and stout body.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Alcidae

Genus

Cepphus

Species

Cepphus columba

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