Where does the Pigeon Guillemot live?
Cepphus columba
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Open the appThe Pigeon Guillemot lives in specific habitats and regions. Knowing where, and when, to look improves your chances of a successful sighting.
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.
Preferred environments
Rocky coastlines, sea cliffs, offshore islands, and nearshore marine waters. They prefer areas with abundant prey and suitable nesting crevices or burrows.
Elevation range
Sea level to nearshore waters; nests on cliffs and rocky shores.
Where to look
Rocky Coastlines
Look along sea cliffs, rocky shores, and offshore islands throughout their North Pacific range.
Nearshore Waters
Often seen foraging in bays, inlets, and near kelp beds close to the coast.
Breeding Colonies
During the breeding season, locate areas with suitable nesting crevices or burrows on cliffs or talus slopes.
Field tips
- Scan rocky shorelines. Use binoculars or a spotting scope to scan rocky outcrops, cliffs, and the water surface near them. They often perch conspicuously.
- Look for diving activity. Watch for birds that repeatedly dive from the surface and resurface a short distance away. This indicates foraging.
- Visit breeding colonies. During late spring and summer, visit known seabird colonies where they nest. Their calls will often give them away.
- Observe flight patterns. Their direct, low flight with flashing white wing patches is a good identification cue, even at a distance.
Migration
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.
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