Description:
Smaller than common Guillemot, body plump and pear-shaped. Summer breeding plumage: Body all black with large oval white upperwing patches; underwing white with dark trailing edge, red legs and feet. Winter plumage: Underparts become white and the upperparts barred white but white wing patch still obvious. Juvenile/1cy: similar to adult winter but white wing patch heavily barred; head and breast duskier than adult.
Distribution:
mostly on the Scottish west coast, Orkneys and Shetland Isles.
Habitat:
Winters at sea. Breeds on rocky coasts.
Behaviour:
Flies close to water with fast whirring wing beats.
Reproduction:
Clutch size = 2 eggs which are white with black spots, laid in May to June. Incubation takes 21-25 days. Young fledge after 34-40 days. Only 1 brood per year.
Population:
Approx 18,550 breeding pairs - Wintering populations are around 58,000-80,000 birds for Britain and Ireland. (?)
Status:
Resident breeder.
Conservation: AMBER uk. Least concern global.
Did You Know:
Fish are carried crossways in bill but always pointed in the same direction either left or right depending on the individual bird!
