Craveri's Murrelet

Overview

Craveri's Murrelet: Small, plump seabird, reminiscent of a small, flying penguin. with black upperparts that extend as a bar onto the side of upper breast, distinct white crescents above and below eyes, white underparts, and dark gray underwing linings. Feeds on crustaceans and small fish.

Range and Habitat

Craveri's Murrelet: A threatened species; breeds on islands in the Gulf of California and off Baja California north to San Benito Islands. After breeding, wanders to the southern California coast, occasionally farther north. Rocky cliffs and offshore waters are the preferred habitat for this murrelet.

INTERESTING FACTS

Craveri's Murrelet is considered by some to be one of the more endangered species of auk. The estimated population is between 6,000-10,000 breeding pairs.
It flies well, and can take off without taxiing.
The chicks are highly precocial, leaving the nest within two days of hatching and running actively towards the sea, where the parents call to them. Once at sea the family swims to offshore waters.
A group of auks has many collective nouns, including a "colony", "loomery", and "raft" of auks.

The Craveri's Murrelet has a small breeding range, confined only to coastal areas on western Mexico and the United States, to which it is native. This bird prefers marine ecosystems that are neritic, oceanic, or coastal. The global population of this bird is estimated at 5000 breeding pairs and a total of about 15,000 to 20,000 individuals and meets population decline criteria that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. The current evaluation status of Craveri's Murrelet is Vulnerable.