Birds Active day and night

Ancient Murrelet

Synthliboramphus antiquus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The Ancient Murrelet is a master of the North Pacific, known for its striking silver 'shawl' and a truly remarkable upbringing. These tiny seabirds lead their chicks on a perilous midnight run to the ocean just two days after they hatch.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length 24-27 cm (9.5-10.5 in); Wingspan 43-46 cm (17-18 in); Weight 175-250 g (6-9 oz)

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Colors

Slate-grey back and upper wings, black crown and throat, white underparts, and distinctive white streaks on the neck and head during breeding season.

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Key Features

Grey 'shawl' on back and shoulders
Black cap and throat contrasting with white underparts
Small, pale yellow or horn-colored bill
White plume-like feathers above and behind the eye

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours Midnight to 4 AM (at colonies); Daylight (for foraging at sea)

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Season March-July (Breeding season)

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Diet Primarily small forage fish such as Pacific sand lance and herring, supplemented by crustaceans like euphausiids (krill) and larval crabs.

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Habitat Nests in burrows or under tree roots in coastal temperate forests; winters on the open ocean and in protected bays.

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Where Does the Ancient Murrelet Live?

Native to the North Pacific, the Ancient Murrelet occupies a vast arc of coastline and open water. They are primarily found from the Yellow Sea and Japan, up through the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and down the Pacific coast of North America to British Columbia and Washington state. While their core breeding range is centered on the islands of the Canadian and Alaskan panhandles, they migrate south in the winter, occasionally reaching as far as Baja California and coastal China.

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6 Countries

4.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States CA Canada JP Japan Russia CN China South Korea

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Ancient Murrelet is a highly specialized seabird with a fascinating social structure. Unlike most birds, they are precocial; chicks hatch and stay in the nest for only about 48 hours. Under the cover of night, the parents call to their chicks from the surf, and the tiny fluffballs must navigate through the forest and across the beach to join their parents at sea, where they are raised entirely on the open water. This strategy helps them avoid predators like gulls and ravens that patrol the nesting colonies during the day.

At sea, they are gregarious and often found in small groups, diving in unison to hunt. They are exceptional swimmers, using their wings to 'fly' underwater in pursuit of prey. While they are silent at sea, they become incredibly vocal at their breeding colonies, filling the night air with whistles and chirps as they locate their burrows or communicate with mates. Their interaction with humans is limited to coastal sightings or researchers, as they spend the vast majority of their lives far from shore.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Ancient Murrelet on camera requires a specialized approach because they are strictly nocturnal when visiting land. If you live in a coastal area or have access to an island colony, your best bet is to position your camera near the base of large, old-growth trees or rocky crevices where they might burrow. Look for small entry holes with visible 'wear' or white droppings nearby. Set your camera at a very low height—no more than 6 to 12 inches off the ground—and angle it slightly upward to capture the birds as they land or waddle toward their burrows.

Because these birds are sensitive to bright lights, it is crucial to use a 'No-Glow' or high-quality Invisible Infrared (940nm) flash. Traditional white flashes or even 'Low-Glow' red LEDs can startle the birds or attract predators like raccoons and minks to the site. Fast trigger speeds are essential; when the chicks make their dash for the ocean, they move incredibly quickly, and a slow camera will only capture a blur of grey fluff.

Video mode is highly recommended over still photos for this species. The sound of the parents calling from the water and the chicks' response is a key part of their behavior that stills simply can't capture. Set your video length to 15-20 seconds with a high sensitivity setting on the PIR sensor. Since they are most active during the darkest hours of the night (usually 11 PM to 3 AM), ensure your batteries are fresh, as cold coastal nights and heavy IR use will drain them quickly.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Ancient Murrelet.

Marbled Murrelet

Smaller with a darker bill; Marbled Murrelets have brown mottled plumage in summer rather than the clean grey and black of the Ancient Murrelet.

Cassin's Auklet

Much more uniform grey-brown in color and lacks the black crown and white head plumes of the Ancient Murrelet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ancient Murrelets are most active on land during the middle of the night, typically between 11 PM and 3 AM, to avoid predators. At sea, they are active during the day when they forage for fish and krill.

Ancient Murrelets cannot be attracted to traditional backyards. They only come to land on remote, forested islands or coastal cliffs in the North Pacific. Protecting coastal habitats and reducing light pollution are the best ways to support them.

Their diet consists of small fish like sand lance and herring, along with various crustaceans such as krill. They are expert divers and can stay underwater for significant periods while hunting.

No, they are strictly pelagic (ocean-dwelling) birds. They are only seen near land during the breeding season on specific, often uninhabited islands in the North Pacific.

Ancient Murrelets have a black throat and a distinct grey 'shawl' on their back, whereas Marbled Murrelets have a brown, mottled appearance during the breeding season. The Ancient Murrelet also has a smaller, paler bill.

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