Endangered Species in Santa Cruz County - Birds

Marbled Murrelet

Scientific Name: Brachyramphus marmoratus

Status: T, CH

The Marbled Murrelet is a small, chubby seabird that has a very short neck. Adults are about the size of a robin; males and females are similar in appearance and size. Murrelets have a black bill and an entirely dark tail. Breeding adult is dark brown above, heavily mottled below. In winter plumage, white below, with white scapular streak on otherwise dark upperparts. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has dusky-mottled underparts, which become mostly white by the first winter.

The Marbled Murrelet is non-migratory and feeds primarily on small fish, crustaceans and mollusks. In central California, it inhabits coastal areas, mainly in salt water within 2 km of shore; its nests are generally in mature/old growth coniferous forest (e.g., Douglas-fir, mountain hemlock) near the coast. The species is secretive and solitary, not tending to flock with other birds. The primary reasons for its endangered status are prey limitation and nest predation.

To Learn More:

• Animal Diversity Web
  Brief easy-to-read summaries (most with photos) describing habitat, geographic range, behavior, food and current conservation status.
• California Department of Fish and Game
  Species monitoring and status reports from the DFG.
• NatureServe Explorer
  Enter species name in search box to access detailed description of habitat, behavior, food, current conservation status, ecological and distribution data, with citations to relevant management reports.
• Santa Cruz Public Libraries - Local Resources
  Search SCPL's online catalog for local documents and other information about this species.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  Species profile and population details , including distribution, habitat, breeding.

Last updated by teeterj on Oct. 24, 2011