Common Murre (also known as the Thin-billed Murre or Common Guillemot)

The Common Murre is a large auk with a sleek, torpedo-shaped body adapted for both flying through the air and 'fly-swimming' underwater in pursuit of fish. They have dark brown-black heads and backs, white underparts, and dagger-like bills. Their plumage is exceptionally dense to withstand cold ocean water.

Rich dark charcoal grey or slate black on the distal exposed portion, transitioning abruptly to clean white at the proximal, downy base. The rachis is white near the base and darkens to match the vane distally.

Pennaceous at the distal end with tightly interlocked barbs and barbicels for waterproofing, transitioning to plumulaceous (fluffy, downy) structure near the base for thermal insulation.

Central rachis is robust yet flexible, flattened on the underside, transitioning from white at the base to dark grey-black along the pennaceous section. Barbs are tightly packed and angled distally.

Smooth, glossy, and tightly knit along the upper pennaceous portion to repel water during dives, while the base is soft, silky, and plumulaceous.

Body contour feather, likely from the upper flank or mantle, given its dark slate-grey upper vane fading to white at the fluffy base, aiding in countershading.

Distinctive bicolored pattern (dark slate-grey tip sharply contrasting with a fluffy white base), firm waterproof pennaceous tip, and strong flexibility typical of diving seabird contour feathers.

Marine and pelagic environments, spending most of its life on the open ocean, coming to land only to breed on steep rocky cliffs, sea stacks, and islands.

Circumpolar distribution in subarctic and boreal waters of the Northern Hemisphere, ranging south in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to temperate regions.

Apex marine predators of small schooling fish and invertebrates. They serve as important bioindicators of marine ecosystem health and fish stock abundance.

Other alcids such as Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia) or Razorbills (Alca torda). Distinguishing features include subtle variations in bill shape, size, and precise shade of the dark grey vs. black pigment.

Common Murres can dive to depths of over 180 meters (nearly 600 feet) in search of fish. Their eggs are famously pear-shaped (pyriform), which prevents them from rolling off narrow cliff ledges.

Historically, murre eggs and meat were heavily harvested by coastal human populations for food, which drastically impacted some populations. Their feathers were sometimes used locally for light stuffing.

Look near rocky coastal cliffs, breeding colonies, or wash-ups along beaches adjacent to cold marine waters where alcids reside.

Good condition. The barbs are mostly intact with minimal fraying, showing standard wear for a body contour feather.