Breeding adult. Photo: Mick Thompson/Flickr (CC-BY-NC-2.0)
Cerorhinca monocerata
| Conservation status | Not as abundant as some Arctic auks, but still fairly numerous. On Farallon Islands, California, where the species ceased to breed for almost a century, it re-established itself in the 1970s after introduced rabbits were eliminated (rabbits may have competed for burrows). |
|---|---|
| Family | Auks, Murres, Puffins |
| Habitat | Ocean, tide-rips; nests in burrows on islands. Often far from land, but may feed close to shore, especially where tidal currents near islands cause upwellings or concentrations of food. In winter flocks may spend night on coastal bays, flying farther out to sea to forage by day. Nests on islands, in burrows in soil under grass, shrubs, trees. |
Forages while swimming underwater. Can remain submerged for up to 2 minutes. May tend to forage closer to shore than puffins.
one. White, usually spotted with brown and gray. Incubation is by both sexes, 39-52 days, average 45 days. Young: both parents feed young, carrying fish in bill to nest. Young leaves nest about 7-8 weeks after hatching.
both parents feed young, carrying fish in bill to nest. Young leaves nest about 7-8 weeks after hatching.
Fish, crustaceans. Food brought to nestlings is mostly small fish, particularly sand lance, herring, and anchovy, also rockfish, smelt, saury, and others. Favors fish that gathers in dense schools. Diet of adults probably similar. Also eats crustaceans.
Breeds in colonies, mostly on islands. Generally active around colonies only in evening and at night, although at some colonies the adults visit by day as well. Courtship displays include members of pair nibbling at each other's bills. Advertise ownership of nest site by standing upright, with wings partly opened, pointing bill up and hissing. Nest site is in burrow in ground, typically on slight slope covered with grass, shrubs, trees, sometimes in steep slope or cliff. Burrow up to 20' long, usually 5-10', with one or more side branches. Nest is in chamber in burrow, a shallow cup of moss, twigs.
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