Synthliboramphus wumizusume
The Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume) is a small, pelagic seabird belonging to the Alcid family, closely related to other 'ancient murrelets' like the Ancient Murrelet, Craveri's Murrelet, and Xantus's Murrelet. Measuring approximately 25-27 cm in length with a wingspan of about 40-45 cm and weighing 150-200g, it exhibits a striking dark grey-brown to black upper plumage contrasted with clean white underparts. A key identification mark in breeding plumage is the distinctive whit...
This murrelet primarily inhabits temperate coastal waters and the open ocean, breeding exclusively on small, remote offshore islands, often utilizing dense vegetation or rocky crevices for nest sites.
Their diet primarily consists of small schooling fish such as anchovies and sardines, supplemented by krill and other marine invertebrates. They are agile pursuit divers, catching prey underwater.
Japanese Murrelets are notoriously cryptic, especially during the breeding season, when they exhibit nocturnal activity at colonies to avoid aerial predators like gulls. During the day, they forage solitarily or in small groups at sea, primarily using pursuit diving to catch their prey. Courtship...
The Japanese Murrelet has a restricted breeding range concentrated primarily around the southern coasts of Japan and the Korean Peninsula. Major breeding colonies are found on the Izu Islands, Kyushu, and other small offshore islets in Japan, as well as several islands off the southern coast of S...
Vulnerable
- Japanese Murrelets are one of the most precocial bird species, with chicks leaving the nest and heading to sea within 1-2 days of hatching. - The species breeds exclusively on remote offshore islands, arriving and departing under the cover of darkness to avoid predators. - Their Japanese name, ...