[Length 18 in. Wingspan 28 in.]

Thick-billed Murres occur along the coasts of northern North America, northwestern Europe, northern Siberia, and the Pacific coast of Asia as far south as northern Japan. In North America they breed on rocky islands and headlands in western Alaska and eastern and western Canada. The Thick-billed Murre and Common Murre are almost identical in plumage. The Thick-billed Murre has a slightly thicker bill (hence the name "Thick-billed") with a white stripe. Both are distinguished from their cousins, the Puffins, by their basic "black above and white below" pattern WITHOUT any facial pattern. This "Atlantic" Thick-billed Murre was photographed in Witless Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: July 1994)

[Length 18 in. Wingspan 28 in.]

Thick-billed Murres occur along the coasts of northern North America, northwestern Europe, northern Siberia, and the Pacific coast of Asia as far south as northern Japan. In North America they breed on rocky islands and headlands in western Alaska and eastern and western Canada. The Thick-billed Murre and Common Murre are almost identical in plumage. The Thick-billed Murre has a slightly thicker bill (hence the name "Thick-billed") with a white stripe. Both are distinguished from their cousins, the Puffins, by their basic "black above and white below" pattern WITHOUT any facial pattern. This one was photographed at the nesting cliffs of St. Paul Island in the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Ektachrome 200 film pushed to 400. (Date: June 1989)

[Length 18 in. Wingspan 28 in.]

This "Pacific" Thick-billed Murre in flight was photographed at the Northwest Point sea watch at the village of Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1989)

[Length 18 in. Wingspan 28 in.]

These "Pacific" Thick-billed Murres were photographed at their nesting cliffs on St. Paul Island in the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Ektachrome 200 film. (Date: June 1989)

[Length 10 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

Ancient Murrelets occur along the northwestern coasts of North America, the Aleutians Islands, and along the northeastern coasts of Asia as far south as Japan. In North America, they breed on rocky islands of southern Alaska and the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands. The black head with white sides extending up from the breast distinguishes Ancient Murrelets from the similar Parakeet and Crested Auklets. This one was photographed as it floated by the Northwest Point sea watch at Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: June 1989)

[Length 10 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This Ancient Murrelet was photographed as it floated by the Northwest Point sea watch at Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: June 1989)

[Length 12.5 in. Wingspan 21 in.]

This Atlantic Puffin was photographed at Sumburgh Head RSPB Reserve, Sumburgh, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland, Great Britain. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=157mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: June 12, 2004)

[Length 12.5 in. Wingspan 21 in.]

This Atlantic Puffin in flight was photographed near the breeding cliffs on Gull Island in Witless Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: July 1994)