[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

Common Murres occur along the northern coasts of North America, Europe, and the Pacific coast of Asia south to Japan. In North America they breed on rocky islands and headlands in western Alaska and eastern and western Canada. Some Atlantic Common Murres show a white eye-ring and trailing white stripe behind the eye, as this "Bridled" Common Murre does. The Common Murre and Thick-billed 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 "Bridled" Common 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 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

Common Murres occur along the northern coasts of North America, Europe, and the Pacific coast of Asia south to Japan. In North America they breed on rocky islands and headlands in western Alaska and eastern and western Canada. The Common Murre and Thick-billed 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, USA. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Ektachrome 200 film pushed to 400. (Date: June 1989)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This Common Murre was photographed at Lerwick, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland, Great Britain. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: June 10, 2004)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This winter plumaged Common Murre was photographed in Monterey Bay, California, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: November 1981)

[Length 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This Common Murre in flight 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 17.5 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This Common Murre was photographed at Lerwick, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland, Great Britain. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: June 10, 2004)

[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, USA. 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, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1989)