About Cepphus carbo Pallas, 1811
Species Nomenclature
This species, the spectacled guillemot (scientific name Cepphus carbo Pallas, 1811), reaches approximately 38 cm (15 inches) in length, and has red legs, a black bill, and a blackish iris.
Breeding Adult Plumage
Breeding adult spectacled guillemots have a distinct appearance: their plumage is mostly dull sooty-black, with the exception of prominent white "spectacles" on the face.
Non-Breeding Adult Plumage
In non-breeding plumage, adults have white underparts with uniform very pale grey-brown tipping.
Transitional Plumage
Transitional birds resemble breeding adults, but have underparts scaled with white.
Sexual Dimorphism & Juvenile Identification
Males and females look identical, while juveniles can be distinguished from adults.
Subspecies Status
No subspecies have been identified for this species.
Geographical Range
The spectacled guillemot's range is limited to the northwestern Pacific Ocean, occurring across the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kuril Islands in Russia, and on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō.
Range Overlap with Related Species
Its range overlaps with that of the closely related pigeon guillemot, though the spectacled guillemot's range extends further north.
