Synthliboramphus antiquus (J.F.Gmelin, 1789)

Plumage - General

This small auk species has black plumage on the head, throat, and rear neck, grey upper back, and white underparts. Its bill is yellow, short, and stubby, and it has a small, rounded black tail.

Breeding Plumage

Adult birds in summer breeding plumage have white streaks on their heads, which create an aged appearance that inspired the species' common English name.

Non-breeding Plumage

Non-breeding plumages match breeding plumage in most ways, but lack the white crown streaks and the black coloring on the throat.

Flight Characteristics

Ancient murrelets typically bank from side to side while flying to a greater degree than other small auk species. They use fast wing beats during flight, which is due to their short wings.

Size and Weight

This species measures 20–24 cm (7.9–9.4 in) in length, weighs 150–250 g (5.4–8.8 oz), and has a wingspan of 45–46 cm (17.7–18.1 in).

Breeding Range

For breeding habitat, this species ranges from islands off China in the Yellow Sea, along the Russian Pacific coast and through the Aleutian Islands, to the Haida Gwaii archipelago of British Columbia; roughly half of the world's total population breeds in Haida Gwaii.

Long-distance Migration

Some individual ancient murrelets migrate 8,000 kilometres (5,000 mi) from Canada to winter near Japan and China, despite similar climate conditions at both the breeding and wintering areas. This is the only bird species known to cross the entire North Pacific.

Return Migration Timing

The birds begin their return northbound trip in February, flying four to five hours each day.

Evolutionary Origin of Migration

Genetic evidence indicates that the species first originated in Asia, and only colonized North America relatively recently, so the annual migration brings the birds back to the species' original homeland.

Potential New Breeding Location

In 2007, surveys conducted off the Olympic Peninsula found an unprecedented number of Ancient Murrelets with chicks, which strongly suggests local breeding occurs in this area.

Southern Winter Range

Other ancient murrelets fly south for winter, reaching as far south as California.

Inland Strays in North America

Rare stray birds can be found inland in North America after being carried there by autumn storms.

European Stray Records

The most notable record of this generally short-distance Pacific migrant is an individual found on Lundy Island, Devon, England, in spring 1990. Even more unusually, what is believed to be the same individual returned to this British island for the next two springs after the first sighting.

Finland Sighting

In 2021, murrelets of this species were sighted in Finland.