About Synthliboramphus hypoleucus (Xantus de Vesey, 1860)
General Appearance
This species is a small black-and-white auk with a small head and a thin, sharp bill.
Similar Species
It closely resembles Scripps's murrelet and Craveri's murrelet, its close relatives. All three species share the distinction of being the most southerly living auk species.
Breeding Range
This species breeds on islands from Guadalupe Island south to the San Benito Islands.
Post-Breeding Dispersal
After the breeding season, it disperses locally at sea northward, reaching as far as southern California in the United States.
Taxonomic Information
Its scientific name is Synthliboramphus hypoleucus, first described by Xantus de Vesey in 1860.
