Conserving and restoring at risk species and ecosystems on the BC South Coast
Marbled Murrelet
Brachyramphus marmoratus
A member of the family Alcidae (auks), no subspecies are recognized in North America. Several species of seabird in a number of genera are referred to as “murrelets” in North America; Marbled Murrelet is one of only two members of the Brachyramphus genus for BC.
COSEWIC: T BC List: Blue, Identified Wildlife
Marbled Murrelet are a chubby, “robin-sized” seabird (actually a small auk), with short neck and tail. The characteristic profile while swimming is for the tail and black bill to be tipped upwards. During the breeding season (summer), plumage on the back is dark brown with marbled light brown sides and stomach (camouflaging adults on the nest). Winter plumage becomes more distinct with the back darkening to black, and sides, belly, and wing patches becoming white along with a broken white collar. These colouration patterns also help to camouflage the marbled murrelet from predators on the open ocean as well as during underwater foraging. Juveniles have a similar size and body shape as adults but plumage has more extensive marbling that lasts over the winter until sexually mature.
RESOURCES
A revised protocol for land management and research
For further information see:
A Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team was established in 1993 to plan the long-term conservation of Marbled Murrelets. The Recovery Team includes representatives of federal and provincial government agencies, industry and non-governmental organizations.
A sources for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC.
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
Learn what species are at risk in your area, search by name, habitat type, regional district and forest district.
A volunteer-driven GIS-based biogeoclimatic atlas of the wildlife of BC.
Source for status, taxonomy, distribution and life history information for plants, animals and ecological communities in the US and Canada.
An initiative of the Province of BC to provide more explicit guidance and conservation on specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern that are impacted by forestry activities.
The source for news, information and documents related to species at risk, their status and conservation in Canada.
Up-to-date information on recovery planning and implementation for species in BC.
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