Common Guillemot Uria aalge

The Common Guillemot, called just the Guillemot in the UK and the Common or Thin-billed Murre in North America, is an auk native to sub-Arctic and northern temperate oceans.

They spend most of their lives at sea, comming ashore only to breed. They nest in dense colonies on steep cliffs to reduce the risk of predation of eggs and young.

They are most at home in the water, diving for fish. Some subspecies have dark chocolate brown plumage and some have black, both with white fronts. Juveniles have white cheeks and chins. A "bridled" form has white eye rings and a white streak from the eye looking like a pair of spectacles. Winter adult plumage also has white cheeks and chin.

Auks fill the "penguin" niche in the northern oceans. However they have wings rather than flippers and can (and do) fly.

Thanks to Keith Wood for the 3 photos immediately above of a Common Guillemot or Murre colony off Newfoundland (the last one with Puffin and Kittiwake).