Common Guillemot,(Uria aalge),stretching wings, Farne Islands,Northumbria,British Isles,United Kingdom

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The common guillemot (Uria aalge) is a large auk. It is also known as the thin-billed murre in North America. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring in low-Arctic and boreal waters in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. It spends most of its time at sea, only coming to land to breed on rocky cliff shores Common guillemots have fast direct flight but are not very agile. They are more manoeuvrable underwater, typically diving to depths of 30–60 m (98–197 ft). Depths of up to 180 m (590 ft) have been recorded. Both male and female common guillemots moult after breeding and become flightless for 1–2 months. In southern populations they occasionally return to the nest site throughout the winter. Northern populations spend the winter farther from their colonies.

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Size: 3540px × 4899px
Location: Farne Islands,Northumbria,British Isles,United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Dominic Robinson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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