The Ancient Murrelet is named for its gray-and-black plumage that resembles an old man's coloring. It nests in burrows on Pacific islands and has an unusual strategy — chicks leave the nest just two days after hatching, before they can fly, and swim out to sea in the dark with their parents. They then spend their lives offshore, rarely approaching land except to breed.
Habitat
Open North Pacific ocean; nests on offshore islands in conifers and burrows
Diet
Small fish, squid, and zooplankton
How common
Uncommon
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