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TUFTED PUFFIN; SEA PARROT

12. Lunda cirrhata. 13 inches

This is the largest of the family, they are odd looking birds, with short legs, stout bodies and very large, thin bills, highly colored with red and yellow, the feet are red and the eyes are white. They stand erect upon their feet and walk with ease.

Nest.– They breed commonly on the islands of the Pacific coast, laying their single white egg in burrows or crevices of the rocks. In some sections two or three broods are raised in a season (2.80 × 1.90).

Range.– Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska.

HORNED PUFFIN

14. Fratercula corniculata. 11 inches

This Puffin is similar to the common Puffin of the east, excepting that the blackish band across the throat extends upwards in a point to the bill.

Nest.– The same as the above, the single egg averaging smaller (2.65 × 1.80).

Range.– Islands of the northern Pacific to the Arctic ocean.

RHINOCEROS AUKLET

15. Cerorhinca monocerata. 11 inches

These birds have a much smaller bill than the Puffins; in the summer plumage there is a small horn at the base of the bill from which it is given its name. These birds do not stand upright as do the Puffins; but sit upon their tarsus.

Nest.– A single egg is laid in either burrows or in crevices of the rocks, usually without any attempt at nest making (2.70 × 1.80).

Range.– Coast and islands of the northern Pacific. Breeds from Oregon to northern Alaska.

CASSIN AUKLET

16. Ptychoramphus aleuticus. 9 inches

A plain appearing bird, breast and throat grayish and belly white with blackish upper-parts relieved only by a small white spot over the eye. This Auklet is fairly abundant on the Farallones and islands off the Lower California coast.

Nest.– A single egg, dull white, the inside of the shell being a pale green when held to the light. These are laid in burrows or tunnels under the rocks, at times three or four feet long (1.80 × 1.30).

Range.– Pacific coast of N. A., Alaska to Lower California.

PAROQUET AUKLET

17. Phaleris psittacula. 10 inches

This bird is much like Cassin Auklet, but lacking the white spot over the eye and having a white breast. The bill is very peculiar, being quite deep and rounded and having an upward tendency. It is orange red in color.

Range.– The Alaskan coast, usually farther south in winter. Nesting in the Aleutian Islands, a single white egg is laid (2.25 × 1.40).

WHISKERED AUKLET

19. Æthia pygmæa. 7½ inches

Breeds quite abundantly on some of the Aleutian Islands. The single white egg is laid in burrows or crevices of the rocks (2.00 × 1.25).

CRESTED AUKLET

18. Æthia cristatella. 8 to 9 inches

Similar in form and plumage to the Paroquet Auklet, except the whole under parts are gray.

Nest and Range.– On the islands and main land of the Alaskan coast, laying only one chalky white egg in crevices or burrows under the rocks.

LEAST AUKLET

20. Æthia pusilla. 6½ inches

This is the smallest of the Auklets, and in habits are the same as others of the same family. They are one of the most abundant of the water birds of the extreme Northwest.

Nest.– Only one single white egg is laid upon the bare rocks or in crevices, on the islands of the Alaskan coast (1.50 × 1.10).

ANCIENT MURRELET

21. Synthliboramphus antiquus. 11 inches

The Murrelets have no crests or plumes and the bills are more slender than the Auklets and are not highly colored.

Nest.– One or two eggs are laid either in burrows or crevices of the rocks, buffy white in color, with faint markings of light brown.

Range.– Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska, breeding north of the United States.

MARBLED MURRELET

23. Brachyramphus marmoratus. 10 inches

Nesting habits and eggs are similar to the Ancient Murrelet (2.20 × 1.40) and range is same as above, possibly breeding a little farther south.

XANTHUS MURRELET

25. Brachyramphus hypoleucus

This bird is a dull black above, and entirely white below, including the sides of the head below the eye. The under-surface of the wing is also white.

Nest.– The single egg is laid at the end of burrows or under the rocks in dark places similar to the other Murrelets. It is a pale buffy white, and thickly but finely dotted with brown over the entire surface, heaviest on the larger end (2.05 × 1.40).

Range.– Resident along the coast of southern and Lower California, where it breeds on many of the islands.

PIGEON GUILLEMOT

29. Cepphus columba. 13 inches

This bird is very similar to the Black Guillemot except that the under-surfaces of the wings are dark. The nearly straight and slender bill is black, feathered to the upper edge of nostrils. Feet and inside of mouth bright red.

Nest.– Their two eggs are laid on the bare rocks in dark places under the rocks, are pale blue or green in color with black or brown markings and paler spots of lilac.

Range.– Pacific coast of North America.

CALIFORNIA MURRE

30. Uria troille californica. 15 to 16 inches

This is one of the most abundant birds breeding on the Farallones. Large numbers of their eggs are taken yearly to the San Francisco and other market places and disposed of as a food product, and as yet the birds do not seem to diminish to any great extent.

Nest.– But a single white egg is laid on the bare ledges. They vary greatly in color, from nearly white without markings to a deep greenish blue with an endless variety of patterns in light and dark brown (3.40 × 2.00).

Range.– Pacific coast, breeding from the Farallones north to Alaska.

POMARINE JAEGER

36. Stercorarius pomarinus. 21 inches

These birds are slender and graceful in form and flight, but are the real pirates of bird life, especially among the terns and gulls. This species has two color phases regardless of sex or age. In the light plumage the top of the head is black, rest of the bird brownish. Easily identified by the lengthened central tail-feathers.

Nest.– Two olive brown eggs spotted with black (2.20 × 1.70).

PARASITIC JAEGER

37. Stercorarius parasiticus. 17 inches

This bird has the two phases of color similar to the last. The two central tail-feathers are longer and more pointed, projecting about four inches beyond the others. All of the Jaegers have grayish blue legs with black feet, and brown eyes.

Nest.– A slight hollow in the marshy ground in which the two brownish eggs are laid (2.15 × 1.65).

Range.– Northern part of North America, south in winter to southern California, breeding in the Arctic regions.

LONG-TAILED JAEGER

38. Stercorarius longicaudus. 20 inches

This is the most swift and graceful of this family in flight. Similar to the last species, but the central pointed tail-feathers extend eight or ten inches beyond the others. It is more often found in the lighter phase.

Nest.– Their eggs are either laid on the bare ground or in a slight depression, scantily lined with grass (2.10 × 1.50).

Range.– Arctic America; south in winter to South America.