Guadalupe Murrelet

About the Guadalupe Murrelet

Also known as: Xantus's Murrelet

The Guadalupe Murrelet is a relatively newly recognized species of auk found in the Pacific Ocean off California and Mexico. The species was split from the Xantus's Murrelet, along with the Scripp's Murrelet, in 2012.

Guadalupe Murrelets feed far out in the ocean outside of breeding season. They are often found around larger pelagic fish species. As is typical with auk species, the Guadalupe Murrelet feeds by diving under the water, propelling itself with its wings.

Baby Guadalupe Murrelets are highly precocial. This means that they are able to care for themselves at a very early age. The chicks leave the nest after just two days, joining their parents at sea.

Details & Statistics

Added to Birdorable

Hatched 31 January 2016

Scientific Name

Synthliboramphus hypoleucus

Order:

Charadriiformes

Family:

Alcidae

Genus:

Synthliboramphus

Species:

S. hypoleucus

Bird Family

Auks

Conservation Status

Endangered (as of 5 May 2020)

Least Concern (LC)
Near Threatened (NT)
Vulnerable (VU)
Endangered (EN)
Critically Endangered (CR)
Extinct in the Wild (EW)
Extinct (EX)

Source: IUCN Red List

Measurements

Length:

9 to 9.8 inches

(22.9 to 24.9 cm)

Wingspan:

15.7 inches

(39.9 cm)

Weight:

4.6 to 6.5 ounces

(130.4 to 184.3 grams)

Range

North America Central America United States (West)

Conservation

The Guadalupe Murrelet is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and was last assessed in 2014 by BirdLife International. This newly split species is listed as Endangered because it occupies a very small range when breeding, nesting on only a very few islands and islets, and is inferred to be in on-going decline owing mainly to the impacts of invasive mammalian predators. If it is found to be breeding at more than five locations, the species may warrant downlisting to a lower threat category.