46 
21. Ancient Murrelet. Synthliboramphus antiquus. L, 9*50. Adult in summer: 
slaty blue above; white below; head, hindneck, face, and sharply defined throat patch 
pure black (Figure 86b). A few small, white, lanceolate 
feathers forming stripe back from over eye and scattered 
through black at base of hindneck. Juvenile plumage similar 
(Figure 86a) but black restricted, the throat and side of neck 
being conspicuously snowy white. None of the little white 
feathering in the black. 
Distinctions. The sharply defined black and white 
coloration of the head and foreparts. Winter juveniles are 
quite similar to winter Marbled Murrelets (See Plate II B) in 
size and general coloration, but the back is pure even slate 
grey without white stripes over the wings and the black of 
the face includes all in front of the eye, without the loral 
spot, and extends in light smokiness across the chin. The 
bill is also much shorter and proportionally deeper. 
Field Marks . In the case of the adult the intense black head contrasted with the pure 
white foreparts should be very conspicuous in life. 
Nesting. In burrows in the ground. 
Distribution. Bieeds on the Pacific coasts of Alaska south to Queen Charlotte 
islands and migrates down to southern Califoinia. 
This little Murrelet breeds on Forrester island across Dixon entrance 
from the Queen Charlottes, but has not yet been known to nest within our 
borders, although it frequents our waters in winter. 
23. Marbled Murrelet. Brachyramphus marmoratus L, 9*50. Plate II B. Adult 
in summer: all wood brown with reddish feather edgings on back and mottled softly with 
white on forward and under surfaces. Juveniles and in winter: blackish above, deeper on 
crown, and white below to chin. 
Distinctions. Similar in size and, in winter, in colour, to the Ancient Murrelet, but with 
longer and more slender bill. Winter birds otherwise differ from that species in having 
white chin and lores, back slightly bluish on feather edges instead of solidly so, and a 
broad white line on the back over the folded wing. 
Field Marks. In the summer adult, its small size and general blackness. Also the 
perky way in which it carries its bill and tail cocked up when sitting on the water. In 
winter plumage, when Ancient Murrelets are about, probably the small amount of black on 
the head and the less sharply defined pattern are the best distinctions. 
Nesting. Unknown. 
Distribution. The Pacific coast of Alaska to the state of Washington, wintering to 
southern California. 
All summer the strait of Georgia, especially along the edges of the 
kelp beds, may often be sprinkled with these little sea birds. They scatter 
over the smooth surface in fine weather, generally in pairs, floating high 
and lightly, with bill and tail cocked up at a perky angle, and converse in 
low, soft whistles. On being approached by a boat, they seem indifferent 
at first, but gradually grow uneasy and circle with increasing confusion. 
Just as theirpanic seems to culminate, and they are apparently in doubt where 
next to turn, they bethink themselves of the safe green depths and, with a 
forward spring, a partial opening of the wings, and a little splash, they dive 
with an unexpected suddenness which suggests that a new and entirely 
unlooked for discovery in the tactics of escape has just been made. 
Though they are common and in full breeding plumage throughout 
the summer we still know almost nothing of their nesting. That they 
breed nearby is evident, but the nest and its situation have yet to be dis- 
covered. Birds with eggs ready for deposition have been taken from the 
south end of Vancouver island northward and a complete egg was taken 
from one near Prince of Wales island, southern Alaska. All along our coast, 
birds may occasionally be seen in flight carrying fish shorewards or into the 
Figure 86 
Ancient Murrelet; scale, J. 
а, Juveniles and winter; 
б, Summer. 
