Avise's Birds of the World

Common Murre
Uria aalge

Native Range: North America and Eurasia

Notes: a large alcid that nests in dense colonies on islands, rocky shores and narrow ledges of rocky cliffs; forages alone or in small groups at sea, often diving to depths of over 100 feet in search of small schooling fish such as herring; some birds are permanent residents while northern birds migrate south to open water near New England, Southern California, Japan, Korea and the western Mediterranean.