Species: Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
Xantus's Murrelet
Species
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Aves
Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Alcidae
Genus
Synthliboramphus
NatureServe
Classification
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Birds - Other Birds
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Aves - Charadriiformes - Alcidae - Synthliboramphus - have been considered conspecific by some authors (AOU 1983).
Ecology and Life History
Migration
true - true - false - During the breeding season, Xantus's murrelets forage usually within 1.2 to 8.7 miles (2 to 14 km) of the colony island (del Hoyo et al. 1996).
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
true
Food Comments
Foraging typically occurs far from the nesting colony during the breeding season (Murray et al. 1983).
Reproduction Comments
Eggs are laid mainly March-June; peak varies from year to year. Clutch size usually is 2. Incubation, by both sexes at 3-4-day intervals, last about 27-44 (average 34) days; young go to sea with parents usually 1-2 nights after hatching. One brood per year. Individuals probably first breed at an age of 2-3 years or older. Individual females have been found nesting in 3 and 4 consecutive years. Nesting occurs in large colonies. See Murray et al. (1983).
Ecology Comments
Predation by deer mice may result is a high rate of egg loss (Murray et al. 1983). Mouse populations may be higher than previously due to an abundance of introduced grasses (Johnsgard 1987).
Length
25
Weight
167
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G3
Global Status Last Reviewed
2007-07-20
Global Status Last Changed
2005-11-08
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
US.WA=__
Global Range
A - 100 square km (less than about 40 square miles) - A - Coded extent of occurrence is based on breeding locations and does not include foraging or nonbreeding habitat.
Global Range Code
A
Global Range Description
100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)