Marbled Murrelet

Brachyramphus marmoratus

A small, chunky seabird of the North Pacific, the Marbled Murrelet confounded scientists for decades — its nesting site remained unknown until 1974, when a chick was found on a mossy old-growth tree branch high above the forest floor. It forages at sea but nests miles inland in ancient forests, making it a flagship for old-growth conservation.

Fun Fact

Marbled Murrelets were one of the last North American birds to have their nest found — scientists didn't discover one until 1974, on a mossy old-growth limb 150 feet up.

Attributes

TypeSeabird

Habitatcoastal, forest

SizeSmall

Dietfish

FlightStandard

Colorsbrown, white

MigratoryNo

ContinentsNorth America

Nest Typeplatform

ConservationEndangered

Difficulty: hard