# Common Murre (*Uria aalge*)

> The common murre (Uria aalge) is a black-and-white seabird of North Atlantic and North Pacific cliffs that lays a single pear-shaped egg on bare rock. Adults weigh about 1 kg, dive deep for fish, and are listed Least Concern.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** North Pacific and North Atlantic seabird colonies.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/common-murre/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Charadriiformes
- **Family:** Alcidae
- **Genus:** Uria

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Uria aalge |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Sea cliffs and open ocean |
| Lifespan | 20–25 years |
| Weight | 0.9–1.1 kg |
| Top speed | up to 80 km/h |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Pear-shaped cliff egg

Murres lay one egg on bare ledges without nests; the pointed shape rolls in a circle rather than off the cliff. Adults stand upright like penguins and use wings to swim underwater.

## Deep pursuit of small fish

Sand lance, capelin, herring, and other small fish are caught on dives that can exceed 100 m. Chicks leap to sea before they can fly, led by the male parent.

## Crowded seabird cliffs

Colonies pack sea stacks and cliffs from Alaska and California to the UK, Iceland, and Norway. Birds return to the same ledge year after year.

## Oil spills and prey shifts

Least Concern globally, but oil spills, gillnet bycatch, and warming seas that shift fish stocks have depressed some regional colonies.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why are murre eggs pear-shaped?

The asymmetrical shape spins in place on narrow ledges, reducing the chance of rolling off the cliff.

### How deep do murres dive?

Routine dives reach 30–60 m; recorded depths exceed 100 m.

### Can common murres fly?

Yes, though their small wings are better adapted for underwater swimming than agile flight.

### How do murre chicks leave the nest?

They jump from cliffs to the sea at about three weeks old, still flightless, and swim away with the male.

### Are murres related to penguins?

No — they are alcids, a northern family of diving seabirds; penguins are southern hemisphere specialists.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/common-murre/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.