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Gallery
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Records through the year
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Distribution
Black Guillemot   Cepphus grylle mandtii
Common along the coasts around the whole island group. Usually occurs sparsely on the sea and in small colonies in cliffs or in rocky screes. Can gather in large flocks, most often at the ice edge in spring. The majority probably overwinter in the seas around the island group. The breeding population probably exceeds 20,000 pairs.

Features: 32-38 cm, 300-500 gram. ♂=♀. The young resemble the adults in winter plumage, but have a dark pattern in the wing patch. Has red feet the whole year. The winter plumage of this subspecies (mandtii) is much paler than that of the nominate subspecies grylle. Some adults have moulted to full summer plumage in late February. Calls actively during courtship in spring and at the nest territory. Has several calls at the nest site all of which are high-pitched piping sounds. Usually a long drawn out high «siiiiiiiyyy» that carries far.

Breeding: Normally breeds in rock crevices or in holes in rocky screes. Some also nest in man-made constructions in the habitations. Lays one or two eggs.