Cepphus
Auks
Cepphus is a genus of seabirds in the auk family.
Description
These medium-sized guillemots have white wing patches, the third has white facial “spectacles”. They have thin dark bills and red legs and feet.
Breeding plumage:
Mostly black plumage
Winter plumage:
Much paler, mottled above and white below.
Distribution / Range
The occur on rocky shores and islands on the coasts of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
They typically lay their eggs in rocky sites near water.
Diet / Feeding
They mainly feed on fish and crustaceans, also some mollusks, insects and plant material.
They dive for food from the surface or swim underwater.
The species are:
- Black Guillemot or Tystie, Cepphus grylle
- Pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus columba
- Spectacled Guillemot, Cepphus carbo
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