Spectacled Guillemot

This species is about 38 cm long, with red legs, black bill and a blackish iris.

The Spectacled Guillemot is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The breeding adult Spectacled Guillemot is distinctive, mostly plumaged dull sooty-black except for conspicuous white 'spectacles' on the face In adult non-breeding plumage, the underparts are white, uniformly tipped very pale grey-brown. Transitional birds are like breeding adults, except the underparts are scaled with white. Sexes are alike, but juveniles are separable from adults. There are no subspecies. More

Spectacled Guillemot Cepphus carbo - Adults in breeding plumage Spectacled Guillemot Photographer : More

The Spectacled Guillemot has "sooty" black plumage, no white markings on his wings, and has white markings on the face that resemble reading glasses, or spectacles. His under parts are white and tipped with a light grayish-brown color. Winter plumage for this species is white below and mottled plumage above. Breeding areas for all three species are typically islands and rocky shores on the northern coasts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. More

Aspects of the topic spectacled guillemot are discussed in the following places at Britannica. Assorted References * description (in guillemot (bird)) ...within sight of land and never forming large flocks. The similar pigeon guillemot (C. columba) breeds along both coasts of the North Pacific, south to Japan and southern California, U.S. The spectacled guillemot (C. More

snowi) and might be mistaken for Spectacled Guillemot which also occurs in the Kurils. The latter has a broad white patch surrounding the eye and a heavier bill which has white feathering at the base. Immature Pigeon Guillemot taking flight. Bodega Bay, California in late August 1999. Photograph copyright of Angus Wilson More

The Spectacled Guillemot's range is restricted to the northwestern Pacific Ocean: throughout the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kuril Islands in Russia and on the northern island of Hokkaido in Japan. Its range overlaps with that of the closely related Pigeon Guillemot, though it extends further north. The Spectacled, or Sooty Guillemot, Cepphus carbo, is a seabird in the auk family. More