- Synthliboramphus antiquus
Identification
Black head, throat and rear neck, grey-backed, white underparts, short and stubby yellow bill, small rounded black tail. In summer adults have white head streaks.
Distribution
Islands off China, through the Russian Pacific coast and the Aleutian Islands to the Haida Gwaii archipelago of British Columbia.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies:
- S a antiquus
- S a microrhynchos
Habitat
Open sea.
Behaviour
They nest in burrows excavated in forest soil among tree roots, under logs or in grass tussocks, occasionally in rock crevices. 1-2 eggs are laid.
The diet includes small fish and crustaceans.
