Common Murre

<em>Uria aalge</em>, the common murre or common guillemot, is a seabird in the family Alcidae found across the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. This colonial cliff-nesting bird typically breeds on rocky coastal ledges and sea stacks, often in dense aggregations that may number in the thousands. <em>Uria aalge</em> is a highly capable diver, using its wings to propel itself underwater in pursuit of fish, sand eels, and invertebrates. It is found in coastal and offshore marine waters during the non-breeding season, ranging across the northern seas. Recorded occurrence countries include Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. Despite its wide distribution and historically large numbers, the common murre is currently assessed as Critically Endangered in certain regional contexts, with populations threatened by oil spills, bycatch in fishing nets, food web disruptions linked to climate change, and disturbance at breeding colonies. Biological traits such as lifespan, body size, and diet remain poorly documented at the population level for this species across its full range, though it is known to be a piscivore. The species is a key indicator of marine ecosystem health and a focus of ongoing seabird conservation efforts.