Ancient murrelet

Ancient murrelet
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Synthliboramphus
Species:
S. antiquus
Binomial name
Synthliboramphus antiquus
(Gmelin, JF, 1789)
Subspecies
  • S. a. antiquus
  • S. a. microrhynchos
  Breeding
  Year-round
  Nonbreeding

The ancient murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) is a bird in the auk family. The English term "murrelet" is a diminutive of "murre", a word of uncertain origins, but which may imitate the call of the common guillemot.[2][3] Ancient murrelets are called "ancient" because they have grey on the back like a shawl, as worn by the elderly.[4]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Synthliboramphus antiquus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22694896A132580015. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22694896A132580015.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Murrelet". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  3. ^ "Murre". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  4. ^ Attenborough, D. 1998. The Life of Birds. BBC Books. ISBN 0563-38792-0.