The Craveri's Murrelet is found in a relatively small geographic area, around Baja California at all seasons. They are known in the United States by birds that occasionally move up the Pacific coast after the breeding season, in the late summer. They are very similar in overall appearance to the Scripp's Murrelet and the Guadalupe Murrelet (see notes below). Craveri's Murrelet likely number no more than 10,000, and are considered a "vulnerable" species by the IUCN (see below).
Habitat
During the breeding season, Craveri's Murrelet are found on rocky islands or islands with protected nesting sites like bushes. They can sometimes be found relatively far from the shore when feeding and when not breeding, but more often they are in and around the continental shelf.
Diet
The Craveri's Murrelet feeds primarily on small fish, crustaceans, squid, and other marine organisms captured while diving underwater. Small schooling fish and plankton-rich marine areas are particularly important feeding habitats.
Behavior
The Craveri's Murrelet spends most of its life on the ocean, usually occurring in pairs or small groups in coastal and offshore waters. It is a strong diver that pursues fish and other prey underwater using its wings for propulsion. During the breeding season, it nests on remote islands and, like other murrelets in its genus, the chicks leave the nest very shortly after hatching and accompany the adults to sea. The species is generally inconspicuous and often remains low on the water, making it easy to overlook.
Nesting
The Craveri's Murrelet breeds in a small number of island locations around Baja California, in loose colonies. The nesting site is a protected site such as a rocky crevice or the base of a shrub. The female lays 2 eggs directly on the ground, and both parents help to incubate them. The young leave the nest just a day or two after hatching, following the parents to the ocean, where they are raised.
Song
The Craveri's Murrelet is generally quiet at sea but becomes more vocal around breeding colonies, especially at night. Its calls include soft, high-pitched whistles, chirps, and squeaky notes used for communication between mates and family members in the darkness around nesting sites. Like many alcids, it relies heavily on vocalizations for recognition at crowded breeding areas.
Migration
Craveri's Murrelets nest on a few islands off the west coast of Mexico, and they are found in the same general area at all seasons. However, some birds do move northward along the Pacific Coast in the late summer, where they can sometimes be seen relatively close to shore off the California coast.
Similar Species
Very similar to the Scripp's Murrelet and the Guadalupe Murrelet . On adult birds, Scripp's and Guadalupe Murrelets have white underwings with dark edges, while Craveri's Murrelet underwings are darker and mostly grayish.
Conservation Status
The Craveri's Murrelet is considered a species of conservation concern because of its relatively small population and restricted breeding range on islands off western Mexico. Major threats include introduced predators such as rats and cats at nesting colonies, disturbance of breeding sites, oil pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, and changes in marine food availability. Conservation efforts focused on predator removal and protection of breeding islands have helped improve prospects for some populations, but continued management remains important for the species' long-term survival. The IUCN considers Craveri's Murrelet to be a "vulnerable" species.
Photo Information
Photo taken by Tom Benson - September 22nd, 2012 - Near Laguna Beach, California - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License.
Interactive eBird Map
Click to access the interactive eBird species sightings page for Craveri's Murrelet
