One of the delights of Scotland’s summer are the seabirds that fill our cliffs and seaside with life. It’s not just puffins that deserve the love: In this blog RSPB Scotland’s Allie McGregor shares some facts about one of her favourite birds, the guillemot.
Five facts about guillemots
Their colony numbers are huge
They form some of our largest and densest breeding colonies, often with numbers in the thousands. Other auks such as razorbill might also join these ‘seabird cities’. Handa Island off the North west coast of Scotland stands out with a colony of tens of thousands but there are many other impressive colonies all around our coasts.
They have a unique upright stance
The gorgeous guillemot is often likened to humans thanks to its upright stance. With it’s colouring and walk this can make it rather resemble a penguin. One of the reasons I find myself so enchanted by these birds is the way they walk around, somehow dignified but also just a wee bit silly at the same time.
Guillemot eggs are considered some of the most interesting and beautiful in the world
Proportional to body weight guillemot eggs are one of the largest eggs produced by a British bird. Their eggs are hugely varied with different colours and patterns on them – parents can use the markings to identify their egg!
One of the key adaptations of their egg is the shape. It comes to a point at one end which ensures that if the egg rolls it does so in a circle. There have been a few hypotheses for why this might happen including protecting the egg from falling from cliffs, hygiene reasons, and stability on slopes.
Guillemots make excellent divers
Guillemots spend most of their life at sea, so it’s important they’re comfortable on the water! Not only do they live on it, but they rely on diving for fish. While they can dive to impressive depths of a few hundred feet, they rarely dive that far.
Despite their social nature during breeding season, getting all cosied up in their colonies, they are much more solitary when out at sea over winter, usually only flocking together if there is an area with high food availability.
The chicks make a risky leap of faith
Young guillemots will leap of VERY high cliffs into the sea just weeks after hatching, before they can even fly. They are guided by dear old dad who will then do the bulk of the parenting until the chick is able to fend for itself.
(don't worry, the clip has a happy ending!)
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