Murre

A murre is a type of auk, a seabird belonging to the family Alcidae, characterized by its black or brown back and white underparts. They are excellent divers and spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to breed. Murres typically nest in large, dense colonies on cliff faces and rocky shores. Their diet primarily consists of fish, which they catch underwater. Two species are commonly recognized: the Common murre and the Thick-billed Murre. They face threats from pollution, overfishing, and climate change.

Murre meaning with examples

• The dramatic cliffs of the island were alive with the cries of thousands of murres, returning to their breeding grounds after a long season at sea. The naturalist documented their nesting habits, marveling at the efficiency of their dives. Each bird dives in search of food and then returns to tend to their eggs laid along the narrow ledges.
• From the ship, we observed flocks of murres diving into the ocean, emerging with small fish in their beaks. The captain said it was always a highlight to watch the murres go after fish. The sharp rocks, often covered in guano from the birds, acted as a home for these majestic birds. These birds were also nesting, we learned.
• The research team studied the impact of oil spills on the local murre population, noting the devastating effects on their plumage and ability to thermoregulate. They learned that birds coated in oil could not survive long. They also recorded how the food chain, with the fish being caught by murres, was impacted by the local pollution.
• Walking along the coast, we spotted a group of murres resting on a small rocky islet, their stark black and white plumage contrasting against the gray sky. They were able to rest there because humans avoided the area. The murres took off to their nesting grounds once again when the weather broke and we started to leave the coastline.