Pigeon Guillemot
Cepphus columba
The Pigeon Guillemot is a bird of the northern Pacific. These birds nest in burrows and on cliffs along rocky shores. Though capable of “flying” to depths of more than 140 feet, their best feeding opportunities are in shallower waters between 35 and 60 feet. When in pursuit of their fish prey, their wings generate propulsion, while their feet are used for steering.
Taxonomists recognise five subspecies of Pigeon Guillemot:
- C. c. snowi breeds between northern Japan and Kamchatka on the Kuril Islands.
- C. c. columba breeds in Kamchatka and north to the Bering Strait and western Alaska.
- C. c. kaiurka breeds on the Commander Islands to the western and central Aleutian Islands.
- C. c. adiantus breeds on the central Aleutian Islands, and south to Washington.
- C. c. eureka breeds in Oregon and California.
The Pigeon Guillemots I met in Alaska were fun, because I had never been in their company before. But those I found on the Central California coast were a surprise to me, as I had not seen them on my earlier visits to the region. I have since learned that though unusual this far south, their presence at these latitudes is expected. Nearer the Oregon-California border and north to Alaska they are more common.
23 Photos
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
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Description: Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska 2005-07-09. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:09 16:21 |
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Location:
Lowell Point |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD7870PigeonGuillemot |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:40 |
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Location:
San Luis Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9558-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:39 |
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Location:
San Luis Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9516-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:37 |
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Location:
San Luis Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9415-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:37 |
|
Location:
San Luis Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9412-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:37 |
|
Location:
San Luis Bay |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9406-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:37 |
|
Location:
San Luis Bay |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9393-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:37 |
|
Location:
San Luis Bay |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9376-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:30 |
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Location:
San Luis Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9240-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:28 |
|
Location:
San Luis Bay |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9235-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:28 |
|
Location:
San Luis Bay |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9232-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: My encounters with nature on the Hartford Pier was highlighted by this Pigeon Guillemot catching fish and seemingly bringing them in close for my inspection. San Luis Bay in San Luis Obispo along the coast of Central California. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:28 15:28 |
|
Location:
San Luis Bay |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_D5X9227-SanLuisObisbo |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
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Description: Lutak Inlet, near the mouth of the Chilkoot River, near Haines, Alaska. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:17 16:50 |
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Location:
Chilkoot (historical) |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot-2005-07-17_JCD9582-HainesAlaska |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
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Description: I asked for, and was given permission to photograph from a private dock on Coos Bay owned by a boat repair facility. There, I spent a half hour with Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:31 10:55 |
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Location:
Empire Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509062-CoosBay-BoatDocks |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: I asked for, and was given permission to photograph from a private dock on Coos Bay owned by a boat repair facility. There, I spent a half hour with Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:31 11:04 |
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Location:
Empire Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509153-CoosBay-BoatDocks |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: I watched guillemots do a lot of awkward landings. Most were face-plants, but this landing was exceptional. I asked for, and was given permission to photograph from a private dock on Coos Bay owned by a boat repair facility. There, I spent a half hour with Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:31 11:04 |
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Location:
Empire Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509160-CoosBay-BoatDocks |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: I asked for, and was given permission to photograph from a private dock on Coos Bay owned by a boat repair facility. There, I spent a half hour with Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:31 11:09 |
|
Location:
Empire Landing |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509261-CoosBay-BoatDocks |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: I asked for, and was given permission to photograph from a private dock on Coos Bay owned by a boat repair facility. There, I spent a half hour with Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:31 11:09 |
|
Location:
Empire Landing |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509286-CoosBay-BoatDocks |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
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Description: I scanned for bird life in Winchester Bay’s boat basin on the central Oregon coast and found Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:01 11:22 |
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Location:
Winchester Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509346-WinchesterBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: I scanned for bird life in Winchester Bay’s boat basin on the central Oregon coast and found Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:01 11:22 |
|
Location:
Winchester Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509340-WinchesterBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: I scanned for bird life in Winchester Bay’s boat basin on the central Oregon coast and found Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:01 11:22 |
|
Location:
Winchester Bay |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509329-WinchesterBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: I scanned for bird life in Winchester Bay’s boat basin on the central Oregon coast and found Pigeon Guillemots. Graceful water landings are not the guillemot’s stock in trade. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:01 11:21 |
|
Location:
Winchester Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509319-WinchesterBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pigeon Guillemot(Cepphus columba) |
|
Description: I asked for, and was given permission to photograph from a private dock on Coos Bay owned by a boat repair facility. There, I spent a half hour with Pigeon Guillemots. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:31 11:10 |
|
Location:
Empire Landing |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PigeonGuillemot_8509297-CoosBay-BoatDocks |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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