During a recent walk on the commercial wharf in Monterey Bay, California, we spotted several pairs of pigeon guillemots near the sea lions. They are impossible to miss with their neon red legs, and sporty black and white feathers.
A member of the auk family, and related to murres and puffins, pigeon guillemots are found from the top of Alaska to the California border with Mexico. Monterey Bay falls within their breeding range.
They use their wings to swim and dive for crustaceans, fish and marine invertebrates. Their feet are used for both steering and motion while swimming and are located quite far back on the body.
Mashabu 