General Description: Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus columba) are plump seabirds that are the northern hemisphere counterpart to penguins. During summer, Pigeon Guillemots are all black with a white wing patch and red feet. In winter, they get dusky white on the head and neck. In all plumages, note the black wedge in the white wing patch.

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Alcidae.

Favored Habitat: Pigeon Guillemots are a species of the open Pacific Ocean and Pacific coastal areas.

Where to Find: Don't look for Pigeon Guillemots around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them along the coast of Oregon north to Alaska.

Comments: These little birds are interesting in that they live on the open ocean, but return to land and nest.