The pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba) is a seabird in the auk family, Alcidae. It is dark brown with a black iridescent sheen and a distinctive wing patch broken by a brown-black wedge in breeding plumage. Its non-breeding plumage has mottled grey and black upperparts and white underparts. The long bill is black, as are the claws. The legs, feet, and inside of the mouth are red. It closely resembles the black guillemot, which is slightly smaller and lacks the dark wing wedge; combined, the two form a superspecies. Pigeon guillemots are found on North Pacific coastal waters, from Siberia through Alaska to California. They dive and pursue prey underwater, mostly small fish and marine invertebrates near the sea floor. They are monogamous breeders, nesting in small colonies close to the shore. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. The species has a large, stable population and wide range.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_guillemot

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1516:

The best-known version of the Reinheitsgebot, German regulations on the purity of beer, was adopted in Bavaria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinheitsgebot

1918:

First World War: The British Royal Navy conducted an unsuccessful raid on the German-occupied Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeebrugge_Raid

1951:

American journalist William N. Oatis was arrested for espionage by the communist government of Czechoslovakia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_N._Oatis

1971:

The Rolling Stones released Sticky Fingers, the first album on their own label, Rolling Stones Records. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticky_Fingers

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Gramarye: (literary, Arthurian, rare) The island of Britain. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Gramarye

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Be collected; No more amazement; tell your piteous heart There's no harm done.   --The Tempest https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Tempest