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Ancient Murrelet

The ancient murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) is a small, compact seabird of the North Pacific, nesting in colonies on forested islands and commuting to forage on the open ocean. Birders know it by its grey back, black head, and the white plumes that give older birds a distinguished look — hence 'ancient.' Its calls mix into coastal and wetland soundscapes as brief, high notes rather than a long song. In Ambient recordings of temperate forests and shores, the ancient murrelet helps listeners train an ear for a species more often heard in passing than watched at leisure.

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