Cepphus
Genus of birds
title: "Cepphus" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cepphus", "bird-genera", "messinian-first-appearances", "extant-miocene-first-appearances"] description: "Genus of birds" topic_path: "general/cepphus" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cepphus" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Genus of birds ::
| image = Tystie1.jpg | image_caption = Black guillemot (* Cepphus grylle*) | taxon = Cepphus | authority = Pallas, 1769 | type_species = Cepphus lacteolus | type_species_authority = Pallas, 1769 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = Cepphus grylle
Cepphus columba
Cepphus carbo
Cepphus is a genus of seabirds in the auk family also referred to as guillemots by association with the related genus Uria, or tysties, from the Old Norse name for C. grylle.
Etymology
The genus name Cepphus is from Ancient Greek κέπφος , a pale waterbird mentioned by Greek authors including Aristotle. The English word guillemot is from French from Guillaume, "William", but ultimately onomatopoeic from the loud, high-pitched "will, willem" begging calls of the newly fledged young of the common guillemot Uria aalge.
Description
These are medium-sized birds with mainly black plumage in the breeding season, thin dark bills with a bright red gape, and bright red legs and feet. Two species have white wing patches, the third has white facial "spectacles". They are much paler in winter plumage, mottled above and white below.
The breeding habitat is rocky shores and islands on the coasts of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They usually lay their eggs in rocky sites near water. They may overwinter in their breeding areas, moving to open waters, if necessary, but usually not migrating very far south.
They dive for food from the surface, swimming underwater to depths of usually less than 20 metres. They mainly eat fish and crustaceans, also some molluscs, jellyfish, and other invertebrates.
Species
Three species are accepted: ::data[format=table]
| Summer plumage | Winter plumage | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Cepphus grylle -Metinic Island, Maine, USA-8.jpg | 120px]] | [[File:Black Guillemots, Bangor (11) - geograph.org.uk - 1040171.jpg | 120px]] | Cepphus grylle |
| [[File:Pigeon guillemot.jpg | 120px]] | [[File:Pigeon guillemot, Cepphus columba, in winter plumage at Moss Landing (Elkhorn Slough), California, USA. (30684120450).jpg | 120px]] | Cepphus columba |
| [[File:SpectacledGuillemot.jpg | 120px]] | [[File:Молодой очковый чистик.jpg | 120px]] | Cepphus carbo |
| :: |
There are also fossil forms:
- Cepphus olsoni Howard, 1982 (San Luis Rey River Late Miocene - Early Pliocene of W USA)
- Cepphus storeri Harrison, 1977 (Red Crag of Suffolk Late Miocene - England
- Cepphus cf. columba (Lawrence Canyon Early Pliocene of W USA)
- Cepphus cf. grylle (San Diego Late Pliocene, W USA)
The latter two resemble the extant species, but because of the considerable distance in time or space from their current occurrence may represent distinct species.
Notes
References
References
- . ["Alcidae"](https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=63). *The Trust for Avian Systematics*.
- {{Cite Merriam-Webster. tystie
- {{Cite OED
- Lockwood, W. B.. (1984). "Oxford Book of British Bird Names". Oxford University Press.
- {{LSJ. ke/pfos. κέπφος. ref.
- Jobling, James A. (2010). "The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names". Christopher Helm.
- {{Cite OED. Guillemot
- (1992). "Handbook of the Birds of the World: Hoatzin to auks". Lynx Edicions.
- "Noddies, skimmers, gulls, terns, skuas, auks – IOC World Bird List".
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