The Common Murre, an avian artisan, crafts wondrously diverse eggs maculated with intricate designs that have enthralled naturalists and collectors for more than two centuries. Every egg is distinct; however, very little is known about the variation in patterning among eggs laid by the same female and the causes of variation in colouration. Former Queen’s Biology graduate student Amelia Cox and our own Dr. Bob Montgomerie investigated and recently published on this topic.
Breeding populations on the rocky coastal cliffs of Skomer Island in Wales were studied for three years, providing some unique insights into the appearance of the Common Murre egg. These birds congregate in dense colonies, laying a single egg that they incubate on the bare rock, without a nest. If the egg is taken by predators or falls off the cliff ledge, females will lay up to two replacements in a season.
Elaborate egg designs are functional as their patterns allow neighbouring eggs, separated by mere centimetres, to be distinguished from one another. Indeed, all eggs laid by an individual female were found to be very similar within and between breeding seasons. The authors also found an absence of distinct appearances between breeding groups and no discernable impact of environmental changes year to year on egg appearance.
This study has laid the foundation for future investigation into the Common Murre egg and provides key insights for researchers of related species. To learn more, read their article in Ornithology.
