noun
- A small seabird of the auk family, found in northern Pacific waters, with a short bill and stocky body.
Usage: ornithology; usually singular or plural murrelets
Examples
- The marbled murrelet is a threatened species found along the Pacific coast.
- Birders spotted several murrelets diving for fish near the rocky shore.
- Ancient murrelets breed in colonies on remote islands.
- The xantus's murrelet is one of the smallest members of the auk family.
- Murrelets are adapted to life at sea and rarely come to land except to breed.