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guillemot (GIL-uh-mot) - n., any of several oceanic diving birds of the auk family, genus Cepphus and (British usage only) Uria, with black-and-white plumage and a narrow bill.
In North America, we call the two members of genus Uria murres, leaving guillemot just for the three Cepphus species. The name is a diminutive of French Guillaume, which is of course William -- so they are essentially being called billies, which somehow makes them sound Australian, and these are strictly north Atlantic and north Pacific birds.
---L.
In North America, we call the two members of genus Uria murres, leaving guillemot just for the three Cepphus species. The name is a diminutive of French Guillaume, which is of course William -- so they are essentially being called billies, which somehow makes them sound Australian, and these are strictly north Atlantic and north Pacific birds.
---L.
