Xantus's murrelet  (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus)

Xantus's murrelet breeds off the coast of southern California, USA, and Baja California, Mexico (4). The two subspecies have different breeding ranges, overlapping only on the San Benito Islands off Baja California. S. h. scrippsi breeds on the southern California Channel Islands and on islands off the west coast of Baja California, while S. h. hypoleucus breeds only off Baja California, on the three San Benito Islands and on two rocks offshore of Guadalupe Island. Previously, more breeding colonies may have existed on other islands, before they were destroyed by invasive animals (4). Outside of the breeding season, this small seabird ranges from the southern tip of Baja California, north to British Columbia, Canada (2).

Breeding on steep cliffs above the sea, as well as on slopes and canyons (2), Xantus's murrelet selects areas where there is a sparse cover of shrubs and herbs (4). During winter, this bird can be found offshore, in the warm waters of the California Current (2).