guillemot

Short definition: The word guillemot refers to a seabird related to auks, often nesting in dense colonies on rocky cliffs, known for its upright stance, strong underwater swimming ability, and habit of diving deep to catch fish in cold seas.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word guillemot? This word shows up a lot in bird guides, coastal writing, and documentaries about northern oceans. A guillemot is a seabird that feels closely tied to dramatic cliffs, cold waters, and crowded nesting colonies. People often mix it up with murres or razorbills, but guillemots have their own identity and habits. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm, natural way, with long examples that sound human and realistic.

Forms: guillemot (singular), guillemots (plural)
Related: alcid n., seabird n., murre n.
Syllable: guil-le-mot

1. (Noun) A medium-sized seabird of northern oceans, usually black and white, known for nesting on steep sea cliffs and diving for fish.

   A guillemot is a seabird that lives around cold seas and spends much of its life either floating on open water or standing on narrow cliff ledges. It has a simple black-and-white look that blends in perfectly with rocky coastlines and dark ocean water. Guillemots are strong swimmers rather than graceful fliers, and they dive deep to chase fish underwater instead of catching food at the surface. When breeding season comes, thousands of guillemots gather together, turning quiet cliffs into loud, crowded bird cities.

   From the boat, we could see hundreds of guillemots packed tightly on the cliff face, each bird somehow balancing on the smallest possible ledge.
   The guillemot disappeared beneath the waves for nearly a minute, then popped back up with a small fish held firmly in its bill.
   Watching the guillemots fly back and forth between the sea and the cliffs made the coastline feel busy and alive.

   Synonyms: murre, alcid, auk relative, seabird, diving seabird, marine bird, cliff-nesting bird, ocean bird, pelagic bird, fish-diving bird, offshore bird, coastal seabird
   Antonyms: landbird, songbird, woodland bird, garden bird, inland bird, freshwater bird, desert bird, grassland bird, farm bird, domestic bird, cage bird, aviary bird

2. (Noun) A bird commonly used to describe dense breeding colonies and dramatic coastal wildlife scenes.

   Beyond the biological meaning, guillemot is often used as a scene-setting word in writing and conversation. Mentioning guillemots instantly suggests steep cliffs, cold wind, crashing waves, and the constant noise of seabirds calling to one another. Writers and guides use the word to quickly place you in a rugged coastal environment without needing long explanations. In this sense, the bird becomes part of the landscape itself rather than just an individual animal.

   The travel article described a coastline filled with guillemots, making it easy to imagine the sound and movement of the cliffs before even arriving.
   Standing below the colony of guillemots, we felt tiny compared to the massive cliff and the endless stream of birds above us.
   When he mentioned guillemots in his story, everyone immediately pictured a wild, northern shore battered by wind and sea.

   Synonyms: seabird colony bird, cliff seabird, coastal wildlife, marine wildlife, ocean bird, sea-cliff bird, pelagic wildlife, offshore seabird, nesting seabird, colony seabird, coastal birdlife, marine fauna
   Antonyms: urban wildlife, city bird, backyard bird, park bird, indoor animal, pet bird, domestic animal, farm animal, zoo animal, aquarium species, household pet, captive animal

3. (Noun) A term used in conservation and research to represent species sensitive to ocean and climate changes.

   In scientific and environmental discussions, guillemot often appears as an example of a species closely tied to ocean conditions. Changes in fish populations, water temperature, or pollution can quickly affect guillemot numbers and breeding success. Because of this, researchers study guillemots to understand broader changes happening in marine ecosystems. When guillemot populations rise or fall, it often signals deeper changes beneath the surface of the sea.

   Scientists monitor guillemot colonies each year to track how warming seas are affecting food availability.
   A sudden drop in guillemot numbers worried researchers, suggesting that fish stocks nearby were under pressure.
   Protecting guillemots also helps protect the wider marine ecosystem they depend on.

   Synonyms: indicator species, marine indicator, conservation species, ecosystem marker, sensitive seabird, monitored species, research species, climate indicator, environmental signal, marine sentinel, biodiversity indicator, vulnerable species
   Antonyms: invasive species, pest species, overabundant species, resilient generalist, adaptable wildlife, urban-tolerant species, common animal, dominant species, human-dependent species, hardy species, opportunistic wildlife, widespread species

4. (Noun) (By extension) A name or symbol used in education, tourism, and branding to suggest wild coastal nature.

   Outside strict bird talk, guillemot is sometimes used as a name for tours, nature centers, or educational programs. The word is chosen because it immediately suggests cold seas, rugged cliffs, and untouched coastal environments. Using guillemot as a name or symbol often signals a focus on wildlife, conservation, and authentic outdoor experiences. In this sense, the bird becomes a shorthand for a certain kind of natural identity.

   The boat tour called itself “The Guillemot,” clearly aiming to connect the trip with serious wildlife watching.
   The nature center used a guillemot in its logo to show its strong link to the surrounding coastline.
   Seeing the guillemot symbol on the sign made it clear that conservation was central to the project.

   Synonyms: wildlife emblem, seabird symbol, coastal icon, nature logo, marine emblem, conservation symbol, seabird motif, wilderness icon, coastal branding, animal emblem, eco-symbol, marine identity
   Antonyms: corporate logo, abstract icon, industrial symbol, generic branding, non-nature logo, urban emblem, tech symbol, commercial badge, artificial icon, mass-market branding, non-ecological theme, factory imagery