It is unique in that it lives at sea, but nests in old growth forest along the shoreline. This characteristic gives the Marbled Murrelet special requirements that most sea birds don't have. The Marbled Murrelet is a relatively small bird, about the size of a robin. The plumages of the male and female are during the summer.
Adults appear marbled with a brownish back and mottled belly.
The winter plumage is darker above with a lighter underbelly. The chicks are downy with a dark speckling. FOOD- Little is known of the food habits of the Marbled Murrelet in Oregon, Washington, and California. It is known that the Sand Lance is the most common food, followed by Pacific Herring, Northern Anchovy, Osmerids, and Sea Perch. They feed primarily on larval and juvenile fish.