While researching for his Birds of Europe Gould had found this bird common at the Needles, Isle of Wight, but later it was more widespread in northern Scotland, the Hebrides and Ireland than on the south coast. He described it as being 'really a resident, scarcely ever removing from that district or rock upon which it has taken up its abode, either in winter or summer.'

An adult about three-quarters lifesize is depicted in summer plumage with its newly born young.

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds locally along coasts of north and west Europe. Mediterranean and Black seas, and Atlantic coast of north west Africa. Partial migration of northern population southwards.
British population has recently shown declines in some areas but increases in others; an estimated 37,300 occupied nests 1985-87