 The breeding plumage is distinctive in this group; most auks are strongly contrasted with black and white when breeding, but "Brachyramphus" species are mainly brown, with pale feather edges giving a scaly appearance; the central underparts, normally below the surface on a swimming bird, are white.Murrelets feed at sea on small fish, larval fish, krill and other small zooplankton.Chicks are fed with larger fish carried in the bill.