lomvia

Lomvia is a historical genus designation used in the classification of a seabird known today as the thick-billed murre. In current taxonomy, the species is placed in the genus Uria as Uria lomvia, and Lomvia is generally considered obsolete as a genus name.

The thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) is a large auk native to the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the North Atlantic and adjacent seas. It forms dense breeding colonies on rocky cliffs and islands, often far offshore, returning to sea during the nonbreeding season.

The birds feed primarily by diving for fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, often plunging from the surface to great depths. They are highly adapted to life at sea, with stiff-winged flight and strong underwater propulsion.

Reproduction typically involves laying a single egg per season, incubated by both parents. Chicks are nurtured at sea after hatching and fledge to join adult birds in the marine environment.

Conservation status varies by region; while the species as a whole is not universally threatened, some populations have declined due to environmental pressures such as climate-driven changes in prey distribution, pollution, and disturbance at breeding sites. Monitoring and protection of breeding colonies are common management goals.