Crested Auklet
NameCrested Auklet
Common NameCrested Auklet
Scientific NameAethia cristatella
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)67.5
Length (cm)26
Weight (g)287.5
Plumage DetailsAdults have dark sooty-gray plumage over their entire body. Key features include a prominent forward-curving crest of black feathers on the forehead, a bright orange bill with a yellow tip, and white plumes extending backward from behind the eye. Their eyes have a striking white iris.
Vocalization / CallCrested Auklets produce deep, resonant, low-pitched growls and barks, often described as 'woof-woof' or 'grrr-grrr', particularly during breeding season.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal waters, rocky islands, cliffs
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the North Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and Kuril Islands. They breed on islands and coasts of Alaska and eastern Siberia.
Identifying Featuresprominent forward-curving crest, bright orange bill with yellow tip, white plumes behind eyes, white iris, dark sooty-gray plumage
Description
The Crested Auklet is a distinctive medium-sized seabird known for its prominent forward-curving crest and bright orange bill. These highly social birds breed in large colonies on rocky islands and forage in coastal waters.
