Crested Auklet
NameCrested Auklet
Common NameCrested Auklet
Scientific NameAethia cristatella
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)67.5
Length (cm)26
Weight (g)290
Plumage DetailsThe plumage is uniformly sooty gray-black across the body. A prominent crest of black, bristly feathers curves forward over the forehead. The bill is bright orange with a yellowish tip, and thin white plumes extend backward from behind each eye.
Vocalization / CallCrested Auklets produce a variety of vocalizations, including growls, chattering, and barking sounds, particularly during the breeding season when they are highly social.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsrocky coasts, islands, open ocean
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the North Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and Gulf of Alaska, breeding on remote islands and coastal cliffs.
Identifying Featuresprominent forward-curving crest, bright orange bill with yellow tip, white eye-plumes, sooty gray-black plumage, musky citrus scent
Description
The Crested Auklet is a small, dark seabird characterized by its striking forward-curving crest and bright orange bill. Highly social, these birds form large breeding colonies on rocky coasts and are known for their strong, musky citrus-like scent.
