Crested Auklet
Image: Рагимов Михаил (cc-by-nc)
NameCrested Auklet
Common NameCrested Auklet
Scientific NameAethia cristatella
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)67.5
Length (cm)26
Weight (g)290
Plumage DetailsAdults have sooty gray-black body plumage with a white flank stripe. Key features include a bright orange-red bill with a yellow tip, a white iris, and a distinctive crest of black, forward-curving feathers on the forehead. A thin white plume extends back from behind the eye.
Vocalization / CallKnown for a variety of vocalizations, including growls, barks, and trills. Their calls are often described as dog-like yelps or barks, particularly during the breeding season.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal waters, rocky islands, pelagic
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the North Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and Gulf of Alaska. They breed on islands and coasts of Alaska and eastern Siberia.
Identifying Featuresprominent forward-curving crest, bright orange-red bill with yellow tip, white plume behind eye, sooty gray-black plumage, dog-like calls
Description
The Crested Auklet is a small, stocky seabird characterized by its distinctive orange bill and a prominent crest of forward-curving feathers on its forehead. These highly social birds breed in large colonies on rocky coasts and islands, spending most of their lives at sea.
