Rhinoceros Auklet
NameRhinoceros Auklet
Common NameRhinoceros Auklet
Scientific NameCerorhinca monocerata
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)61
Length (cm)38
Weight (g)650
Plumage DetailsAdults have dark sooty-brown to blackish plumage on the back, head, and breast, contrasting with a paler belly. During the breeding season, they develop two prominent white facial plumes, one extending from behind the eye and another from the gape, along with a yellowish-orange bill featuring a unique pale 'horn' at the base of the upper mandible.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent when at sea, Rhinoceros Auklets produce a variety of growls, grunts, and low moans within their breeding colonies, particularly during the night.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds on islands and coastal areas of the North Pacific, ranging from Alaska south to California, and across to Japan and Korea. They typically winter offshore within their breeding range.
Identifying FeaturesOrange bill with a pale 'horn' (breeding season), Dark sooty-brown plumage, Two white facial plumes (breeding season), Yellowish eyes, Stocky body, often seen swimming low in the water
Description
The Rhinoceros Auklet is a medium-sized seabird characterized by its dark sooty-brown plumage and a distinctive orange bill with a pale 'horn' during the breeding season. These expert divers forage for fish and marine invertebrates in coastal waters, often seen swimming low in the water.
