Crested Auklet
Aethia cristatella
The Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella) is a rare auks, puffins, and murr found in 4 countries, weighing about 259 g. The crested auklet is a small seabird of the family Alcidae, distributed throughout the northern Pacific and the Bering Sea.
About the Crested Auklet
The crested auklet is a small seabird of the family Alcidae, distributed throughout the northern Pacific and the Bering Sea. The species feeds by diving in deep waters, eating krill and a variety of small marine animals. It nests in dense colonies of up to 1 million individuals in the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. It often breeds in mixed-species colonies with the least auklet, a smaller congener.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The crested auklet can measure 18–27 cm (7.1–10.6 in) in length, 34–50 cm (13–20 in) in wingspan and weigh 195–330 g (6.9–11.6 oz). They have a reddish-orange and yellow tipped bill, yellowish white irises, and white auricular plumes from their eyes to their ears. Their bodies, wings, and tails are primarily dark sooty grey, while their legs and feet are grey and claws black. The males and females are very similar, although the females have slightly smaller and less curved bills, additionally slightly smaller crests.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada.
When to see it
Best months: May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in June. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Crested Auklet?
- The crested auklet can measure 18–27 cm (7.1–10.6 in) in length, 34–50 cm (13–20 in) in wingspan and weigh 195–330 g (6.9–11.6 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Crested Auklet?
- The Crested Auklet is a medium sized bird weighing about 259 g.
- Where can you see a Crested Auklet?
- The Crested Auklet occurs in 4 countries, including the United States, Russia and Japan.
- What birds look similar to a Crested Auklet?
- The Crested Auklet is most easily confused with the Least Auklet, the Parakeet Auklet and the Whiskered Auklet.
- Is the Crested Auklet endangered?
- The Crested Auklet is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Crested Auklet for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.