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Parakeet Auklet

Aethia psittacula

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesMarineCavity nestMedium · 270 g
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 1
Photo: Art Sowls, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service · Public domain
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 2
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters · Public domain
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 3
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters · Public domain
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 4
Photo: Ingvild Riska · CC BY 4.0
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 5
Photo: Ingvild Riska · CC BY 4.0
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 6
Photo: steve b · CC0
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 7
Photo: steve b · CC0
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 8
Photo: Art Sowls, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service · Public domain
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 9
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters · Public domain
Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula), photo 10
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters · Public domain

ID tip

The parakeet auklet is a small (23 cm) auk with a short orange bill that is upturned to give the bird its curious fixed expression. The upward bend of the beak has been observed to provide advantages in picking up small food pieces from the sea bottom as well as in assisting in the disintegration of larger food objects. The bird's plumage is dark above and white below. with a single white plume projecting back from the eye. There is a small amount of variation between breeding and winter plumage.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Parakeet Auklet

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 5 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is June, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Parakeet Auklet

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 2 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

United States Russia

Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, Japan.

About the Parakeet Auklet

The parakeet auklet is a small seabird of the North Pacific. Parakeet Auklets used to be placed on its own in the genus Cyclorrhynchus but recent morphological and genetic evidence suggest it should be placed in the genus Aethia, making them closely related to crested auklets and least auklets. It is associated with the boreal waters of Alaska, Kamchatka and Siberia. It breeds on the cliffs, slopes and boulder fields of offshore islands, generally moving south during the winter.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella) Crested AukletAethia cristatellaThe 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). Least Auklet (Aethia pusilla) Least AukletAethia pusillaThe least auklet is a seabird and the smallest species of auk. Whiskered Auklet (Aethia pygmaea) Whiskered AukletAethia pygmaeaAn odd characteristic of this bird, which is also shared with the crested auklet, is that its plumage smells of citrus.

Side by side: Crested Auklet vs Parakeet Auklet

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