Aethia cristatella
The Crested Auklet, Aethia cristatella, is a striking member of the Alcid family, renowned for its distinctive appearance and vibrant social behaviors. This small, stocky seabird measures about 20-27 cm (8-11 inches) in length and weighs between 200-300g (7-10.6 oz), characterized by sooty-black plumage, a short neck, and a relatively large head. Its most prominent field mark is a flamboyant, forward-curving orange crest of feathers that sweeps over its forehead, complemented by a small white...
This pelagic seabird primarily inhabits cold, northern marine environments, breeding on rocky islands, coastal cliffs, and scree slopes. During the non-breeding season, it disperses widely across the open ocean.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of large zooplankton, particularly copepods and euphausiids (krill), supplemented occasionally by larval fish and small squid. They forage by diving deep and propelling themselves underwater with their wings.
Crested Auklets are highly social and diurnal, forming immense breeding colonies that can number in the hundreds of thousands, roosting on rock faces or floating offshore. Their foraging strategy involves pursuit-diving, using their wings to 'fly' underwater in search of zooplankton. During the b...
The Crested Auklet boasts a significant distribution across the cold, subarctic waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea. Its primary breeding grounds span the islands of the Bering Sea, including St. Lawrence, St. Matthew, and the Pribilof Islands, extending westward through the Aleutian Islan...
Least Concern
- Crested Auklets emit a strong, pungent odor, often described as smelling like tangerines or citrus, which scientists believe may play a role in mate attraction or deterring parasites. - Their dramatic orange crest feathers are not fixed; their length and shape vary considerably among individual...