Alle alle
The Little Auk, *Alle alle*, is a diminutive yet incredibly robust seabird, a true titan of the Arctic marine environment. Measuring approximately 19-21 cm (7.5-8.3 inches) in length with a wingspan of 34-38 cm (13-15 inches) and weighing 140-200g (4.9-7.1 oz), it is the smallest of all Atlantic auks. Its distinctive field marks include a plump, round body, a very short neck, and a small, stubby bill, giving it a somewhat comical, puffin-like appearance, though lacking the colorful bill. Bree...
Exclusively marine, inhabiting cold, pelagic Arctic waters year-round, utilizing rocky coastal cliffs, scree slopes, and talus for immense breeding colonies.
Feeds almost exclusively on zooplankton, primarily copepods (*Calanus spp.*) and amphipods, captured through pursuit diving in cold Arctic waters.
Little Auks are highly social and diurnal, forming vast, noisy colonies on barren cliffs, where daily activity revolves around foraging and breeding. Foraging is primarily done by pursuit diving, using their powerful wings for propulsion underwater to chase and capture zooplankton. They exhibit l...
The breeding range of the Little Auk is exclusively within the High Arctic, encompassing immense colonies on the coasts and islands of Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland (Jan Mayen), Novaya Zemlya, and Franz Josef Land. These populations are concentrated in the North Atlantic and Eurasian sectors of th...
Least Concern
- The Little Auk is the smallest of all Atlantic auks, yet one of the most numerous seabirds globally. - They possess a unique gular pouch, or sublingual pouch, allowing them to carry hundreds of tiny copepods back to their chick in a single foraging trip. - Colonies can be incredibly vast, with ...