The Crested Auklet is a small seabird of the North Pacific and Bering Sea, famous for the distinctive forward-curving crest that develops on adults during the breeding season. It nests in enormous colonies on rocky islands and coastal cliffs, sometimes numbering hundreds of thousands of birds. The species feeds primarily on zooplankton, especially copepods and other small crustaceans, which it captures while diving underwater. Crested Auklets are also well known for their unusual citrus-like scent, often compared to tangerines, which is believed to play a role in courtship and mate selection. Outside the breeding season, they spend most of their lives at sea in cold northern waters. In North America, the species occurs regularly in Alaska and the Bering Sea region, but it is rare farther south along the Pacific Coast.
Habitat
The Crested Auklet inhabits cold marine waters of the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. During the breeding season, it nests in dense colonies on remote rocky islands, sea cliffs, talus slopes, and boulder fields where crevices provide nesting sites. Outside the breeding season, it remains pelagic, spending most of its time in offshore waters rich in zooplankton.
Diet
The Crested Auklet feeds primarily on zooplankton, especially copepods, krill, amphipods, and other small crustaceans. It captures prey by diving underwater and swimming with its wings through productive marine waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea. Small fish and other marine invertebrates may occasionally be taken, but planktonic crustaceans make up the bulk of the diet.
Behavior
Feeds by swimming underwater in search of prey, with dives as deep as 100 feet. Gregarious, with tightly formed flocks often seen flying around breeding colonies.
Nesting
The Crested Auklet nests in rocky crevices, talus slopes, boulder fields, and cliff rubble on remote islands of the North Pacific and Bering Sea. Unlike many seabirds, it does not build a substantial nest; instead, a single egg is laid in a protected crevice among rocks. Breeding occurs in dense colonies that may contain tens of thousands of birds, and both parents share incubation duties and care for the chick after hatching.
Song
The Crested Auklet is highly vocal at breeding colonies, producing a variety of barking, growling, croaking, and rattling calls. Many vocalizations are used during courtship, territorial interactions, and communication among colony members. Away from breeding colonies, birds are generally much quieter while at sea.
Migration
Considered a permanent resident in the southern part of their range, such as around the Aleutian Islands where open water exists all year. Populations nesting in the Bering Sea, where ice forms in the winter, move southward for the winter, with most wintering around the Aleutian Islands. They are only rarely found away from the far north Pacific, with a stray once found as far south as British Columbia. Birds that nest in Siberia winter in northern Japan.
Similar Species
Whiskered Auklet . The Crested Auklet is noticeably larger and has a prominent forward-curving crest on the forehead, especially during the breeding season. The Whiskered Auklet lacks this crest and instead shows distinctive long white facial plumes ("whiskers") extending from behind the eye. Crested Auklets have a relatively plain dark face aside from the crest, whereas Whiskered Auklets display a striking facial pattern with bold white plumes and contrasting pale facial markings. In mixed flocks or colonies, the facial ornamentation is usually the quickest way to separate the two species.
Conservation Status
Populations of Crested Auklet undoubtedly declined int eh 20th century, as introduced rats and foxes on their breeding islands reduced breeding success. However, despite population declines, the IUCN currently lists the Crested Auklet as a species of "Least Concern". They still are relatively common throughout their historical range.
Photo Information
Photo is public domain image from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, taken in 2008 at Kiska Island in Alaska.
Interactive eBird Map
Click to access the interactive eBird species sightings page for Crested Auklet
