BIRDGACHA / FIELD NOTES

Auks

Auks have compact bodies, short wings and feet positioned toward the rear, features associated with underwater pursuit. Many combine dark upperparts with pale underparts, while puffins and some auklets add conspicuous bills, crests or facial ornaments. Examples include Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), and Cassin's Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus). They propel themselves underwater with their wings and usually appear fast and direct in flight. Bill depth and the pattern around the eye distinguish several auks during their brief pauses at the surface.

How to recognize Auks

Compare the bill's depth, length and any bright breeding colours.
Watch for short wings and rapid wingbeats during direct flight.
Check pale facial areas, crests and the position of dark plumage.

Where they live

The family occurs in the northern Atlantic, northern Pacific and adjoining Arctic seas. These birds spend much of their time at sea, returning to islands, cliffs or other coastal breeding sites. Nearshore waters, offshore feeding areas and seasonal ice margins offer different opportunities for the species represented here. Breeding ornaments can be reduced outside the nesting season, so the date matters when comparing photographs.

Species accounts: Rhinoceros Auklet · Tufted Puffin · Cassin's Auklet

Sources — natural history: BTO: auks · Cornell Birds of the World: Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), species natural history.

Classification: IOC World Bird List: family names and classification.

Some Cornell Birds of the World account sections require a subscription.

Updated 2026-11-06. Species counts follow this site's catalogue. This is an editorial summary, not an expert peer review.