Little Auk
Little Auk
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A tiny, chunky, and highly social Arctic seabird, the Little Auk (also known as Dovekie) is the smallest member of the auk family. It is an excellent diver, feeding primarily on small crustaceans in cold waters.
Where to spot
Inhabits high Arctic regions, breeding in vast colonies on cliffs and scree slopes. Winters in open North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean waters.
How to spot
Look for its very small size, plump body, short neck, and stubby bill. In flight, it exhibits rapid, whirring wingbeats. Observe them in large, dense rafts on the water or flying rapidly in and out of cliff colonies.
When to spot
Best observed during their breeding season in the summer at Arctic colonies. During winter, they are pelagic but can sometimes be seen offshore in their wintering grounds, occasionally pushed closer to shore by storms.
Where to spot
Inhabits high Arctic regions, breeding in vast colonies on cliffs and scree slopes. Winters in open North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean waters.
How to spot
Look for its very small size, plump body, short neck, and stubby bill. In flight, it exhibits rapid, whirring wingbeats. Observe them in large, dense rafts on the water or flying rapidly in and out of cliff colonies.
When to spot
Best observed during their breeding season in the summer at Arctic colonies. During winter, they are pelagic but can sometimes be seen offshore in their wintering grounds, occasionally pushed closer to shore by storms.
Credits:
By no rights reserved - https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/311711157, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143387460
Little Auks can consume thousands of tiny crustaceans in a single day, playing a vital role in transferring energy from zooplankton to higher trophic levels in the Arctic marine ecosystem.
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