Auk

Alcids are diving birds which pursue small fish and invertebrates by "flying" underwater. They have a chunky appearance and are 12-43 cm long and 140-1100 g in body weight. Plumage is typically black or dark grey above and white underneath. Wings and tail are short; legs are placed far back for swimming.

The 22 living species of this ancient and diverse group occupy a special niche in nearshore and offshore northern polar and temperate waters. Of the 22 species breeding in North America, 13 breed in Canada. The common and thick-billed murres (Uria aalge and U. lomvia) breed in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; dovekies (Alle alle), razorbills (Alca torda), black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) and Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) in the Atlantic and parts of the Arctic Ocean; pigeon guillemots (C. columba), marbled and ancient murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus and Synthliboramphus antiquus), Cassin's and rhinoceros auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus and Cerorhinca monocerata) and horned and tufted puffins (F. cirrhata and F. corniculata) breed in the Pacific. Four other species are nonbreeding visitors: Xantus' murrelet (S. hypoleucus), parakeet (Cyclorrhynchus psittacula) and least and crested auklets (Aethia pusilla andA. cristatella).

Alcids come ashore only during breeding season. Most species are colonial and breed at a few coastal sites (often islands) which are free of predators and near an adequate food supply. Long-lived birds, alcids breed first at 4-5 years, and normally lay only one egg annually. Depending on the species, the egg is laid on exposed ledges on steep sea cliffs, in rock crevices or between large boulders, in burrows or open ground, and, exceptionally, on branches high in trees. Both parents incubate the egg and rear the young; incubation and chick-rearing usually last a total of 10 weeks.

Great Auk
The great auk was destroyed by early explorers for food, by fishermen for bait and by hunters for feathers (artwork by John Gould).

Razorbills
Razorbills on the cliffs of the migratory bird sanctuary on Machias Seal Island, New Brunswick (photo by Gary Black).

Author D.N. NETTLESHIP

Suggested Reading
D.N. Nettleship, "Family Alcidae (Auks)," Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol 3: Hoatzin to Auks (1996); Nettleship and T.R. Birkhead, The Atlantic Alcidae: The Evolution, Distribution and Biology of the Auks Inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean and Adjacent Water Areas (1985).

Links to Other Sites
Canadian Biodiversity Website
A great information source for all budding biologists. Learn about biodiversity theory, natural history, and conservation issues. From McGill’s Redpath Museum.