Photo: F. Deines, USFWS / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Crested Auklet
Aethia cristatella
Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella) is a member of the Alcidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 259 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Alcidae Auks
- Genus Aethia
- Species cristatella
Where it lives
Northwest to northeastern North Pacific coasts: patchily from eastern Chukotka, northeastern Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin, Kuril and Commander is. (eastern Russia); Bering Sea is. and Aleutian Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 259 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Crested Auklet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Crested Auklet is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella) is a member of the Alcidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA nw to ne North Pacific coasts: patchily from e Chukotka, ne Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin, Kuril and Commander is. (e Russia); Bering Sea is. and Aleutian Is.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 259 g, with a wing length of about 13.9 cm and a tail of around 3.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 479,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Crested Auklet?
The Crested Auklet is a large bird that weighs around 259 g.
Where does the Crested Auklet live?
The Crested Auklet is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA nw to ne North Pacific coasts: patchily from e Chukotka, ne Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin, Kuril and Commander is. (e Russia); Bering Sea is. and Aleutian Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Crested Auklet belong to?
The Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella) belongs to the Alcidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Crested Auklet eat?
The Crested Auklet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Crested Auklet migrate?
The Crested Auklet is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Crested Auklet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Crested Auklet make?
1 real field recording of the Crested Auklet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Crested Auklet's range?
The Crested Auklet has a mapped global range of about 479,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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