Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Auk
Alle alle
Little Auk (Alle alle) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Little Auk (Alle alle) is a member of the Alcidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 181 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 Alle
- Species alle
Where it lives
Coasts of high Arctic from northeastern Canada to northwest of Russia; more rarely to Bering Strait
Quick facts
- Weight
- 181 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Auk 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 Little Auk is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Little Auk (Alle alle) is a member of the Alcidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL coasts of high Arctic from ne Canada to nw of Russia; more rarely to Bering Strait.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 181 g, with a wing length of about 11.6 cm and a tail of around 3.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 376,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Auk?
The Little Auk is a large bird that weighs around 181 g.
Where does the Little Auk live?
The Little Auk is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL coasts of high Arctic from ne Canada to nw of Russia; more rarely to Bering Strait, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Little Auk belong to?
The Little Auk (Alle alle) belongs to the Alcidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Little Auk eat?
The Little Auk hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Little Auk migrate?
The Little Auk is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Little Auk 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 Little Auk make?
1 real field recording of the Little Auk — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Little Auk's range?
The Little Auk has a mapped global range of about 376,000 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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