Little Auk

The Little Auk, or Dovekie (Alle alle), is a diminutive member of the auk family, Alcidae, and the sole representative of its genus. This small seabird is characterized by its black upperparts and white underbelly, with a notably short and stout bill. In winter, the lower face and fore neck adopt a white plumage, contrasting with its otherwise dark appearance.

Identification Tips

Adult Little Auks measure approximately 19–21 cm in length with a wingspan of 34–38 cm. They weigh between 130 to 200 grams. Their plumage is predominantly black on the head, neck, back, and wings, with white underparts. The bill is remarkably short, and they possess a small, rounded black tail. In flight, their wingbeats are rapid and whirring, a consequence of their short wings.

Habitat

These birds are known to breed on islands within the high Arctic, favoring marine cliffsides where they nest in crevices or under large rocks.

Distribution

The Little Auk has a circumpolar distribution in the Arctic. Two subspecies are recognized: A. a. alle, found in Greenland, Novaya Zemlya, and Svalbard, and A. a. polaris, which breeds on Franz Josef Land. Some populations also breed on islands in the Bering Strait and Bering Sea.

Behaviour

Little Auks are adept swimmers, diving underwater to forage for food. They primarily consume crustaceans, particularly copepods, but their diet also includes small invertebrates and fish. Their foraging behavior is visually guided suction-feeding rather than filter-feeding. During the breeding season, they forage closer to shore, while in the off-season, they scavenge in the open ocean.

Song & Calls

At breeding colonies, Little Auks are vocal, producing an array of twitters and cackling sounds. However, they are silent when at sea.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in large colonies on cliffsides, with each pair laying a single egg. They migrate southward in winter, sometimes being displaced by storms to areas beyond their usual range.

Similar Species

The Little Auk is unique in its size among Atlantic auks, being half the size of an Atlantic Puffin, which can help distinguish it from other species.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Little Auk is rich in crustaceans, with a single bird requiring around 60,000 copepods per day. They exhibit remarkable foraging plasticity, which allows them to adapt to changes in prey availability.

Conservation Status

Currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Little Auk's populations are somewhat fluid and appear to be decreasing, though not at a rate that causes immediate concern. They have shown resilience to fluctuations in prey availability due to climate change, which may complicate conservation assessments.

As Human Food

The Little Auk has been a traditional food source for Inuit communities, notably in the preparation of kiviaq, a dish where the birds are fermented inside a seal skin. In Newfoundland, Canada, they were known as Bull(y) Birds or Ice Birds and were consumed as a last resort to prevent starvation, their dark, lean meat being baked with savory dressing.