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Auks

Auks, members of the family Alcidae, are a group of seabirds that includes murres, guillemots, puffins, and others, totaling 25 species across 11 genera. While they can fly, they are perhaps best known for their "flying" underwater, using their wings to swim in a way similar to penguins, with whom they are not closely related. Auks exhibit a black-and-white coloration and are adept at diving, commonly compared to penguins in their feeding behaviors. However, their ability to walk on land is rather awkward and clumsy. A notable distinction among these birds is their monomorphic nature, meaning males and females have similar appearances. Regarding size, they range from the small least auklet to the larger thick-billed murre. Distinct names for auks exist between Europe and North America; for example, "murres" in North America are known as "guillemots" in Europe, while Europe's "little auk" is North America's "dovekie." Auks are pelagic, spending much of their lives out at sea and coming ashore predominantly for breeding, with monogamous and often lifelong pair bonds. Some auks breed in large colonies on cliffs, while others prefer burrows or smaller group settings. Despite their modern limited geographical distribution, auks have a rich fossil record that suggests a greater past diversity and hints at their evolutionary journey from shorebirds to adept diving seabirds. Genetic studies indicate they are related to skuas and have adapted over time to cooler northern waters, their pursuit diving feeding methods proving less efficient in warmer temperatures. Losses of species in the Atlantic compared to the Pacific point to historical extinctions rather than present-day distributional restraints. The family's systematics includes several subfamilies and tribes, with various genera housing only a few species, reflective of their specialized ecological niches and restricted geographical range.

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What Our Birders Say
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Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Anonymous
The best bird logging app
Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
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Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
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Birding and wellbeing app
Birda is an excellent platform to share your love of Birding and is a great tool of encouragement for a Birding Beginner like me. Birda has a very kind and supportive community of Birding enthusiasts. For me BIRDA is not only a BIRDING but also a WELLBEING App.
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
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