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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.

Regions

Ancient Murrelet

Synthliboramphus antiquus
A photo of a Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)

Black Guillemot

Cepphus grylle
A photo of a Brünnich's Guillemot (Uria lomvia)

Brünnich's Guillemot

Uria lomvia

Cassin's Auklet

Ptychoramphus aleuticus
A photo of a Common Guillemot (Uria aalge)

Common Guillemot

Uria aalge

Craveri's Murrelet

Synthliboramphus craveri
A photo of a Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella)

Crested Auklet

Aethia cristatella

Guadalupe Murrelet

Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
A photo of a Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata)

Horned Puffin

Fratercula corniculata

Kittlitz's Murrelet

Brachyramphus brevirostris
A photo of a Least Auklet (Aethia pusilla)

Least Auklet

Aethia pusilla
A photo of a Little Auk (Alle alle)

Little Auk

Alle alle

Long-billed Murrelet

Brachyramphus perdix

Marbled Murrelet

Brachyramphus marmoratus
A photo of a Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula)

Parakeet Auklet

Aethia psittacula
A photo of a Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)

Pigeon Guillemot

Cepphus columba
A photo of a Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

Puffin

Fratercula arctica
A photo of a Razorbill (Alca torda)

Razorbill

Alca torda
A photo of a Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)

Rhinoceros Auklet

Cerorhinca monocerata

Scripps's Murrelet

Synthliboramphus scrippsi
A photo of a Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)

Tufted Puffin

Fratercula cirrhata

Whiskered Auklet

Aethia pygmaea
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