Least Auklet
A species of Typical auklets Scientific name : Aethia pusilla Genus : Typical auklets
Least Auklet, A species of Typical auklets
Botanical name: Aethia pusilla
Genus: Typical auklets
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Lars Petersson 
Description
The least auklet (Aethia pusilla) is a seabird and the smallest species of auk. It is the most abundant seabird in North America, and one of the most abundant in the world, with a population of around nine million birds. They breed on the islands of Alaska and Siberia, and spend the winter close to the edge of the ice sheet. Their largest colonies are on the Aleutian Islands, St. Lawrence Island and Little Diomede Island. 
Size
13 - 23 cm
Life Expectancy
4.5-10 years
Nest Placement
Cavity
Feeding Habits
Least Auklet's diet mainly consists of calanoid copepods, especially Neocalanus species. They also feed on larval shrimp, various amphipods, euphausiids, gastropods, and other small zooplankton. Least Auklet forages by surface dipping and pursuit diving, showcasing unique adaptations for capturing tiny prey at sea.
Habitat
Remote islands where rocky beaches and sea-facing talus slopes, cliffs, boulder fields, lava flows provide abundant rock crevices, slopes where underlying talus or lava is partly covered with vegetation, rock crevices on vegetated cliffs in the Aleutians, densest on un-vegetated talus if available
Nest Behavior
First breeding occurs at 3 years. Courtship involves chattering calls and bill-touching. Pair-bonds can last multiple seasons. Egg-laying is on bare substrate, with potential site reuse.
Nest Characteristics
Least Auklet typically nest in talus slopes or rock piles, using small rock crevices for sites. Their nests are simple, without constructed material, and may be on bare rock, soil, or pebbles.
Dite type
Piscivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Species Status
Least auklets are vulnerable to oil spills and introduced species. The introduction of Arctic foxes to many of the Aleutian Islands caused the species to be wiped out on many of those islands, and rats are also a problem on many islands. However, at present they are still a very common species, and are not considered threatened by the IUCN.
Photo By Lars Petersson 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Alcidae Genus
Typical auklets Species
Least Auklet 
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