Whiskered Auklet
A species of Typical auklets Scientific name : Aethia pygmaea Genus : Typical auklets
Whiskered Auklet, A species of Typical auklets
Botanical name: Aethia pygmaea
Genus: Typical auklets
Content
Description
Description
An odd characteristic of this bird, which is also shared with the Crested Auklet, is that its plumage smells of citrus. Fishing boats pose a huge threat to this bird, since it is attracted to lights at night.
Size
13 - 23 cm
Life Expectancy
15 years
Feeding Habits
Whiskered Auklet dines predominantly on marine zooplankton. They consume copopods during the summer and switch to euphausiids in fall and winter. Their foraging technique involves capturing prey underwater in a manner distinctive to their species.
Habitat
Rock crevices on oceanic islands, marine habitat, nearshore marine waters, mostly associated with areas of rough water formed by convergence of currents which apparently concentrate zooplankton
Nest Behavior
Colonial breeders, whiskered Auklet engage in nocturnal activities at nest sites. Courtship details are vague, but include duet calls. Their egg-laying is solitary, and both parents share in the incubation and care of the young.
Nest Characteristics
Whiskered Auklet's nests are found in small openings within talus slopes, boulder piles, or cliff crevices, occasionally in soil-and-rock mixtures. The nest sites typically have no constructed nest, with eggs laid directly on bare rock or soil.
Dite type
Piscivorous
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Alcidae Genus
Typical auklets Species
Whiskered Auklet