CRESTED AUKLET

*Crested Auklet (_Aethia cristatella_) – The Quirky Seabird of the North Pacific –

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Introduction
The *_Crested Auklet (_Aethia cristatella__) is a small, charismatic alcid (auks, murres, puffins) that breeds on rocky, often fog‑shrouded islands of the Bering Sea, Aleutian chain, and coastal Siberia. Named for its striking forward‑curving crest of white feathers, it is a social, noisy bird that spends most of its life at sea, returning to cliffs only to nest.

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Taxonomy & Naming
- *Scientific name:* _Aethia cristatella_ (Pallas, 1769)
- *Family:* Alcidae (Auks, Murres, Puffins)
- *Genus:* _Aethia_ – a group of small North Pacific auklets.
- *Species:* _cristatella_ – Latin _cristatus_ = “crested”, referring to the plume.
- *Common names:* Crested Auklet, “Crested Little Auk”.

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Description
- *Size:* Very compact.
- Length: *18–20 cm (7–8 in)*.
- Wingspan: *34–36 cm (13–14 in)*.
- Weight: *200–300 g (7–10 oz)*.
- *Plumage (breeding):*
- *Head:* Black with a *white, curled crest* (2–3 cm) that arches forward.
- *Body:* Dark slate‑gray above, white below.
- *Bill:* Short, orange‑red with a *white, waxy “plate”* at the base (prominent in breeding season).
- *Eyes:* Dark, set in a faint white eye‑ring.
- *Non‑breeding plumage:* Crest reduced, bill duller (orange fades to yellowish).
- *Sexual dimorphism:* Minimal; males slightly larger, crest a bit longer.

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Habitat & Distribution
- *Breeding range:*
- *Aleutian Islands (USA), Pribilof Islands, St. Lawrence Island (Alaska).*
- *Commander Islands, Kuril Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia).*
- *Wintering range:* Mostly stays in the *North Pacific*, moving south to the Gulf of Alaska and northern Japan when sea ice advances.
- *Habitat:*
- *Nesting:* Steep, rocky cliffs, talus slopes, and crevices on remote islands (often in colonies of thousands).
- *Foraging:* Open ocean, near surface waters rich in zooplankton (krill, copepods) and small fish (sand lance, herring).

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Behaviour & Ecology
Diet & Foraging
- *Primarily planktivorous:*
- *Krill (Euphausia spp.)*, copepods, amphipods.
- *Small fish* (≤ 5 cm) when available.
- *Diving:* Uses wings for underwater “flight”; dives *10–30 m (30–100 ft)* for 30–60 seconds.
- *Foraging flocks:* Hundreds to thousands together, forming dense “rafts” on the surface at dusk.

Social Structure & Breeding
- *Colonial nester:* Colonies can hold *10,000–100,000+ pairs*.
- *Monogamous pair bonds* (often lasting multiple seasons).
- *Courtship displays:*
- *“Crest‑raising”* and *bill‑rubbing*.
- Mutual preening; both sexes display orange bill plates.
- *Nest:* No nest material; a single egg laid on bare rock crevice or under boulders.
- *Incubation:* *≈ 33–36 days*, shared by both parents.
- *Chick:* Semi‑precocial; downy, leaves nest after *≈ 30 days*, fledging to sea at night to avoid gulls.

Vocalisations
- *Harsh, high‑pitched “krrr‑krrr”* or “chirp‑chirp” calls at colonies.
- *Soft whistles* during courtship.

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Conservation Status
- *IUCN Red List:* *Least Concern (2023)* – large, stable population (estimated *5–10 million individuals*).
- *Potential threats:*
- *Introduced predators* (rats, foxes) on some islands.
- *Oil spills* and marine pollution (plastic ingestion).
- *Climate change* affecting krill abundance in the Bering Sea.
- *Protection:* Many colonies lie within *Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge*, *Russian Far East reserves*. Monitoring under *North Pacific Seabird Bycatch Program*.

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Interesting Facts
- *Crest function:* Believed to play a role in *mate selection* and *species recognition*; crest length correlates with age/health.
- *Citrus scent:* In breeding season, both sexes emit a *tangerine‑like odor* from uropygial gland secretions—thought to signal fitness and deter ectoparasites.
- *Mass breeding synchrony:* All colonies time egg‑laying within a *2‑week window*, swamping predators (preda