Whiskered auklet Aethia pygmaea

Identification Tips:

• Sexes similar
• Immature similar to adult basic but lacks crest and bill is dark
• Small alcid that dives for food from water surface
• Thick, short bill
• Yellow eye
• Entirely blackish plumage
• Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
• Inhabits islands and surrounding waters of Alaska

Adult alternate

• Black crest sprouts from forehead
• Three white plumes on face
• Bill red with paler tip

Adult basic

• Smaller crest
• Smaller white plumes on face
• Bill appears smaller and darker

Similar species:

Only Whiskered and Crested Auklets have a crest over the bill. In alternate plumage, the Whiskered Auklet has three white plumes on the head while the Crested only has one and has a quite smaller bill. In immature plumages where the crest is lacking, the larger size of the Crested Auklet may be the best field mark while in winter bill size and face pattern are also useful. In immature birds, the all dark plumage and smaller bill distinguish it from Tufted Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, and Parakeet Auklets.