Crested Auklet vs Tufted Puffin
Aethia cristatella compared with Fratercula cirrhata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Auklet | Tufted Puffin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aethia cristatella | Fratercula cirrhata |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.9 cm (11.0 in) | 38.8 cm (15.3 in) |
| Weight | 260.0 g (9.17 oz) | 767.3 g (27.07 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Crested Auklet
Least Concern
Tufted Puffin
About These Birds
Crested Auklet
Crested Auklet, 23–26 cm, breeds in huge colonies on Aleutian and Bering Sea islands, forming spectacular wheeling flocks. Elaborate forward-curving crest, small orange bill. Males emit a citrus-tangerine scent from nape used in courtship. Planktivore; dives for euphausiids and copepods in icy waters.
Tufted Puffin
Tufted Puffin, 36–41 cm, is the largest North Pacific puffin, breeding on grassy slopes of islands from California to Kamchatka. Jet-black body, white face, massive orange-red bill, striking golden head tufts. Piscivore; carries multiple fish crosswise in bill. Pelagic in winter across North Pacific.