Crested Auklet vs Ancient Murrelet
Aethia cristatella compared with Synthliboramphus antiquus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Auklet | Ancient Murrelet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aethia cristatella | Synthliboramphus antiquus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.9 cm (11.0 in) | 27.1 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 260.0 g (9.17 oz) | 208.16666666666666 g (7.34 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Crested Auklet
Least Concern
Ancient Murrelet
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.
Ancient Murrelet
Ancient Murrelet, 24–27 cm, breeds in burrows on North Pacific islands from British Columbia to Japan. Black hood, grey back, white underparts with yellow bill. Nocturnal at colonies to avoid predators. Chicks lead-march to sea within days of hatching — abandoning the nest very early. Planktivore and piscivore.