Spectacled Guillemot vs Great Auk
Cepphus carbo compared with Pinguinus impennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Spectacled Guillemot | Great Auk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cepphus carbo | Pinguinus impennis |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.4 cm (15.1 in) | — |
| Weight | 480.0 g (16.93 oz) | 4750.0 g (167.55 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Spectacled Guillemot
Extinct
Great Auk
About These Birds
Spectacled Guillemot
Spectacled Guillemot, 36–38 cm, breeds on rocky coasts and sea cliffs of the western North Pacific from Kamchatka to Japan. Sooty black with white spectacle patches around the eye; red feet. Coastal diver; feeds on fish and crustaceans near rocky reefs. Sedentary; stays close to breeding coast year-round.
Great Auk
Great Auk was the Northern Hemisphere's giant flightless auk, 75–85 cm, hunted to extinction in 1844. The last pair was killed on Eldey Island, Iceland. Black above, white below with a white oval eye patch; vestigial wings. Spent most of its life at sea; bred colonially on Atlantic islands and rocks.