Great Auk vs Cassin's Auklet
Pinguinus impennis compared with Ptychoramphus aleuticus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Auk | Cassin's Auklet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pinguinus impennis | Ptychoramphus aleuticus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 24.2 cm (9.5 in) |
| Weight | 4750.0 g (167.55 oz) | 175.0 g (6.17 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Extinct
Great Auk
Near Threatened
Cassin's Auklet
About These Birds
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.
Cassin's Auklet
Cassin's Auklet, 21–23 cm, is a small, almost entirely dark grey auklet breeding in burrows on rocky North Pacific islands from Baja California to the Aleutians. Feeds almost exclusively on zooplankton — euphausiids and copepods — at night. Highly colonial; winters near shore.