Great Auk vs Ancient Murrelet
Pinguinus impennis compared with Synthliboramphus antiquus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Auk | Ancient Murrelet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pinguinus impennis | Synthliboramphus antiquus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 27.1 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 4750.0 g (167.55 oz) | 208.16666666666666 g (7.34 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Extinct
Great Auk
Least Concern
Ancient Murrelet
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.
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.