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Alcidae

(visit this page on fatfisherman.com)

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata � Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net/

According to the IOC there are 23 species of Auks in the familly Alcidae; they are:

Little Auk Alle alle

Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia
Common Murre Uria aalge

Razorbill Alca torda

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle
Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba
Spectacled Guillemot Cepphus carbo

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus
Long-billed Murrelet Brachyramphus perdix
Kittlitz's Murrelet Brachyramphus brevirostris

Xantus's Murrelet Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
Craveri's Murrelet Synthliboramphus craveri
Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus
Japanese Murrelet Synthliboramphus wumizusume

Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus

Parakeet Auklet Aethia psittacula
Least Auklet Aethia pusilla
Whiskered Auklet Aethia pygmaea
Crested Auklet Aethia cristatella

Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata

Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica
Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata
Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

Family Links

Auks Alcidae

http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/alcids.html

Auks, puffins, guillemots, murres, murrelets - Background on 23 species...

Auks Alcidae

http://www.tsuru-bird.net/alcids/

Gallery of excellent pictures

Auks Alcidae

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/chordata/aves/charadriiformes/alcidae.html

Some species accounts

Species Links

Ancient Murrelet Synthlibormaphus antiquus

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/syn_ant.htm

Canadian distribution

Ancient Murrelet Synthlibormaphus antiquus

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/AncientMurrelet.html

Image

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0130id.html

The Atlantic Puffin is the only puffin within its range. Its huge, colorful bill is diagnostic. Immatures can look vaguely similar to Razorbills but have a grayish face and lack the white secondary bar. Murres are slimmer-billed...

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://www.nature.net/birds/fratercula_arctica.html

Old illustration...

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://www.redpath-museum.mcgill.ca/Qbp/birds/Specpages/atlantic%20puffin.htm

Profile, image and map

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/fratercula/f._arctica

Very full species account with illustraions references etc...

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0200.htm

Simple profile and very good illustrations

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/fra_arc.htm

Canadian distribution

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/puffin.htm

Brief notes

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://pages.infinit.net/nadeaucl/mac.htm

Brilliant images

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://aviary.owls.com/puffin/puffin.html

Simple profile with excellent illustrations

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://www.neseabirds.com/BirdsAlcidsppPuffin.htm

Profile with [painted] images

Atlantic [Common] Puffin Fratercula arctica

http://www.audubon.org/bird/BoA/F44_G1a.html

Audubon's original account and illustration.

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0270id.html

Full species account

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/blackguillemot/index.aspx

Profile with illustration

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/cep_gry.htm

Canadian distribution

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0199.htm

Profile & [painted] images

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://www.arthurgrosset.com/europebirds/blackguillemot.html

Profile with images

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/cepphus/c._grylle

Very full species account with extensive list of references etc...

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://pages.infinit.net/nadeaucl/guilmir.htm

Excellent images

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://www.birdcheck.co.uk/main/previewpages/previewpage27.htm

Old print

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/BlackGulli.html

Similar to Pigeon Guillemot but slightly darker and with white rather than gray underwing coverts. The white oval patch on the upper wing coverts is not transected by a dark line as in most Pigeon Guillemots. Body feathers are white in non-breeding and immature plumages...

Brunnich's Guillemot [Thick-Billed Murre] Uria lomvia

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0196.htm

...irregularly, in late autumn or winter, numbers of murres are found dead or in weakened condition along the coast or inland, victims of heavy gales with which they were unable to cope successfully, presumably because they were too close to shore when overtaken by the storm...

Brunnich's Guillemot [Thick-Billed Murre] Uria lomvia

http://www.birdcheck.co.uk/main/previewpages/previewpage40.htm

Old print

Brunnich's Guillemot [Thick-Billed Murre] Uria lomvia

http://www.audubon.org/bird/BoA/F44_G5c.html

Audubon's original species account and illustrations etc...

Brunnich's Guillemot [Thick-Billed Murre] Uria lomvia

http://www.pma.edmonton.ab.ca/vexhibit/eggs/vexeggs/wrldeggs/tbmurre.htm

Images of eggs

Brunnich's Guillemot [Thick-Billed Murre] Uria lomvia

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/uri_lom.htm

Canadian distribution

Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus

http://wildspace.ec.gc.ca/life.cfm?ID=CAAU&Lang=e

Image and links.

Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/tasb/legsregs/fpc/fpcguide/other/species/species-18.htm

Brief Species account

Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0160id.html

Species account

Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/pty_ale.htm

Canadian distribution

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/spec/spec70-2.html

Image and sound recording

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_species/print.asp?inhab=455

Image and profile

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://birdcare.com/birdon/sonb/guillemot.html

Very brief profile

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/uri_aal.htm

Canadian distribution map with excellent image

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://www.birddiary.co.uk/birdinfo.asp?bid=314&did=207

Image & notes

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux/charadriiformes/guillemot.de.troil.html

Image and profile [French]

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0300id.html

Species account

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/murre.htm

line drawing and notes

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/seabird_foragefish/seabirds/flash_cards/common_murre.html

Essay, images including eggs

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/uria/u._aalge$narrative.html

Comprehensive species account with references etc...

Common [Murre] Guillemot Uria aalge

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0195.htm

Full profile and image

Craveri's Murrelet Synthliboramphus craveri

http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/mtymiss05.html

High on many out-of-towners' list of birds wanted on their Monterey Bay boat trip is Craveri's Murrelet and as Van Remsen used to remark, this Italian name rhymes with spaghetti, so say it correctly). If one is lucky in August-October, and waters on the Bay are calm, one might come upon a Xantus's/Craveri's Murrelet on the water...

Craveri's Murrelet Synthliboramphus craveri

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0260id.html

Species account

Crested Auklet Aethia cristatella

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0180id.html

The Crested Auklet is aptly named for its distinctive crest. Only the Whiskered Auklet shares this feature. In alternate plumage, the Whiskered Auklet has three white plumes on the head and a quite different bill shape...

Crested Auklet Aethia cristatella

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/crestedauklet.htm

Image & profile

Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0140id.html

Species account

Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/hornedpuffin.htm

Image and profile

Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata

http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Horned_Puffin.asp

Profile & image

Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata

http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com/hornedpuffin.html

Image at sea

Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/fratercula/f._corniculata

Comprehensive species account with references etc.

Kittlitz's Murrelet Brachyramphus brevirostris

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0240id.html

Species account

Least Auklet Aethia pusilla

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/seabird_foragefish/photogallery/Picture_of_Month/Aug03-least_auklet/Aug03-least_auklet.htm

Brilliant image & notes

Least Auklet Aethia pusilla

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/leastauk.htm

Image & profile

Least Auklet Aethia pusilla

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0200id.html

Species account

Little Auk [Dovekie] Alle alle

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0194.htm

Species profile with [painted] image

Little Auk [Dovekie] Alle alle

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/littleauk/index.aspx

Profile, image & UK distribution

Little Auk [Dovekie] Alle alle

http://www.borealforest.org/world/birds/little_auk.htm

Image & notes

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

http://www.ramas.com/murrelet.htm

Marbled Murrelet is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in California, Oregon, and Washington. It is also listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. Habitat destruction through forest harvest is generally regarded as the main cause of population decline, although mortality in gill-nets, in oil spills, or as a result of predation are also thought to play significant roles...

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

http://www.sei.org/murrelet.html

Series of essays regarding its status and conservation

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

http://indybay.org/news/2002/12/1549882.php

Profile with image on nest

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/brachyramphus/b._marmoratus$narrative.html

Comprehensive species account with references etc...

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0230id.html

Species account

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

http://www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg/bertram/mamurt/

Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team...

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

http://www.spruceroots.org/Murrelet.html

Conservation essay Why worry about the marble murrelet...

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/seabird_foragefish/seabirds/flash_cards/marbled_murrelet.html

Image

Parakeet Auklet Aethia psittacula

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/ParakeetAuklet.html

Brilliant Image

Parakeet Auklet Aethia psittacula

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/parakeetauklet.htm

Profile & image

Parakeet Auklet Aethia psittacula

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/seabird_foragefish/seabirds/flash_cards/parakeet_auklet.html

Parakeet Auklets are in the family of birds known as the Alcidae which are commonly referred to as the auks. The Alcidae family consists of murres, puffins, murrelets, and other auks.

Parakeet Auklet Aethia psittacula

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0170id.html

The facts...

Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pugetsound/species/pigeon.html

The Pigeon Guillemot lives year round along Puget Sound. A pigeon-sized water bird, the pigeon guillemot dives using its wings for paddles and its feet for rudders...

Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba

http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/spec/spec70-6.html

Images

Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/cep_col.htm

Canadian distribution and image

Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0290id.html

Species account

Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba

http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_species/default.asp?hOri=1&inhab=457

Profile

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0320id.html

Species account

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.borealforest.org/world/birds/razorbill.htm

Brief profile and image

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.neseabirds.com/BirdsAlcidsRazorbill.htm

Profile with images

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.birdcheck.co.uk/main/previewpages/previewpage249.htm

Old print

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/alc_tor.htm

Canadian distribution

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/razorbill/index.aspx

Species profile with image and UK distribution

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/RZBL.html

Image

Razorbill Alca torda

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/alca/a._torda$narrative.html

Comprehensive species account with image, references etc...

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.arthurgrosset.com/europebirds/razorbill.html

Images and notes

Razorbill Alca torda

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0197.htm

Brief profile and images

Razorbill Alca torda

http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/spec/spec70-4.html

Image and sound recording

Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/cer_mon.htm

Canadian distribution

Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0150id.html

Species account

Spectacled Guillemot Cepphus carbo

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/SpectGulli.html

Also known as Ring-eyed Scoot, Sooty Guillemot or Bridled Guillemot. Distantly related to Black and Pigeon Guillemots...

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/puffin.html

Tufted Puffins breed only on islands and rocky cliffs in the arctic waters of the North Pacific, which includes the Arctic, Bering, and Okhotsk seas...

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/fratercula/f._cirrhata$narrative.html

Comprehensive species account with references etc...

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

http://www.birdnature.com/oct1898/puffin.html

Essay and [painted] image

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0120id.html

Species account

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

http://www.nature.net/birds/lunda_cirrhata.html

Old Print

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/birds/birdpages/fra_cir.htm

Canadian distribution

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/seabird_foragefish/seabirds/flash_cards/tufted_puffin.html

Essay and images

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

http://desfbay.fws.gov/Archives/Puffin/Tufted_Puffin.htm

Essay and [poor] image

Whiskered Auklet Aethia pygmaea

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0190id.html

Species account...

Xantus's Murrelet Synthliboramphus hypoleucus

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0250id.html

Species account

Number of Species

Number of bird species: 23

Useful Reading

Ancient Murrelet

Ian Jones, 1992 A & C Black (Publishers) Ltd
ISBN: 0856610704
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Flight Identification of European Seabirds

by Anders Blomdahl, Bertil Breife & Niklas Holmstrom from Christopher Helm April 2003 Price ?35. See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0713660201
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Puffins

Heather Angel Series: WILDLIFE MONOGRAPHS 960 pages, col photos. Evans Mitchell Books Due June 2007
ISBN: 161496
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Seabirds

by Peter Harrison - Helm 1985
ISBN: 071363510X
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Seabirds ? a natural history

by Anthony J Gaston A&C Black 2004
See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0713665572
Buy this book from NHBS.com

The Atlantic Puffin

by David Boag, Mike Alexander Blandford Press; (May 1987)
ISBN: 0713717343
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Organisations

Japanese Alcid Society

Website

For those who don't know... alcids include murrelets, auks etc.

Project Puffin

Website

The National Audubon Society started Project Puffin in 1973 in an effort to learn how to restore puffins to historic nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine. At that time, literally all the puffin eggs in Maine were in two baskets - Matinicus Rock and Machias Seal Island. Although puffins are not an endangered species (they are abundant in Newfoundland, Iceland, and Britain); they are rare in Maine. The two surviving colonies were very vulnerable to a disaster such as an oil spill, or accidental establishment of predators such as rats or mink...

Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association

Website

SOSSA was founded by members of the New South Wales Albatross Study Group (NSWASG) in 1994. It was set up to be an umbrella organisation for many study groups concerned with studies of Southern Ocean bio-diversity. SOSSA is a wildlife research and conservation group which consists of dedicated people both professional and amateur. These people share a common interest and concern for the environment and the wildlife of the Southern Oceans...

The Seabird Group

Website

The Seabird Group, a registered charity, was founded in 1966 to promote and help coordinate the study and conservation of seabirds...

Forums & Mailing Lists

International Puffin Lovers Club

Mailing List

Great Auk

Website

Large breeding colonies of this flightless, penguin-like sea bird once gathered on rocky islands and coasts of the North Atlantic in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the British Isles, and Scandinavia. A strong swimmer, the great auk wintered as far south as Florida and southern Spain...

Japanese Murrelet song

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