Birds Active during the day

Crested Auklet

Aethia cristatella

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

With a whimsical forehead crest and the scent of fresh tangerines, the Crested Auklet is the North Pacific's most charismatic acrobat. These social seabirds form massive, swirling colonies that are a true wonder of the Bering Sea.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 18–27 cm (7–11 in); Wingspan: 40–50 cm (16–20 in); Weight: 250–350 g (8.8–12.3 oz)

palette

Colors

Uniform sooty-grey or charcoal plumage; bright orange-red bill (breeding); white plume streak behind the eye; black forehead crest

visibility

Key Features

Forward-curving black forehead crest
Bright orange-red bill with seasonal plates
Thin white plume extending back from the eye
Distinctive citrus or tangerine-like scent

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active during the day

brightness_5

Peak hours Dawn and dusk (colony swarming); Midday (foraging)

calendar_month

Season May-August

restaurant

Diet Primarily planktivorous, feeding on krill (euphausiids), copepods, and small marine invertebrates caught by pursuit-diving.

park

Habitat Remote volcanic islands, rocky coastal cliffs, and the open waters of the North Pacific.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Crested Auklet Live?

Native to the rugged North Pacific and the Bering Sea, the Crested Auklet is a true denizen of the subarctic. Its core range spans from the Aleutian Islands and the Pribilofs in Alaska across to the Kuril Islands and the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia. While they spend the majority of their lives on the open ocean, they return to these remote, rocky coastlines to breed in some of the largest bird colonies in the world.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

3 Countries

2.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States Russia JP Japan

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Birds arrow_forward

Behavior

The Crested Auklet is one of the most social seabirds in the Northern Hemisphere, famous for gathering in 'mega-colonies' that can number over a million individuals. During the breeding season, they exhibit a unique ritual known as 'ruff-sniffing,' where they bury their bills into the neck feathers of a mate to catch a whiff of their distinctive citrus-like scent. This tangerine aroma is actually a chemical defense used to repel ticks and other parasites.

These birds are master divers, using their wings to 'fly' underwater in pursuit of prey. They are incredibly vocal on their breeding grounds, creating a cacophony of barking and trumpeting sounds that can be heard from miles away. While they spend their winters at sea, their return to land in the spring is a spectacular event involving massive swirling flights over the nesting colonies.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

Because Crested Auklets nest in deep crevices within boulder fields and scree slopes, camera placement should focus on high-traffic 'staging' rocks where birds land before entering their burrows. Aim your AI camera at flat, prominent rocks near the colony's edge that show signs of heavy use, such as guano staining. A low-angle mount (12–18 inches off the ground) will best capture their forward-curling crests and the intricate 'ruff-sniffing' social behaviors that occur on the surface.

Since these birds inhabit high-latitude environments with unpredictable weather, ensure your camera has a high IP rating for moisture and wind resistance. Avoid using traditional food lures, as these can attract predators like foxes or gulls that threaten the colony. Instead, rely on the birds' natural social attraction; the movement and noise of the colony itself are the best triggers for your camera. If you are using a camera with a specific AI trigger, look for the 'swarming' behavior during the early morning hours.

Optimal timing for capture is during the breeding season from late May to July. During this window, the birds are most active on land during the 'evening social hour'—usually a few hours before sunset—when they gather on rocks to display. Set your camera to a high frame rate or burst mode to capture the fast-paced social interactions and the rapid wingbeats as they arrive from the sea. High-speed shutter settings are essential to avoid motion blur during their energetic displays.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Crested Auklet.

Whiskered Auklet

Smaller with three distinct white facial plumes and a much thinner, darker bill.

Least Auklet

Much smaller (sparrow-sized) and lacks the forward-curling forehead crest; usually has a mottled white belly.

Browse all Birds arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Crested Auklets are most active during the daylight hours. They exhibit peak social activity at their breeding colonies during the early morning and late afternoon, often performing massive aerial 'swarms' before heading out to sea to forage or returning to their nests.

Unless you live on a remote island in the Bering Sea or the Aleutians, you likely won't see them in a typical backyard. To observe them, focus on their natural nesting sites: rocky scree slopes and coastal cliffs. They are not attracted to bird feeders but are highly social and will congregate where other auklets are present.

The Crested Auklet diet consists almost entirely of marine life. They are planktivores, specializing in krill and small crustaceans. They use their wings to dive deep underwater, sometimes reaching depths of over 30 meters to chase down their prey.

No, Crested Auklets are strictly maritime birds. They spend their winters on the open ocean and their summers on remote, uninhabited volcanic islands. You will not find them in suburban or inland environments.

While both have crests, the Crested Auklet is larger and has a thicker, orange-red bill and a single white plume behind the eye. The Whiskered Auklet has three distinct white facial plumes ('whiskers') and a much smaller, thinner bill.

Record Crested Auklet at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo