Crested auklet
A small seabird with elaborate ornaments and a citrus scent.
The crested auklet (Aethia cristatella) is a small seabird of the family Alcidae, distributed throughout the northern Pacific and the Bering Sea. It is known for its sexual ornaments—including a forehead crest, a citrus-like scent, and a loud trumpet call—which appear to have evolved through sexual selection. The species nests in dense colonies of up to 1 million individuals and has a total population of around 6 million, almost half in North America.
- Scientific name
- Aethia cristatella
- Length
- 18–27 cm
- Wingspan
- 34–50 cm
- Weight
- 195–330 g
- Population
- ~6 million
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Known for
- Sexual ornaments (crest, citrus scent, trumpet call)
Lore & Background
The crested auklet was first described as Alca cristatella in 1769 by German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas. It is now placed in the genus Aethia, introduced by German naturalist Blasius Merrem in 1788. Within the genus, it is most closely related to the whiskered auklet. There are no recognised subspecies.
Crested auklets measure 18–27 cm in length, with a wingspan of 34–50 cm and weight of 195–330 g. They have a reddish-orange and yellow tipped bill, yellowish white irises, and white auricular plumes. Their bodies are dark sooty grey, and their forehead crests consist of 2 to 23 forward-curving feathers. During the breeding season, they produce a social odor described as smelling like tangerines, originating from wick feathers between the shoulder blades.
They feed by diving in deep waters, eating krill and other small marine animals. They breed in dense colonies on islands and shorelines of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. Both sexes invest equally in parental care, incubating a single egg and raising the chick. Mate choice is mutual, but females have final choice. Only 45.5% of birds remain with the same partner the following season.
Reader's Guide
The crested auklet is significant for its complex and diversified communicative behavior, using optical, vocal, and olfactory signals in mating—unique among closely related species. Its elaborate ornaments (crest, citrus scent, trumpet call) have been studied as examples of sexual selection, with three proposed evolutionary mechanisms: runaway selection, good genes/handicap processes, and sensory exploitation. Large-crested adults of both sexes receive higher sexual interest and form pair bonds earlier. The species is considered of least concern overall, though the Alaskan population faces additional threats from predation and oil spills. Its dense colonies and biparental care align with Robert Trivers's parental investment theory, predicting mutual choosiness. The crested auklet's ability to navigate complex underground crevices may be linked to its facial feathering, though this is not definitively established.
Did You Know?
- The crested auklet produces a social odor described as smelling like tangerines during the breeding season.
- Its forehead crest can have between 2 and 23 forward-curving feathers, with an average of 12.
- Only 45.5% of crested auklets remain with the same partner in the subsequent breeding season.
- The species was first described as Alca cristatella in 1769 by German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Crested auklet?
Crested auklet (Aethia cristatella) is a small seabird in the auk family (Alcidae), native to the northern Pacific and Bering Sea. It stands out among its relatives for its flamboyant breeding plumage and unusual sensory traits.
What are Crested auklet's powers/role?
During the breeding season this bird sports a prominent forehead crest, gives off a noticeable citrus-like odor, and emits a loud trumpet call, all of which are products of sexual selection. These ornamental features help individuals attract mates within its enormous nesting colonies.
Where does Crested auklet live and nest?
Crested auklets form coastal breeding colonies that can reach up to one million birds across the northern Pacific and Bering Sea. Roughly half of the species' global population of about six million birds is found in North America.
How big is Crested auklet?
Adults range from 18 to 27 centimeters in body length with a wingspan of 34 to 50 centimeters. Their weight falls between 195 and 330 grams, giving them a compact, stocky build typical of small auks.
Why is Crested auklet important?
As a Least Concern species with a stable population near six million, the crested auklet serves as a useful indicator of northern Pacific marine ecosystem health. Its massive colonial nesting and elaborate courtship displays also make it a prime subject for research into seabird reproductive ecology and sexual selection.
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