Breeding adults. Photo: Nick Pecker/Shutterstock
Aethia cristatella
| Conservation status | North American population estimated at 3 million in late 1980s, but accurate censusing very difficult. Probably has declined in Aleutians because of introduced foxes and rats. Vulnerable to oil spills and other pollution. |
|---|---|
| Family | Auks, Murres, Puffins |
| Habitat | Open sea; nests in colonies on sea cliffs. Often over deep water far from land, but may forage near shore where there is turbulence caused by upwellings, tide rips, or tidal flow in passes between islands. Nests on rocky islands among boulders, talus slopes, lava flows, cliffs with many openings and crevices. |
Forages while swimming below the surface. Underwater behavior poorly known, but maximum dive depth thought to be about 100' below surface. Often forages in flocks.
one. White, becoming nest-stained. Incubation is by both sexes, 29-40 days, usually about 34. Young: Both parents feed young (although female may do more), bringing back food in throat pouch. Young is noisy, making peeping sounds when parents present and whistling when they are absent. Age at first flight 27-36 days; young comes out of nest for a few days before to exercise wings.
Both parents feed young (although female may do more), bringing back food in throat pouch. Young is noisy, making peeping sounds when parents present and whistling when they are absent. Age at first flight 27-36 days; young comes out of nest for a few days before to exercise wings.
Mostly small crustaceans. Diet not well known, but includes many small crustaceans that occur in swarms (especially euphausiid shrimp and copepods), also probably small numbers of fish and squid.
First breeds at age of 3 years or older. In courtship, male puffs out chest, points bill up, and makes honking sounds; female approaches, and pair engages in bill-touching, preening each other's neck feathers, intertwining necks. Nest site is in deep crevice in cliff or among boulders, may be several feet below surface of rock pile. Nest is shallow depression in soil or pebbles at bottom of crevice.
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