Page 228 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Order Charadriiformes Family Alcidae Species Alle alle
Little Auk black face
and cap
white sides of neck curve short, stumpy
up behind cheeks black bill
slender
wings

WINTER
white
trailing
edge
white streaks
on shoulders
IN FLIGHT
black of back extends as
WINTER point on to sides of chest
all-black head
FLIGHT: fast, low; wings longish, slightly swept and breast
back, wader-like but blur of fast, whirring beats.
he smallest auk, and the most northerly, the Little Auk is rare in SUMMER
Tmost of Europe and best known as a late autumn visitor to the
North Sea.In some years,large numbers appear; in others it is scarce.
In “good” years, autumn gales may sweep a few score well inland.
Breeding colonies are often huge, with vast numbers of birds flying
around overhead, often very high up beside towering cliffs. Fit, alert
birds swim with head raised and tail cocked, while tired or sick
birds are hunched, with drooped wings.They are
vulnerable to predators such as gulls and skuas, or
even crows, when they are exhausted and driven
inland.The Little Auk opens its wings slightly as it
dives for food, and returns to the surface like a cork,
swimming buoyantly on the roughest seas, but tired
birds on inland waters are often inactive.
VOICE Shrill, twittering, or chattering notes and
trills; silent at sea.
NESTING Burrow high above shore; 1 egg;
1 brood; June. STORM-BLOWN MIGRANTS
FEEDING Dives for fish, plankton, and crustaceans. In late autumn, some Little Auks are driven close inshore by gales. They
may be seen unexpectedly over rocky shores or wide, sandy beaches.
SIMILAR SPECIES
OCCURRENCE
RAZORBILL Breeds in Arctic on islands. Mostly
see p.230
larger rare late autumn or winter visitor
large, thick
triangular bill to NW Europe, sometimes briefly
bill numerous in North Sea after
northerly gales. Rare storm-blown
birds appear inland.
PUFFIN Seen in the UK
see p.227 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 17–19cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 40–48cm (16–19in) Weight 140–170g (5–6oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure†
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