Little Auk

Identification

The little auk is the smallest Atlantic auk, measuring just 19–21 cm in length with a wingspan of 34–38 cm and weighing between 130–200 g. It is roughly half the size of an Atlantic puffin, making it instantly recognizable among its larger auk relatives. In breeding plumage, adults display a striking black head, neck, back, and wings contrasted with pure white underparts. White trailing edges on the secondary feathers and white fringes on the scapular feathers add subtle detail to the plumage. The bill is characteristically short and stubby, and the tail is small and rounded. During winter, birds develop white coloring on the lower face and fore neck. The nominate subspecies A. a. alle is marginally smaller than A. a. polaris, though the difference is subtle in the field.

Range & Habitat

Little auks breed in huge colonies in the high Arctic of the North Atlantic Ocean. The nominate subspecies A. a. alle breeds across Greenland, Novaya Zemlya, Svalbard, Baffin Island, Jan Mayen, and the former breeding site of north Iceland, where the species is now extinct. The subspecies A. a. polaris breeds on Franz Josef Land and possibly Severnaya Zemlya. Small numbers also breed on several Bering Sea islands including Little Diomede Island, King Island, St. Lawrence Island, St. Matthew Island, and the Pribilof Islands. Breeding habitat consists of large colonies on scree slopes along marine cliffsides, where birds nest in rock crevices or beneath large boulders. In winter, the species disperses widely across Arctic and North Atlantic waters, with the largest concentrations near pack ice edges and smaller numbers ranging south to northern Great Britain and Nova Scotia.

Behaviour & Diet

Little auks are agile underwater foragers, diving to pursue their prey with fast, direct flight powered by rapid whirring wing beats characteristic of their short wings. They feed primarily on crustaceans, particularly copepods; a single 150 g bird requires approximately 60,000 copepods daily. They also consume small mollusks and fish. Recent evidence indicates they hunt using visually-guided suction-feeding rather than filter-feeding. During breeding season, they forage close to shore, while in winter they feed near ice edges and coastlines. These birds are highly vocal at breeding colonies, producing varied twitters and cackling calls, but remain silent at sea. They are monogamous and exhibit strong nest-site fidelity, often using the same rock crevice year after year. A single pale greenish-blue egg is incubated by both parents for 28–31 days. Chicks fledge at 26–29 days old, typically synchronously with others in the colony and usually under cover of darkness.

Best Time & Places to See It

To observe breeding colonies, visit the high Arctic during summer months, particularly Greenland, Svalbard, and Novaya Zemlya, where populations breed in vast numbers. Winter offers opportunities across the northern North Atlantic, with concentrations near pack ice edges and smaller populations ranging to northern Great Britain and Nova Scotia. Late autumn storms in November and December may drive birds south of their normal range into the North Sea and occasionally to coastal areas farther south, creating opportunities for unexpected sightings. The Farne Islands in Northumberland, England, recorded remarkable concentrations following strong northerly gales, demonstrating how weather patterns concentrate these birds in accessible locations.

Photography Tips

The little auk's small size and rapid, direct flight present challenges for photographers. Their preference for foraging close to shore during breeding season and near ice edges in winter may improve photo opportunities compared to open ocean settings. The striking contrast between black and white breeding plumage is highly photogenic, while winter birds show subtle shifts in facial coloring that reward careful observation. The synchronous fledging of young birds at dusk provides a rare opportunity to photograph mass movement, though this nocturnal activity demands specialized equipment and positioning. During winter, storm-driven concentrations in accessible areas like the North Sea offer chances to photograph these normally remote seabirds.