Alcids
At present, pages are limited to the 11 species of alcids that nest in the US EEZ of the Western Arctic. Most nest in large colonies on protected cliffs and forage in nearby waters.
Most Alcids live in boreal and arctic waters. They consist of the species that
gave the penguins their names and are highly adapted for swimming underwater. A subartic species, the Great Auk, became
recently extinct. Many other members of this species are by-caught in
fisheries or contaminated by chronic oil pollution. Most auks live in large
colonies, e.g. the fish-eating Thick-Billed Murres and plankton feeders such
as Dovekies. The Tufted Puffin is probably wintering north off Hawaii, and
Atlantic auks can be found off West Africa.
Page Author: Falk Huettmann
Created: Oct 30, 2008
