Auks, puffins, guillemots, murres, murrelets

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Alcidae

23 species

HABITAT AND RANGE:

marine environments of palearctic;

DESCRIPTION:

14-36 cm; bill often laterally compressed and colorful; head large; neck short; body compact; wings small; tail short; legs short, set back; feet webbed; claws strong;

FOOD:

wing-propelled divers who feed primarily on fish;

BREEDING:

mostly colonial breeders; sexes similar; monogamous; usually single egg (2 in guillemots and murrelets) on ledge in crevice or, rarely, in tree; biparental care, at least until fledging.

SOUNDS:

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RECENT LITERATURE:

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