Cassin's Auklet [Ptychoramphus aleuticus]
Description
Cassin's Auklet is a small, chunky seabird that prefers offshore waters and rarely comes to land outside of the breeding season. It has a dark grey upper body and paler grey underparts, with a small white mark above the eye. Notably, it lacks the white 'eyebrow' seen in many other auk species. Its diet includes planktonic crustaceans and small fish. The species is monogamous, with both parents sharing responsibility for incubating the egg and feeding the chick.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Charadriiformes
|
| Family |
Auks, Murres, and Puffins
Alcidae
|
| Genus |
Cassin's Auklet
Ptychoramphus
|