These birds may look small and pigeon-like at first glance, but they stand out thanks to their funky crest of feathers that curls forward from the top of their forehead. During the breeding season, both males and females sport this jaunty little plume, which scientists believe plays a big role in courtship displays. To top off the look, their eyes are ringed with bright white and their bills turn a vivid orange-red, creating a striking contrast against their otherwise slate-gray plumage. On crowded cliff ledges, where thousands of auklets nest side by side, the crests and bright features help individuals stand out to potential mates.

But it’s not just their looks that make crested auklets famous—it’s also their smell. These seabirds give off a distinctive tangerine-like scent, especially strong during the breeding season. The exact reason is still debated, but researchers suggest it may function as both a mate attractant and a form of insect repellent, keeping lice and other parasites away from crowded colonies. This citrusy aroma has earned them nicknames like “the perfume birds” and adds another layer of charm to their already unusual character.

Like other auklets, the crested auklet is a master diver, using its stubby wings as underwater flippers to chase down tiny planktonic crustaceans, especially krill, which form the bulk of its diet. They nest in massive colonies on remote rocky islands of the Bering Sea and North Pacific, tucking their eggs into crevices and boulder piles where they are protected from gulls and ravens.

Unlike puffins that dig burrows, crested auklets rely on natural rock shelters, and the colonies can number in the millions, creating one of the most spectacular seabird gatherings in the world. The noise of these colonies is constant—a chorus of purrs, growls, and whistles, which sound more like a collection of cats or frogs than birds.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Canada

2020

Non-Breeding

Japan

2020

Non-Breeding

Mexico

2020

Non-Breeding

Russia

2020

Eastern Asian Russia

United States

2020