Alque perroquet

Identification

The parakeet auklet is a small (23 cm) auk with a short orange bill that is upturned to give the bird its curious fixed expression. The upward bend of the beak has been observed to provide advantages in picking up small food pieces from the sea bottom as well as in assisting in the disintegration of larger food objects. The bird's plumage is dark above and white below. with a single white plume projecting back from the eye. There is a small amount of variation between breeding and winter plumage.<p>The parakeet auklet is a highly vocal species at the nest, calling once it arrives at the nest and then duetting once its mate arrives. It makes a series of rhythmic hoarse calls (like that of the Cassin's auklet) and a quavering squeal. The function of these are unknown, but could be associated with defending its burrow from intruders and strengthening the bond with its mate.

Taxonomie

The Parakeet Auklet was formerly included in the genus Cyclorrhynchus, avians with a nearly circular profile of the bill. But following recent phylogenetic study, this species could be closer to the Crested Auklet, Least Auklet and Whiskered Auklet.[citation needed]

Nom scientifique

Aethia psittacula

Autorité

(Pallas, 1769)

Ordre

Charadriiformes

Famille

Alcidae

Genre

Aethia

Répartition et habitat

Aire de reproduction

PAL, NA : nw to ne North Pacific coasts: patchily from e Chukotka, ne Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin, Kuril and Commander is. (e Russia); Bering Sea is., Aleutian Is., and Gulf of Alaska

Aire hors reproduction

pelagic in North Pacific, reaching n Sea of Japan and w British Columbia (sw Canada)

Migration

Resident species

Conservation

The parakeet auklet is not considered threatened, there are estimated to be over a million individuals in the North Pacific. It is not thought to have declined recently, but may be threatened in the future by introduced predators and oil spills.

Tendance de la population

declining