The little auk (Europe) or dovekie is a small auk, the only member of the genus Alle. It breeds in huge numbers on islands in the high Arctic of the North Atlantic Ocean. There are two subspecies; A. a. alle breeds in Greenland, Novaya Zemlya and Svalbard; and A. a. polaris on Franz Josef Land. A small number of individuals also breed on Little Diomede Island in the Bering Strait, with additional breeding individuals thought to occur on King Island, St. Lawrence Island, St. Matthew Island and the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. It also formerly bred on Grímsey just north of Iceland, but is extinct there now. In winter, they disperse widely across the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans, with the largest numbers in the Arctic close to the pack ice edge, and smaller numbers south to northern Great Britain in the eastern Atlantic, and Nova Scotia in the western Atlantic.
Region
High Arctic North Atlantic and Bering Sea
Typical Environment
Breeds in huge colonies on rocky islands and coastal scree slopes in Greenland, Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, and a few Bering Sea islands. In winter it disperses widely over the Arctic and North Atlantic, with many birds concentrating near the pack-ice edge and productive frontal zones. Typical nesting sites are boulder fields and cliff talus with numerous crevices that provide shelter from predators. At sea it uses cold, plankton-rich waters over continental shelves and fjords.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 500 m
Climate Zone
Polar
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the dovekie, the little auk is the smallest Atlantic auk and breeds in immense colonies across the high Arctic. It specializes on cold-water zooplankton, especially Calanus copepods, and often forages near the pack-ice edge. Its compact build and fast, whirring flight help it commute between nesting scree slopes and offshore feeding areas. Because it depends on cold, productive waters, it is considered sensitive to ocean warming.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over the water; strong pursuit-diving underwater
Social Behavior
Highly colonial, nesting in dense aggregations within rock crevices and boulder fields. Pairs are monogamous; both sexes incubate a single egg and share chick-rearing. Birds commute in flocks between colonies and feeding grounds and raft on the sea near breeding sites.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
At colonies it gives soft trills, purring rattles, and chuckling calls exchanged between mates and neighbors. At sea it utters short, nasal notes and chatters when flocking.
Plumage
Compact black-and-white auk with glossy black head, neck, and upperparts contrasting with clean white underparts; in winter the face becomes paler with more white around the eye.
Diet
Primarily feeds on Arctic zooplankton, notably Calanus copepods, but also takes amphipods and other small crustaceans. It pursues prey underwater using its wings to 'fly' while diving. When conditions allow, it will also pick prey from the surface in calm slicks. Small fish are taken only occasionally.
Preferred Environment
Cold, productive shelf waters, fjords, and areas near the pack-ice edge where zooplankton concentrates. Often forages along tidal fronts and upwelling zones within commuting distance of colonies.
