Black-throated Guillemot, Nobbed-billed Auk, Curled-crested Auk, Horned-billed Guillemot

Elegantly marked, a diving bird of the northern Pacific Coast. More agile in flight than most auks, able to take off directly from water, flocks often banking and turning in unison. Breeding behavior unusual for a seabird: Males 'sing' at night from tree branches and other high perches at nesting colonies; the species regularly raises two young (most auks raise only one); it raises its young at sea, leading them away from the nest within a few days after they hatch. The name 'Ancient' results from gray back, with fancied resemblance to a shawl draped across an old person's shoulders.

A compact little seabird of Alaskan waters. Closely related to Marbled Murrelet and, like that species, rather mysterious and poorly known. Much more limited in range, being common mainly from Kodiak Island east to Glacier Bay. Solitary in its nesting; only a few nests have been found, so its breeding behavior is not well known.

The tiniest member of the auk family, no bigger than a sparrow. Abundant around islands in Bering Sea, where scores at a time can be seen perched on rock piles above the beach, chirping and chirring. Sometimes in huge flocks, winging low over the waves on very rapid beats of its small wings, or circling in the air near nesting colonies. Least Auklets are oddly variable in the pattern of their underparts, which can be anything from white to spotted to solid dark gray.

A chunky seabird of Alaskan waters, with a loose crest that hangs down in front of its face. Gregarious at all seasons, often feeds in dense concentrations, large numbers swimming and diving together in deep waters. Its nesting colonies are noisy places, with birds honking, barking, and whistling from their secure crevices among the rock piles. Crested Auklets usually fly in tightly packed flocks, and sometimes engage in mass circling maneuvers in the air near their colonies.

A chunky dark seabird, related to the puffins, common at times off the northern Pacific Coast. Often unsuspicious, and boats may approach it rather closely on the water. If pressed, it dives and swims powerfully underwater. Although its takeoff appears clumsy and laborious, it is a fast flier, and may fly long distances to feeding areas daily. The 'horn' on the bill, responsible for the bird's name, grows annually in early spring and is shed in late summer.