This species has been recorded approximately 20 times in the Pribilofs with those records scattered across much of the year. The majority are from the spring (mid-May to early June), with a couple of summer records, several fall records, and a single winter record. This pattern of occurrence likely involves several modes of occurrence for […]
Category: Auks, Murres, and Puffins (Alcidae)
Kittlitz’s Murrelet
This species has been recorded a few times in the Pribilofs, in spring and in the fall. While the records are undocumented, this species is undoubtedly annual around the Pribilofs considering that it breeds to the south and winters to the north along the Bering Sea ice pack and further records should occur, mostly likely […]
Ancient Murrelet
This species can be found year-round in the Pribilofs (when open water exists), though it is most reliable in early spring from May to early June. After mid-June this species begins nesting and sightings become much less regular as they are rarely found in near shore waters during daylight hours. By mid-late summer sightings are […]
Cassin’s Auklet
A very rare alcid in the central and northern Bering Sea, this species does not range north of the Aleutians regularly and as such is extremely rare around the Pribilofs. This species prefers warmer water and therefore is best looked for in summer and fall, particularly in years with above average sea temperatures, which may […]
Parakeet Auklet
An abundant breeding species that is easily found from May through much of August, this species becomes much more difficult to see locally in fall and winter. Large numbers typically begin to return to the islands in late April with the full breeding population present by late May and early June. Nesting occurs in June […]
Least Auklet
The most common breeding auklet in the Pribilofs, this species typically arrives at the islands cliffs in mid-late April. They often arrive en masse and are present in the thousands by May, with the peak breeding numbers occurring from late May to early July. The estimated breeding population for St. George Island is 125,000 pairs, […]
Whiskered Auklet
A recent arrival to the Pribilofs, there have been a few recent records of individuals arriving to St. George Island in the spring with other alcids (namely Least Auklet Aethia pusilla) and continuing into the summer period in some cases. The other record is an early summer individual on St. Paul Island that appeared to […]