The Little Auk (Alle alle), often referred to as the Dovekie, is a charming and remarkably plentiful little seabird that truly captures the spirit of the Arctic Ocean. With its compact body and a flight that resembles the buzzing of insects, this bird spends the majority of its life out at sea, only returning to shore to breed in stunning colonies that can reach into the millions. Interestingly, it’s the sole representative of its genus, Alle.
This small alcid has a distinctive, compact, and plump silhouette, measuring about half the size of an Atlantic Puffin.
| Characteristic | Male | Female | Record / Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 19 – 21 cm | 19 – 21 cm | 19 – 21 cm (adults) |
| Weight | 130 – 200 g | 130 – 200 g | 130 – 200 g (adults) |
| Wingspan | 34 – 38 cm | 34 – 38 cm | 34 – 38 cm |
| Flight speed | Up to 70 km/h | Up to 70 km/h | Up to 70 km/h |
| Life expectancy | 8 – 25 years | 8 – 25 years | Up to 25 years (in the wild) |
These figures confirm the Little Auk as a small Arctic seabird, adapted to the extreme conditions of its habitat.
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published on July 19, 2025
My advice: To grasp the essence of the Little Auk, you have to think in terms of numbers and scale. A single bird is charming, but the real magic happens when you witness the spectacle of tens of thousands returning to their colony.
Imagine a "cloud" of birds swirling above the rocky slopes of Greenland or Svalbard. It's one of the greatest shows in the avian world. The other fascinating aspect is its diet: it doesn't feed on fish, but on tiny planktonic crustaceans. When you watch a Little Auk, you're not just seeing a bird, but the essential link in a food chain that stretches from the minuscule copepod to the polar bear. It is a living barometer of the health of the Arctic Ocean, much like its relative, the Razorbill.
Silent at sea, the Little Auk becomes extremely noisy within its breeding colonies. Its calls are a mixture of chatter, trills, and high-pitched laughter, creating a deafening and joyful soundscape. The most typical call is a rolling, chattering "kri-ri-ri-kikiki-kik-ki".
In case of danger, it emits a whinnying alarm call "whuwhuwhu".
The Little Auk is often found in the same regions as the famous Atlantic Puffin (*Fratercula arctica*). Although both are alcids, their size and bills make them easy to distinguish up close.
Tip: The difference is striking. If the bird is small with a tiny black bill, it's a Little Auk. If the bill is large and colorful, it's an Atlantic Puffin.
The Little Auk's diet is highly specialized. It feeds almost exclusively on zooplankton, especially lipid-rich small crustaceans like copepods (*Calanus*). It catches its prey by diving and "flying" underwater using its short wings, typically at depths of 20 to 30 meters. Parents carry food for their single chick in an expandable pouch in their throat.
The breeding season begins between late April and early May. The Little Auk nests in vast, dense colonies, using deep cavities and crevices in rock scree or cliffs. The female lays a single pale blue egg, directly on the rock or on small pebbles. Incubation, shared by both parents, lasts about a month. The chick, covered in brownish-black down, is then fed for 26 to 30 days before fledging.
The Little Auk is one of the most abundant seabirds on the planet. Although estimates are difficult to make due to the vastness and remoteness of its colonies, the global population is estimated to be in the tens of millions, potentially over 100 million individuals.
Despite their numbers, Little Auks have several predators. On land, the Glaucous Gull, Common Raven, and Arctic fox prey on adults, eggs, and chicks. At sea, they can be preyed upon by marine mammals like beluga whales.
Yes, the Little Auk is very sensitive to climate change. Rising ocean temperatures affect the availability and quality of its main food source, Arctic copepods. Studies have shown that in warmer years, chicks fledge at a lower weight, which can reduce their chance of survival.