Little Auk

Alle alle

Introduction

This diminutive auk, not much larger than a Starling, is a winter visitor to our coastal waters in varying numbers.

The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard holds around 90% of the world's breeding Little Auks. Estimates for the world breeding population are difficult to assess but the European estimate of around 80 million individuals gives some insight into the numbers involved.

After the breeding season Little Auks head south to their wintering areas. The northern part of the North Sea is an important wintering location for Little Auks and the birds remain at sea throughout the winter months, only being seen close to shore when driven there by winter storms. Occasional reports of individuals found far inland are associated with particularly rough storms.

Key Stats

Scarce

165g

1-1

<1%

BTO Records

14k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

-2.1% contraction

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Little Auk

ID Videos

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This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.

Winter Auks

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern

Green listed

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

Bern(III)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

1676

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Little Auk is a scarce, but regular, autumn passage and winter visitor to the UK, seen mostly along the North Sea coast and south coast of England [Balmer et al. 2013]. The UK is at the southern end of the species' European winter range [del Hoyo et al. 1996]. The European population trend is unknown [BirdLife International 2018].

Distribution

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Little Auks are scarce but regular autumn passage migrants and winter visitors, often driven south after strong northerly gales. Most records were from North Sea coastal squares from Shetland south to Kent, though they also occurred along the south coast of England. Little Auks are relatively scarce in west-coast and Irish waters.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

317

% occupied in winter

10%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

-2.1 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Winter Distribution change for Little Auk

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Little Auks are late autumn passage migrants and winter visitors, often associated with winter storms.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Little Auk movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Little Auk, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

48x34 mm

Mass (% shell)

28g (8%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

1-1 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

1-1 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Male + Female

Typical duration

31-28 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Altricial, downy

Typical duration

30-23 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Ring Size

C2*

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Little Auk

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Scientific name: Alle alle
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: LK
BTO 5-letter code: LITAU
Euring code number: 6470

Alternate species names

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Catalan: gavotí atlàntic
Czech: alkoun malý
Danish: Søkonge
Dutch: Kleine Alk
Estonian: väikealk e. ürr
Finnish: pikkuruokki
French: Mergule nain
Gaelic: Colcach-bheag

German: Krabbentaucher
Hungarian: alkabukó
Icelandic: Haftyrðill
Irish: Falcóg Bheag
Italian: Gazza marina minore
Latvian: mazais alks
Lithuanian: mažoji alka
Norwegian: Alkekonge

Polish: alczyk
Portuguese: torda-miúda
Slovak: alkovec drobný
Slovenian: rakovicar
Spanish: Mérgulo atlántico
Swedish: alkekung
Welsh: Carfil Bach

English folkname(s): Dovekie

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Little Auk from BTO scientists.

Causes of Change and Solutions

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Causes of change

As the population trend is unknown, there are no causes of change to note.

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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