are more dispersed). All have some form of facial ornamentation such as large crests (Whiskered and crested auklets), auricular plumes (all four species), and crested and whiskered auklets have a tangerine-scented odour which may function in mate choice or species recognition, although this requires more study.

All Aethia auklets lay one white egg in a natural crevice and incubate for 25-36 days, after which, a semi-precocial