Auk

An auk or alcid is a bird of the family Alcidae in the order Charadriiformes. The alcid family includes the murres, guillemots, auklets, puffins, and murrelets. The family contains 25 extant or recently extinct species that are divided into 11 genera.

This article is about a family of birds. For the ornithological journal, see The Auk. For other meanings, see AUK.
"Auklet" redirects here. For the fishery patrol vessel, see USFS Auklet.

Auks
Temporal range: Late Eocene – recent
Parakeet auklets (Aethia psittacula)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Suborder: Lari
Family: Alcidae
Leach, 1820
Type species
Alca torda
Subfamilies

Apart from the extinct great auk, all auks can fly, and are excellent swimmers and divers (appearing to "fly" in water), but their walking appears clumsy.

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