Species BirdsRhinoceros Auklet

Rhinoceros Auklet

Cerorhinca monocerata

CommonBird
Illustration of Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)

The Rhinoceros Auklet has a unique horn-like projection at the base of its orange bill in breeding season. Despite its name, it is more closely related to puffins than to auklets. It nests in burrows on Pacific Coast islands and comes to land only at night, carrying multiple fish in its bill to feed its chick.

Habitat
Pacific Coast islands when breeding; offshore ocean in winter
Diet
Small fish carried to chicks in large bills
How common
Common

Best time to see a Rhinoceros Auklet

The best time to see a Rhinoceros Auklet is March–August, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 2,949 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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