Animal ID Challenge - A Mystery Auk

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Today's animal identification challenge is a member of the Family Alcidae, a group of birds that includes puffins, murres, auklets. The Family Alcidae is commonly referred to as auks. The bird pictured here has a year-round range that extends along North America's Pacific coast from Alaska to California. It builds nests in burrows and rock cavities and is often found on small islands where it enjoys safety from predators.

Adults have bright vermillion colored legs and a long pointed, black bill. The inside of the mouth is bright red. Its wings are short and rounded, an adaptation that enables it to maneuver quite well when swimming and foraging underwater. It feeds on bottom dwelling fish and invertebrates in water up to 45m in depth. It probes the rocky seabed with its long bill to capture its prey.

Your task is to identify which of the following three auk species this bird belongs to: pigeon guillemot, parakeet auklet, or rhinoceros auklet.

After you have cast your vote in this Animal ID Challenge, be sure to check your answer here.