North American field guide
Rhinoceros Auklet
Cerorhinca monocerata
Explore this bird
Identification
Field notes
38 cm (15") Fairly common. Pacific coast. Largest auklet; Puffin size. Large head, large heavy bill, short neck, dark breast. Nests in holes in colonies on islands.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Credit: Bill Bouton
Watch and learn
Videos
ウトウのえさ運び Rhinoceros Auklet delivering food
Credit: 北海道海鳥センターウトウ Colony attendance of Rhinoceros Auklet in Japan
Credit: 北海道海鳥センターBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Rhinoceros Auklet
1 ruleRule 1 14 criteria · confidence 5
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Gull-like, or a Seabird · Duck or Goose-like
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Open ocean; beyond sight of land · Only or mostly in flight over saltwater
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States