Auks or alcids are birds of the family Alcidae in the order Charadriiformes. [1] . 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. Auks are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. [1][2]

The great auk (Pinguinus impennis), also known as the penguin or garefowl, is an extinct species of flightless alcid that first appeared around 400,000 years ago and became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus.

Jul 10, 2014 · Four years later, the Great Auk vanished from the world entirely when fishermen hunted down the last pair on the shores of Eldey Island, off the coast of Iceland. The men spotted the mates in...

Mar 7, 2025 · Great auk, flightless seabird extinct since 1844. It belonged to the family Alcidae (order Charadriiformes) and bred in colonies on rocky islands off North Atlantic coasts. Utterly defenseless, great auks were killed by rapacious hunters for food and bait.

There are many different birds in the Alcidae family, including puffins, auklets, and murres, but there are only two species of “true” auks. The two true auk species alive today are the lesser auk and the little auk, both of which will be the focus of this article. Read on to learn about the auk.

Auk, in general, any of the 22 species (21 living) of diving birds of the family Alcidae (order Charadriiformes) but especially 3 species—the great auk (Pinguinus impennis), extinct since 1844; the little auk, or dovekie (Plautus alle); and the razorbill, or razor-billed auk (Alca torda).

Nov 28, 2023 · Auks are a family of seabirds found in the northern hemisphere, primarily the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. They are believed to have evolved from shorebirds during the mid-Miocene period, between 12 and 15 million years ago.

Dec 17, 2024 · The Great Auk was a unique flightless bird that roamed the North Atlantic until its extinction in the mid-19th century. This remarkable creature, resembling a penguin, became a symbol of human impact on nature, hunted relentlessly for its feathers, meat, and eggs.

Apr 1, 2025 · The Great Auk, known scientifically as *Pinguinus impennis*, once roamed the North Atlantic Ocean. These flightless birds were notable for their striking appearance and adaptability to the harsh marine environment.

The great auk (Pinguinus impennis) is a species of flightless alcid that became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It is not closely related to the birds now known as penguins, which were discovered later by Europeans and so named by sailors because of their physical resemblance to the great auk.