Dovekies, also known as little auks, are small seabirds that breed in the Arctic and subarctic regions. During the breeding season, Dovekies are found in colonies in northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, and the northern islands of Russia. In the winter, they migrate south to open waters across the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Breeding Range
Dovekies breed in colonies on rocky cliffs and slopes along coastlines and islands in the high Arctic. Their breeding range extends from northern Baffin Island, Devon Island, and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic, across Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, and the northern islands of the Barents Sea in Russia.
Some of the major Dovekie breeding colonies are found in:
- Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada
- Thule, Northwest Greenland
- Eastern coast of Greenland
- Iceland
- Svalbard, Norway
- Franz Josef Land, Russia
- Novaya Zemlya, Russia
Dovekie breeding colonies can number in the millions of breeding pairs. For example, one colony at Cape Vera on Franz Josef Land in Russia had an estimated 1 million breeding pairs in 1975. The population on Svalbard has been estimated at over 2 million breeding pairs. Major colonies in Northwest Greenland, such as at Thule, may have over 1 million nests.
Wintering Range
After breeding in the summer, Dovekies migrate south to spend the winter out on the open waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Their winter range extends from Newfoundland, southern Greenland, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia south to New York and New Jersey.
Some of the main wintering areas for Dovekies include:
- Offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Southern tip of Greenland
- North Sea
- Baltic Sea
- Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
- Offshore Massachusetts to North Carolina, USA
Dovekies generally stay further offshore during winter, seldom coming to land. They forage out over continental shelf regions and near oceanic fronts for food.
Migration
Dovekies undergo one of the longest migrations of any bird in relation to their small body size. After breeding, they migrate south in large flocks from September to November. They follow a fairly direct southeast route from their Arctic breeding areas to their wintering regions in the North Atlantic and North Pacific.
Some of the main migration routes and stopover sites include:
- Down east coast of Baffin Island and Labrador
- Southwest across Greenland, stopping near Nuuk
- Across Denmark Strait from Iceland to southeast Greenland
- Down Norwegian Sea from Svalbard and Scandinavia
- Across Barents Sea from Russian Arctic
- South through Sea of Okhotsk from Russian Arctic to Japan
Dovekies have high energetic demands during migration and stop to rest and feed. Migration occurs more offshore, however some stopover areas are along coastlines where upwelling brings prey to the surface. Their return migration north in spring follows a more westerly route.
Habitat
During the breeding season, Dovekies nest in large colonies on rocky coasts and cliffs. They need sloped habitats with boulder fields to nest under rocks or in crevices. Dovekie colonies are situated near productive Arctic and subarctic marine waters to provide sufficient food.
In winter, Dovekies live entirely offshore out over continental shelf regions, seamounts, and oceanic fronts. They usually occur over waters 130-660 ft (40-200 m) deep and are rarely seen close to shore.
Table Summary of Dovekie Distribution
Season | Region | Specific Locations |
---|---|---|
Breeding (May-August) | High Arctic coasts and islands | Baffin Island, Thule Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, Russian Arctic islands |
Fall Migration (September-November) | Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific | Down coast of Baffin Island and Greenland, Across Denmark Strait, Down Norwegian Sea |
Winter (December-February) | North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans | Newfoundland, Southern Greenland, North Sea, Massachusetts to North Carolina, Sea of Okhotsk |
Spring Migration (March-May) | Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific | West routes back to breeding areas |
Conclusion
In summary, Dovekies breed in massive colonies in the high Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, and northern Russia during the summer months of May to August. After breeding, they migrate long distances across the northern Atlantic and Pacific to spend the winter months in offshore waters, seldom coming to land. Their unique distribution and migratory habits allow them to take advantage of the seasonally productive Arctic waters in the short summer season for breeding, while spending winters in the open oceans with more available food.