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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Dovekie

Alle alle ORDER: CHARADRIIFORMES FAMILY: ALCIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A small, chunky black-and-white bird of the open Atlantic ocean, the Dovekie breeds along high arctic coasts and only makes its way southward in winter as far as New England. It is the smallest of the auks (the Puffin family) in the Atlantic.

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Appearance

Ducklike
Ducklike
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small waterbird.
  • Stocky and without apparent neck.
  • Black-and-white.
  • Short, stubby bill.
  • In breeding plumage, entirely black back, head, and chest; white belly.
  • In nonbreeding plumage, black back, cap, and face; white throat and underside, with dark neckband.

Immature Description

Similar to nonbreeding adult, but slightly browner.

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Dovekie Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult breeding
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    Dovekie

    Adult breeding
    • © Tim W. Gallagher / CLO

Similar Species

  • No other Atlantic alcid is as small, as stubby looking, or has such a small bill.