Auk Cliff
Habitat
Auk Cliff is an award-winning habitat and the only outdoor auk exhibit in the world. Tufted puffins, guillemots and red-legged kittiwakes perch on the cliff or can be seen from above or below the water as they dive, play, and feed. The water in this exhibit is kept moving and churning to mimic the rough seas these birds are used to.
Featured Animals
Tufted puffin
Tufted puffins are the North American equivilent of our native Atlantic puffins. They have very strong nails which allow them to climb and cling to rocky cliff ledges.
Pigeon guillemot
Pigeon guillemots have distinctive red legs and feet and can dive to depths of over 150ft. They can stay under water for over 1 minute.
Common guillemot
Common guillemots spend most of their time at sea, only coming on to land to breed. One of the largest colonies can be seen off Berry Head in Brixham.
Guillemot eggs are pear shaped so they roll round in a circle and don't fall off the edge of a cliff!
