The Little Auk, Alle alle,
is one of four species that composes about 95 percent of the breeding birds in many areas
of the Arctic. It is the most abundant sea bird in the North Atlantic and on the islands
of Greenland and Svalbard. They nest close to the summer rim of the ice pack and winter in
polynyas around Greenland, Svalbard, Jan Mayen, and Bear islands. A polynya is an area of
water in the ice pack that never freezes. The Norwegian stamp shown here features one
Little Auk. The stamp was released in 1983.
The Little Auk, Alle alle,
is one of four species that composes about 95 percent of the breeding birds in many areas
of the Arctic. It is the most abundant sea bird in the North Atlantic and on the islands
of Greenland and Svalbard. They nest close to the summer rim of the ice pack and winter in
polynyas around Greenland, Svalbard, Jan Mayen, and Bear islands. A polynya is an area of
water in the ice pack that never freezes. The Norwegian stamp shown here features one
Little Auk. The stamp was released in 1983.