Page "Great Auk" Paragraph 25

Great Auks began pairing in early and mid May.

They are believed to have mated for life, although some theorize that auks could have mated outside of their pair, a trait seen in the Razorbill.

Once paired, they nested at the base of cliffs in colonies, where they likely copulated.

Mated pairs had a social display in which they bobbed their heads, showing off their white eye patch, bill markings, and yellow mouth.

These colonies were extremely crowded and dense, with some estimates stating that there was a nesting auk for every of land.

These colonies were very social.

When the colonies included other species of alcid, the Great Auks were dominant due to their size.