Auks are the northern hemisphere equivalent of penguins. Whilst they share similar looks, habits and lifestyle however, auks have retained the ability to fly, whereas penguins can't. Although they're not brilliant in the air, auks do excel at swimming and diving, using their short wings to propel themselves along. Auks live out in the open ocean and only come ashore to breed in colonies on cliff ledges, coasts or in burrows. As well as birds that bear the name auk, puffins, guillemots and razorbills belong in this family.

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