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Description
The great auk (Penguinus impennis) was an incredibly unique northern sea bird that was hunted to extinction around 1852 at the hands of the feather-industry. Among the last reconstructions of the species, the summer plumage is almost exclusively showcased however, some reconstructions, such as that by Dutch bird illustrator J. G. Keulemans, document alternate plumage patterns. Among those is the much less documented winter plumage.

My drawing is based off of Keulemans' depiction of the winter plumage, and I used the same patterning on the face that he showcased in his work. The winter plumage is notable for its replacement of the great auk's conical eye patch with an array of more slender white markings. In my design, I also took inspiration from banded penguins and razorbills by adding small black feathers to the underbelly and a few white stripes to the bill respectively.

This drawing is also based on the story of the last British great auk, who was caught and taken by sailors, who bludgeoned it to death in retaliation for a deadly lightning storm which hit them on their way home, believing the bird to be a bad omen or sea witch. While this individual was sporting summer plumage, I mirrored the story by adding the incoming storm on the horizon.

Description
The great auk (Penguinus impennis) was an incredibly unique northern sea bird that was hunted to extinction around 1852 at the hands of the feather-industry. Among the last reconstructions of the species, the summer plumage is almost exclusively showcased however, some reconstructions, such as that by Dutch bird illustrator J. G. Keulemans, document alternate plumage patterns. Among those is the much less documented winter plumage.

My drawing is based off of Keulemans' depiction of the winter plumage, and I used the same patterning on the face that he showcased in his work. The winter plumage is notable for its replacement of the great auk's conical eye patch with an array of more slender white markings. In my design, I also took inspiration from banded penguins and razorbills by adding small black feathers to the underbelly and a few white stripes to the bill respectively.

This drawing is also based on the story of the last British great auk, who was caught and taken by sailors, who bludgeoned it to death in retaliation for a deadly lightning storm which hit them on their way home, believing the bird to be a bad omen or sea witch. While this individual was sporting summer plumage, I mirrored the story by adding the incoming storm on the horizon.