Alcinae

The Alcinae belong to the Laridae, a family that includes gulls, terns, skuas, and skimmers, etc.

Chinese: The Alcinae in general are known as 海雀 hǎi-què ('sea sparrows' or 'sea finches') in Chinese. The puffins are officially known as 海鹦 hǎi-yīng 'sea parrots', but are more popularly known as 善知鸟 shàn-zhī-niǎo 'good tidings bird'.

Japanese: A variety of Alcinae are found in Japan, mostly on or around the northern island of Hokkaido. Several names have been borrowed from Ainu, the original native peoples of the island. Others refer to the birds as the 'sparrows', 'crows', 'pigeons', and 'parrots' of the sea. The main names are:

ウミズズメ umi-suzume 'sea sparrow', written 海雀 in Chinese characters. Used for six species; unmodified, refers to Synthliboramphus antiquus (Ancient murrelet).

ウミガラス umi-garasu 'sea crow', written 海烏 or 海鴉, for the two members of the genus Uria. Uria aalge is popularly known as the オロロンチョウ ororon-chō 'ororon bird' (オロロン鳥 in Chinese characters).

ウミバト umi-bato 'sea pigeon' (海鳩 in Chinese characters). Refers to Cepphus columba.

ウミオウム umi-ōmu 'sea parrot', (海鸚鵡 in Chinese characters). Refers to Cyclorrhynchus psittacula.

ウトウ utō (written 善知鳥 'good tidings bird' in Chinese characters). Refers to Cerorhinca monocerata. The characters are from the Chinese name of the bird.

ツノメドリ tsuno-me-dori 'horn eye bird' (written 角目鳥 in Chinese characters). Refers to Fratercula corniculata.

ケイマフリ keimafuri, from Ainu meaning 'red-leg'. Refers to Cepphus carbo.

エトピリカ etopirika, from Ainu meaning 'beautiful bill'. Also called the オイランドリ oiran-dori 'courtesan bird' (花魁鳥 in Chinese characters). Refers to Fratercula cirrhata.

Vietnamese: The Alcinae are not found in Vietnam. The subfamily name given above, Phân họ Panhgoanh, is from Internet sources and is derived from the French word pingouin. Dictionaries give Vẹt biển 'sea parrot' or Chim hải âu rụt cổ 'short-necked hai au' for the puffin. Chim anca (from Alca, genus of the extinct 'Great Auk') may also be found in dictionaries as an equivalent to 'auk'. The dictionary name for the guillemots is Chim panhgoanh mỏ mảnh.