Atlantic Puffin
NameAtlantic Puffin
Common NameAtlantic Puffin
Scientific NameFratercula arctica
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)56
Length (cm)31
Weight (g)430
Plumage DetailsAdult Atlantic Puffins have a black back and wings, with clean white underparts. Their head features a grey face patch, white cheeks, and a black collar. The most striking feature is their large, triangular bill, which is brightly colored with red, yellow, and blue-grey sections during the breeding season, fading to a duller hue in winter.
Vocalization / CallAtlantic Puffins are generally quiet at sea. In their breeding colonies, they produce a variety of low, guttural growls, grunts, and purring sounds, often described as a 'rattle' or 'churr'.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal cliffs, open ocean, islands
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds on coasts and islands of the North Atlantic Ocean, including Iceland, Norway, Greenland, Canada, northeastern United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France. Spends winters at sea in the open North Atlantic.
Identifying FeaturesLarge, brightly colored triangular bill (red, yellow, blue-grey in breeding season), Black back and white belly, Grey face patch and white cheeks, Orange webbed feet, Upright posture on land
Description
The Atlantic Puffin is a distinctive seabird known for its colorful bill during the breeding season. It is an agile swimmer and diver, primarily feeding on small fish, and nests in large colonies on coastal cliffs and islands.
