Atlantic Puffin
NameAtlantic Puffin
Common NameAtlantic Puffin
Scientific NameFratercula arctica
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)55
Length (cm)31
Weight (g)430
Plumage DetailsAdult Atlantic Puffins have a black back and crown, white underparts, and a pale grey face patch. Their most striking feature is the large, brightly colored bill, which is red, yellow, and blue-grey during the breeding season, becoming duller and smaller in winter. They also have a distinctive red ring around their eyes.
Vocalization / CallAtlantic Puffins are generally quiet at sea but produce low growls and grunts when in their breeding colonies, especially when interacting with other birds or in their burrows.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, marine, islands, cliffs
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds on coasts and islands of the North Atlantic Ocean, including northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, eastern Canada, and the northeastern United States. Spends winters at sea in the open Atlantic.
Identifying FeaturesLarge, triangular, brightly colored bill (red, yellow, blue-grey) during breeding season, Black back and crown with white underparts, Pale grey face patch, Red eye-ring, Ability to carry multiple small fish crosswise in its bill
Description
The Atlantic Puffin is a distinctive seabird known for its colorful, triangular bill during breeding season. These agile flyers and expert divers spend most of their lives at sea, returning to coastal colonies to breed and raise their young, often carrying multiple small fish in their bills.
