Atlantic Puffin
NameAtlantic Puffin
Common NameAtlantic Puffin
Scientific NameFratercula arctica
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)55
Length (cm)31
Weight (g)400
Plumage DetailsAdults have a black back and wings, a white belly, and a grey face patch with a black collar. Their cheeks are white, and they have a distinctive red eye-ring. The bill is brightly colored with red, yellow, and blue-grey bands during the breeding season, dulling to a smaller, less colorful bill in winter.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations are generally limited to low growls and grunts, often heard from within their burrows or during courtship displays. They are mostly silent at sea.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal cliffs, islands, open ocean
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds on coasts and islands of the North Atlantic Ocean, including Iceland, Norway, Greenland, eastern Canada, and parts of the British Isles and France. Spends winters at sea in the open Atlantic.
Identifying Featureslarge, brightly colored triangular bill (breeding season), black back and white belly, grey face patch with white cheeks, red eye-ring, upright posture on land
Description
The Atlantic Puffin is a distinctive seabird known for its colorful, triangular bill during breeding season. It is an agile swimmer and diver, often seen carrying multiple small fish crosswise in its bill to feed its young in burrows.
