Atlantic Puffin
NameAtlantic Puffin
Common NameAtlantic Puffin
Scientific NameFratercula arctica
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)56
Length (cm)31
Weight (g)430
Plumage DetailsAdults have black upperparts and a white belly. The face is white with a black cap extending down the nape, and a distinctive greyish-white cheek patch. The legs and feet are bright orange, and the triangular bill is brightly colored with red, yellow, and blue-grey bands during the breeding season, dulling in winter.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea, but at breeding colonies, they emit low, guttural grunts and growls, often described as a 'growling purr' or 'rattling growl'.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal cliffs, rocky islands, open ocean
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, brightly colored triangular bill (breeding season), black upperparts and white underparts, white face with black cap and greyish-white cheek patch, bright orange webbed feet
Description
The Atlantic Puffin is a distinctive seabird known for its colorful bill during the breeding season. It spends most of its life at sea, coming ashore only to breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs and islands, where it nests in burrows.
