Horned Puffin
NameHorned Puffin
Common NameHorned Puffin
Scientific NameFratercula corniculata
FamilyAlcidae
Wingspan (cm)61
Length (cm)39.5
Weight (g)695
Plumage DetailsAdults in breeding plumage have a black back, white belly, and a white face with a dark cap extending down the nape. The most striking feature is the large, triangular bill, which is bright yellow at the base, orange in the middle, and red at the tip. A small, black, fleshy 'horn' protrudes above each eye, and a dark line extends from the eye to the bill.
Vocalization / CallHorned Puffins are generally silent at sea. At their breeding colonies, they produce low, guttural growls and grunts, often described as 'arr-arr-arr' or 'grrr-grrr'.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds on islands and coastal cliffs throughout the North Pacific Ocean, from Alaska and British Columbia across to Siberia, the Kuril Islands, and northern Japan. They winter offshore in the North Pacific.
Identifying FeaturesLarge, triangular, multi-colored bill (yellow, orange, red), Small black fleshy 'horn' above each eye (breeding season), Black back and white belly, White face with dark cap
Description
The Horned Puffin is a medium-sized seabird known for its distinctive large, colorful bill and a small fleshy 'horn' above each eye during the breeding season. These agile birds spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to breed in large colonies on rocky coasts and islands.
