Atlantic puffin
Seabird of the North Atlantic with a colorful beak.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), often called the common puffin, is a seabird belonging to the auk family. It is the only puffin species found in the Atlantic Ocean; its relatives, the tufted puffin and the horned puffin, live in the northeastern Pacific. Breeding colonies stretch across Russia, Iceland, Ireland, Britain, Norway, Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and the Faroe Islands, reaching as far south as Maine in the west and France in the east. The largest numbers are found in Iceland’s Westman Islands. Despite a broad range and sizable overall population, the species has experienced rapid declines in certain areas, leading the IUCN to classify it as vulnerable. On land, it stands upright like other auks. At sea, it swims on the surface and dives underwater to catch small fish and occasionally crustaceans like krill, using its wings to propel itself.
The bird has a black crown and back, light grey cheek patches, and a white body and underparts. Its beak is broad, boldly marked in red and black, and its legs are orange, creating a vivid contrast with its plumage. During winter, it moults at sea, losing some of its bright facial features; color returns in spring. Males and females look identical, though males are usually slightly larger. Juveniles have similar plumage but with dark grey cheek patches, a narrower dark grey bill tipped with yellowish-brown, and dark legs and feet; they lack the bright head ornamentation. Puffins from northern populations tend to be larger than those from the south, but these size differences are individual or geographic, not subspecific—the species is monotypic.
- Weight
- 400 to 650 g (0.9 to 1.4 lb), with individual and geographic variation
Lore & Background
The Atlantic puffin spends autumn and winter in the open ocean of the cold northern seas, returning to coastal areas at the start of the breeding season in late spring. It nests in clifftop colonies, digging a burrow in which a single white egg is laid. Chicks mostly feed on whole fish and grow rapidly; after about six weeks, they are fully fledged and make their way at night to the sea, swimming away from shore and not returning to land for several years. Colonies are mostly on islands with no terrestrial predators, but adult birds and newly fledged chicks are at risk of attacks from the air by gulls and skuas.
Reader's Guide
The Atlantic puffin is notable for its striking appearance, with a black crown and back, light grey cheek patches, white underparts, a broad red-and-black beak, and orange legs. It moults while at sea in winter, losing some brightly colored facial characteristics, which return in spring. The male and female appear identical, though the male is usually slightly larger. Juveniles have darker grey cheek patches and a narrower, dark grey bill with a yellowish-brown tip. Puffins from northern populations are typically larger than those in the south, and these populations are generally considered a different subspecies. The species is the official bird of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Its decline in parts of its range has led to its vulnerable status, highlighting conservation concerns for this iconic seabird.
Did You Know?
- The Atlantic puffin is the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean; the tufted puffin and horned puffin are found in the northeastern Pacific.
- Its generic name Fratercula comes from Medieval Latin meaning 'little friar,' a reference to its black-and-white plumage resembling monastic robes.
- The puffin's beak plates and facial ornaments are shed in a partial moult after the breeding season, making the beak appear less broad and the tip less bright.
- More than 90% of the global population is found in Europe, with colonies in Iceland alone accounting for a large portion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Atlantic puffin?
The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a stocky seabird in the auk family, instantly recognizable by its vividly colored beak and clown-like facial markings. It is the only puffin species that ranges across the North Atlantic, while the tufted and horned puffins are confined to the northeastern Pacific.
Where do Atlantic puffins breed?
Nesting colonies are scattered across Iceland, Norway, Britain, Ireland, Russia, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the eastern coast of Canada. Iceland's Westman Islands hold the single largest concentration of pairs, and the range dips as far south as Maine in the west and France in the east.
How big is an Atlantic puffin?
Adults measure 28 to 30 cm in body length, with wingspans of 47 to 63 cm and a mass of 400 to 650 grams. The spread in those figures reflects differences among the several recognized subspecies.
What is the Atlantic puffin's IUCN conservation status?
The species is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Despite a still-substantial global population, ongoing pressures such as shifting fish stocks and coastal habitat loss have pushed it into that threatened category.
How does the Atlantic puffin differ from other puffins?
It is the sole Fratercula species that inhabits the Atlantic, whereas the tufted and horned puffins are limited to the northeastern Pacific. The Atlantic puffin also shows a distinct beak shape and facial coloration that set it apart from those two Pacific relatives.
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