Atlantic puffin
The Atlantic puffin or the “clown of the sea,” is a recognisable seabird in the North Atlantic. Famous for its beak and diving, it is essential in Arctic and sub-Arctic marine ecosystems.
Facts about Atlantic puffin
- Arctic
- Canada
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Jan Mayen
- Svalbard
- Europe
- England
- France
- Norway
- Scotland
Atlantic Puffin Quick Overview:
Scientific Name: Fratercula arctica
Population: Estimated at 11-12 million globally
Regions: North Atlantic
Destinations: Jan Mayen, Iceland, Canada, Svalbard, Greenland, France, Norway, England, Scotland
Average Length: Adult: Males: ~32 cm (12.5 in), Females: ~30 cm (11.8 in); Newborn: ~7 cm (2.7 in)
Average Weight: Adult: Males: ~500 g (1.1 lbs), Females: ~450 g (1.0 lbs); Newborn: ~40 g (1.4 oz)
Diet Habits: Primarily small elongated fish (sand lance, capelin, small herring, and Atlantic cod). In winter, also feeds on small crustaceans, ragworms, and squid.
Atlantic Puffin Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Fratercula
Species: Fratercula arctica
Atlantic Puffin Explorer Passport
English: Atlantic Puffin
Danish: Lunde
Chinese: 北极海鹦 (Běijí hǎiyīng)
Swedish: Lunnefågel
Finnish: Lunni
Norwegian: Lunde
Polish: Maskonur
Japanese: ニシツノメドリ (Nishitsunomedori)
Spanish: Frailecillo Atlántico
French: Macareux moine
Is a puffin a penguin?
Even though those two birds look very similar, puffins are not penguins. They are birds from different species with enormous differences. For example, penguins are flightless birds, whereas Atlantic puffins are strong fliers, averaging speeds of fifty miles per hour. Moreover, they are very far apart geographically, with penguins found in Antarctica and Atlantic puffins in the Arctic.
What does the Atlantic puffin eat?
The Atlantic puffin diet consists of small, elongated fish such as sand lance, capelin, small herring, and Atlantic cod, which can be held in large quantities in its beak. During winter, it also consumes a few small crustaceans, ragworms, and squid, as Atlantic puffins can dive nearly 70 metres under the sea.
What does an Atlantic puffin look like?
These incredible puffin birds have orange legs and feet, alongside a highly compressed beak with colourful shades of red, orange, yellow, black, and white during the mating and breeding seasons. Outside the breeding period, it appears greyish and smaller, as some of the beak's appendages are shed along with the feathers during the autumn moult.
How big is an Atlantic puffin?
Having roughly the same size as the black guillemot, the Atlantic puffin’s size ranges from 28–34 cm (11–13 inches) in length, with a wingspan of 50–60 cm (20–24 inches). They typically weigh 400–500 grams (0.9–1.1 lbs). A baby puffin, also known as a puffling, measures around 7 cm (2.7 inches) in length and weighs approximately 40 grams (1.4 oz).
Where does the Atlantic puffin live?
The Atlantic puffin's habitat is in the North Atlantic, nesting on coastal cliffs and isolated islands. These precious animals can be found in several locations, including Jan Mayen, Iceland, Canada, Svalbard, Greenland, France, Norway, England, and Scotland. These regions offer rocky shorelines and suitable terrain for burrowing, which is essential for breeding.
When is puffin season in Iceland?
The best time to observe Icelandic puffins is from May to August, when they return to the coastal cliffs to breed. After August, they migrate to the open ocean.
Is the Atlantic puffin endangered?
In the past decade, the Atlantic puffin bird extinction status has shifted from "least concern" to "vulnerable" according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) statistics. Populations have decreased due to climate change, overfishing, and habitat destruction.
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How Many of These 10 Atlantic Puffin Facts Did You Already Know?
Atlantic Puffin Fact #1:
Atlantic puffins usually gather in groups both on breeding grounds and at sea.
Atlantic Puffin Fact #2:
Atlantic Puffins can dive up to 60 meters (200 feet).
Atlantic Puffin Fact #3:
Atlantic puffin's main predators are humans and other birds.
Atlantic Puffin Fact #4:
Atlantic puffins can both swim and fly.
Atlantic Puffin Fact #5:
Puffins typically form lifelong bonds with their partners.
Atlantic Puffin Fact #6:
Atlantic puffins' lifespan is approximately 25 years.
Atlantic Puffin Fact #7:
Atlantic puffins' beaks change color seasonally: bright orange in summer and fading to grey in winter as outer layers shed.
Atlantic Puffin Fact #8:
The puffin baby is covered in grey down and remains in its burrow for several weeks before taking its first flight.
Atlantic Puffin Fact #9:
Both male and female Atlantic puffins incubate their eggs.
Atlantic Puffin Fact #10:
There are four puffin species in the wild: the Tufted Puffin, the Horned Puffin, the Atlantic Puffin, and the Rhinoceros Auklet.
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