Puffins are any of three species of small alcids in the bird genus Fratercula. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil.

The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), also known as the common puffin, is a species of seabird in the auk family. It is the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean; two related species, the tufted puffin and the horned puffin being found in the northeastern Pacific.

A sharply dressed black-and-white seabird with a huge, multicolored bill, the Atlantic Puffin is often called the clown of the sea. It breeds in burrows on islands in the North Atlantic, and winters at sea. In flight, puffins flap their small wings frantically to stay aloft—but underwater those wings become powerful flippers that allow the birds to catch small fish one by one until they have ...

Chunky seabird, the shape of a football. Black above and white below with pearly face and thick multicolored bill. Orange legs and feet. Nonbreeding and young birds show darker face and duller bill. In breeding season, rarely seen far from breeding colonies on rocky islands and cliffs in the North Atlantic. Winters on open ocean, almost never …

Fratercula arctica. At a Glance Range & Identification Behavior Conservation Explore More Back to Top. At a Glance. Nesting around the edges of the North Atlantic, this puffin is sought after by birdwatchers who visit Maine or eastern Canada in summer. At its colonies, the bird may fly back to its nest carrying a dozen small fish lined up in ...

Did you know there are four different species of puffins? These dapper birds all live in the Northern Hemisphere and spend lots of time at sea. The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is the only puffin to live in the Atlantic Ocean, while the remaining three live in the Pacific Ocean. (Smithsonian Institution)

The tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), also known as crested puffin, is a relatively abundant medium-sized pelagic seabird in the auk family (Alcidae) found throughout the North Pacific Ocean. It is one of three species of puffin that make up the genus Fratercula and is easily recognizable by its thick red bill and yellow tufts.

Atlantic puffins, Fratercula arctica (Linnaeus, 1758), are also known as common puffins and are nicknamed “sea parrots” and “clowns of the ocean” due to their large triangular brightly-colored beaks.

Fratercula species inhabit open waters, made possible by their waterproof feathers which allow them to dive for small fish (eels and herring) as well as zooplankton. Puffins are also capable of flight, allowing them to breed on small islands.

Oct 23, 2024 · Puffins are one of the most charismatic and recognizable seabirds in the world. Known for their colorful bills and distinctive, almost comical appearance, puffins (genus Fratercula) are small seabirds that belong to the auk family, Alcidae.