ExploreBird

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

The Atlantic Puffin is a colorful bird with a big, bright beak. It looks like a little clown of the sea!

Habitat: Coastal cliffs and islands

Appearance

The Atlantic Puffin has a striking black back and white belly with a bright orange, red, and yellow triangular bill. Its face is pale grey with dark eye patches, and it sports vibrant orange legs. This makes it visually distinct from most other seabirds.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyAlcidaeGenusFratercula

Atlantic Puffin

Interesting facts

A puffin can flap its wings up to 400 times a minute while flying!

Baby puffins are super cute and are called 'pufflings'!

Puffins are sometimes called 'sea parrots' or 'clowns of the sea'!

Their colorful beaks actually get duller in winter and brighten in spring!

Special abilities

Atlantic Puffin can 'fly' underwater, flapping its wings like a bird in air, which helps them swiftly catch fish.

Atlantic Puffin has a unique hinged beak and spiny tongue that helps them hold over a dozen fish at once.

Atlantic Puffin can dive over 60 meters deep because of its dense bones and strong muscles, helping it find hidden prey.

Measurements & details

Length: 28-34 cm
Wingspan: 50-60 cm
Weight: 0.32-0.48 kg
Lifespan: 18-25 years
Top Speed: 88 km/h
Clutch Size: 1
Incubation: 39-43 days
Migration Distance: 1000 km

Diet & Feeding

Puffins are amazing divers, hunting small ocean fish with their wings.

Primary Foods

Sandeels
Herring
Capelin
Sprats

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eaten by

Great Skua

Stercorarius skua

eats eggs, chicks, and sometimes adult puffins

eaten by

Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

preys on puffins, especially chicks, near colonies

hunts

Lesser Sandeel

Ammodytes marinus

a primary food source for puffins

Traits

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Webbed Feet

These animals have special feet with skin between their toes, which helps them swim super fast!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.

Migratory

Follow incredible journeys across the world! These animals travel far and wide at different times of the year, often to find better food or warmer places.