Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic puffin, 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, are found in the northeastern Pacific. Atlantic Puffins occur across the North Atlantic from Canada to Norway and south to Spain. Like many seabirds, the Atlantic Puffin is long-lived, averaging 30 plus years. Atlantic Puffins eat small fish around 2 to 6 inches long, mainly sandlance (sandeel), sprat, capelin, herring, hake, and cod. During the breeding season, they forage in shallow waters close to the breeding colony, generally not straying more than about 10 miles from shore. Like most seabirds, Atlantic puffins get all of their food from marine sources but nest on land. Their preferred prey includes forage fishes, including herrings, capelins, sprat, and others. While nesting, they generally feed close to their nesting sites but may go on longer feeding trips during other seasons. Atlantic Puffins are found exclusively in the North Atlantic Ocean. In North America, they nest from Labrador/Newfoundland to the Northeastern United States. In Europe, they nest south to the Brittany Coast of France, northwards to Iceland, Greenland, and Northern Russia.

Conservation status: Vulnerable (Population decreasing)

Mass: 1.1 lbs (Adult)

Scientific name: Fratercula arctica

Size: 10.2 to 11.4 inches

Family: Alcidae

Kingdom: Animalia

Order: Charadriiformes