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Puffin Bird Facts

Puffins are unusual-looking birds that have endeared them to birdwatchers and travelers who visit upper regions of the North Atlantic and North Pacific. They nest in colonies on rocky cliffs and islands and exhibit an awkward flight that is fascinating to watch. Within the United States puffins can be found along the extreme northeastern and northwestern coasts. This would include Maine in the east and Washington and Alaska in the west.

Taxonomical Breakdown
- Puffins are classified in the genus Fratercula, which is part of the family of auks (Alcidae). Currently there are three puffin species, all of which can be found in the chilly waters of the North Atlantic and Pacific. Naturally, the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) likes the waters of the Atlantic Ocean with a range that runs from the coast of Maine and Canada across the Atlantic to the coast of Norway and Britain. Both the horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) and the tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) dwell alongside the Pacific. These two species of puffins can be found from California north along the coast to Alaska, Siberia and sometimes Japan.
General Appearance and Habits
- The puffins are known for their colorful beaks and webbed feet. The beaks are shed after mating season, revealing a much darker mouthpiece, but their feet retain their color all year round. The rest of the bird tends to be a dark gray to black. When puffins fly across water they do so at a height of 30 feet or more, which is unusual for this family of birds. Though their flight appears awkward, the birds can travel at speeds of 30 mph or greater. During flight, puffins must beat their wings 300 times a minute to stay aloft.
Rafts
- Puffins don't migrate in winter. Instead, they head out to sea and form great rafts of floating birds. Sometimes these birds will undertake long journeys crossing thousands of miles of open ocean in search of food. Many of the rafts might contain other seabirds as well. The puffins may remain in these units until spring returns and its time to nest again.
Puffin Hunting
- In the past two centuries, puffin populations declined significantly due to increased hunting for their meat, feathers and eggs. Since there are no current hunting restrictions in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, the birds are still harvested, cooked and served as fresh meat. In Iceland the Atlantic puffin can be found on menus in many restaurants and hotels, where it is considered to be a delicacy.

Animals & Science