Species · GBIF taxon 2481353
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arcticaAlso known as Common Puffin, Sea Parrot, Clown of the Sea
Atlantic puffins spend most of the year solitary at sea, riding the waves of the open ocean before returning to coastal cliffs each spring to breed in bustling colonies. They dig deep nesting burrows in grassy clifftops and use their specialized serrated bills to carry dozens of small fish back to their single chick, known as a puffling. Their striking black-and-white plumage and brightly colored bills fade to a dull grey during the winter months spent far from land.
SeabirdOcean DiverColonial Breeder
Licensed referenceCharles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sand Eels
- Capelin
- Atlantic Herring
Predators
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Arctic Fox
- Parasitic Jaeger
ThreatsClimate change shifting prey distribution, overfishing, and marine pollution
HabitatsSubarctic oceans, rocky coastal cliffs, and offshore islands
Life span20 to 30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAlcidae
- SpeciesFratercula arctica
N. Atlantic Arctic Ocean
Marine distribution — the ocean basins and seas where the species occurs.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Their powerful, sharp-edged beaks can deliver a painful bite; observe nesting colonies from a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Look for the unmistakable parrot-like orange bill, white face, and upright black-and-white posture on coastal cliffs.
- Support conservation
- Never approach burrows, keep noise levels low, and strictly follow local trail guidelines on breeding islands.
Responsible observation
- Keep your distance: Stay at least 10 meters away from burrow entrances to avoid stressing nesting parents.
- Watch the skies: Look for puffins returning from the sea with silver fish lined up in their bills.
- Use binoculars: Observe their complex social behaviors, like bill-clapping, without causing disruption.
Nesting Companion (c) Melissa McMasters, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Primary Prey 
Close Relative (c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Alan D. Wilson / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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