Bird · GBIF taxon 2481357
Tufted Puffin
Fratercula cirrhataAlso known as Crested Puffin
Tufted puffins spend their winters solitary and silent on the open waters of the North Pacific before returning to coastal cliffs in spring to breed in bustling colonies. They dig deep nesting burrows in grassy hillsides using their strong claws and heavy bills, raising a single chick on a steady diet of small fish. During the breeding season, adults develop striking golden head tufts and a bright orange-red bill plate, both of which shed before they return to sea.
PelagicSeabirdBurrowing
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Pacific Sand Lance
- Capelin
- Squid
Predators
- Bald Eagle
- Peregrine Falcon
- Glaucous-winged Gull
ThreatsClimate change shifting prey distribution, oil spills, gillnet bycatch, and introduced island predators
HabitatsOpen ocean during winter, coastal cliffs and grassy offshore islands for breeding
Life span15 to 20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAlcidae
- SpeciesFratercula cirrhata
N. Pacific
Marine distribution — the ocean basins and seas where the species occurs.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Possesses a powerful bill capable of delivering a painful bite; observe nesting colonies from a distance.
Responsible observation
- Keep Distance: Stay on designated trails to avoid stepping on and collapsing their fragile underground nesting burrows.
- Use Binoculars: Observe their cliffside colonies from a distance or from a boat to prevent disturbing breeding pairs.
- Watch the Skies: Look for adults returning to cliffs with bills packed full of small fish to feed their chicks.
Close Relative (c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Family Member
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