The Atlantic puffin, affectionately known as the “sea parrot” due to its comical appearance, is a remarkable seabird renowned for its distinctive features and fascinating behavior. With its stout body, short wings, and colorful plumage, the Atlantic puffin cuts a striking figure against the backdrop of coastal landscapes and rocky cliffs.
During the breeding season, adult Atlantic puffins don a striking ensemble of black and white plumage, with black upperparts contrasting sharply against their white bellies and vents. The neck, crown, and forehead are adorned with jet-black feathers, adding to the bird’s distinctive appearance. However, outside of the breeding season, these seabirds undergo a transformation, adopting a more subdued coloration that blends seamlessly with their marine environment.
The Atlantic puffin is primarily a creature of the sea, spending much of its life far from shore in pelagic and offshore environments. However, during the breeding season, these seabirds return to coastal habitats, where they establish nesting colonies on grassy slopes, sea cliffs, and rocky outcrops. Nesting sites are carefully chosen to provide protection from predators and access to prime feeding grounds, ensuring the survival of both adults and their offspring.
One of the most remarkable adaptations of the Atlantic puffin is its oversized beak, which serves as a highly efficient tool for catching and storing prey. With a capacity to hold up to 30 small fish at a time, the puffin’s beak is a marvel of engineering, allowing it to capture and transport multiple prey items with ease. Using its agile tongue and upper jaw, the puffin deftly maneuvers its catch, securing each fish in place before embarking on the next hunting foray.
Despite its seemingly clumsy appearance, the Atlantic puffin is a skilled and agile hunter, capable of diving to considerable depths in search of prey. Fish such as sand eels, herring, and capelin make up the bulk of its diet, although crustaceans and other marine invertebrates are also consumed opportunistically.
Distribution
Algeria
Austria
Belgium
Bermuda
Canada
Croatia
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Greenland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Russia
Saint Pierre
Serbia
Spain
Svalbard
Sweden
Tunisia
United Kingdom
United StatesAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Colony
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
