Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

With its distinctive clown-like face and colourful beak, this charismatic seabird is a favourite among nature enthusiasts worldwide.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Atlantic Puffin is one of the world's most distinctive seabirds. It has a black back, white underparts, and a large, colourful beak.

Its head is black with pale grey cheek patches, and it has a blue-grey eye-ring, and its legs and webbed feet are bright orange. The beak is red and yellow with a blue base during the breeding season.

In winter, the beak becomes smaller and duller, the face turns darker , and the feet turn pale yellow. Juveniles resemble winter adults but have a smaller, darker beak.

Size

Length

28cm to 34cm

Wingspan

50cm to 60cm

Weight

300g to 500g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Red Yellow Blue

Leg Colour

Orange

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Atlantic Puffin can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Atlantic Puffin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Atlantic Puffins inhabit the North Atlantic Ocean, breeding on coastal cliffs and islands from Newfoundland and Labrador to Iceland, Norway, and the British Isles. They are particularly abundant in Iceland, which hosts about 60% of the world's breeding population.

During the non-breeding season, puffins disperse widely across the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, rarely coming to land. In the UK, significant colonies can be found in Scotland, Wales, and northern England.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 200 meters

Climate zones

Subarctic, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Atlantic Puffin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons