Puffins, with their distinct, almost cartoon-like appearance, are a genuine part of the natural world. These fascinating seabirds captivate observers with their unique features and behaviors, and are well-documented inhabitants of northern seas.
Yes, They Are Real: An Overview of Puffins
Puffins are real birds, belonging to the family Alcidae, which also includes murres and auklets. There are four distinct species: the Atlantic Puffin, Horned Puffin, Tufted Puffin, and Rhinoceros Auklet. The Atlantic Puffin is the most recognizable due to its iconic appearance.
These birds are characterized by their striking black and white plumage. Their large, triangular bill is their most distinctive feature, becoming brightly colored with shades of orange, yellow, and blue during the breeding season. Outside of breeding, the bill’s colorful outer plates are shed, leaving a duller, smaller bill.
Puffins are medium-sized seabirds, standing 25 to 30 centimeters (10 to 12 inches) tall with a wingspan of 50 to 60 centimeters (20 to 24 inches). Their stout bodies and short wings are adaptations for their marine existence.
Life of a Puffin: Habitat, Behavior, and Unique Adaptations
Puffins inhabit the cold, productive waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. They spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only during the breeding season to nest on remote islands and coastal cliffs. These nesting sites feature grassy slopes or rocky crevices suitable for burrowing.
Their diet consists mainly of small fish, such as sand eels, herring, and capelin, which they catch by diving underwater. Puffins are skilled divers, using their wings to “fly” through the water with powerful strokes, much like penguins. They can dive to depths exceeding 60 meters (200 feet) and remain submerged for over a minute, though typical dives are shallower and shorter.
While their flight in the air is characterized by rapid wing beats, it is effective for covering vast distances over the ocean. On land, their short legs and webbed feet give them an upright, waddling gait, but these same webbed feet are crucial for steering underwater. Their unique bill is adapted for fishing.
The puffin’s beak features a series of serrated edges and a rough tongue that allows it to hold multiple small fish crosswise in its mouth simultaneously, often carrying ten or more fish. This ability is vital for bringing food back to their chicks in the nesting burrows. Their dense plumage provides insulation against the cold water, aiding their marine lifestyle.