Puffins, with their distinctive colorful beaks and upright posture, are a charismatic group of seabirds. Many people wonder about their whereabouts during the colder months, especially after they depart their coastal breeding grounds. This article explores the migratory patterns of puffins, detailing their seasonal movements and what drives these impressive journeys across vast oceanic expanses.
The Migratory Nature of Puffins
Puffins are migratory birds, undertaking annual journeys. All three recognized species—the Atlantic Puffin, Horned Puffin, and Tufted Puffin—move from coastal nesting sites to the open ocean for the non-breeding season. This relocation begins after summer breeding, from August to early spring, when they return to their breeding grounds.
While some populations remain closer to their breeding areas, others travel thousands of kilometers. For instance, Atlantic Puffins from European colonies have been recorded crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Their wintering locations vary widely: Atlantic Puffins from the British Isles disperse into the North Sea, off Western Europe, or as far south as the Western Mediterranean. Tufted and Horned Puffins, found in the North Pacific, spend winters far out in the central North Pacific.
Winter at Sea: Their Pelagic Life
During the non-breeding season, puffins live a pelagic life, spending months on the open ocean, far from land. They disperse widely across vast oceanic areas, making them challenging for scientists to study. These birds are well-adapted to marine life, possessing waterproof feathers and the ability to drink saltwater.
They forage for small fish, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates by diving underwater, using their wings for propulsion. Puffins can dive to depths of approximately 60 meters (200 feet), though most feeding occurs in shallower waters. Their winter diet includes sandeel, mesopelagic fish, nereid worms, and various crustaceans, indicating they are generalist feeders.
While at sea, puffins are generally solitary or found in small groups, a contrast to their colonial breeding behavior. This period is important for them to build body mass and prepare for the energetic demands of the upcoming breeding season.
The Breeding Season: Returning to Land
After spending winter months at sea, puffins return to their coastal breeding colonies each spring, typically from March to April. This initiates a vital phase of their annual cycle. Puffins reunite with the same mate and return to the same nesting burrow year after year.
Upon arrival, pairs engage in courtship displays, such as “billing,” where they rub their colorful beaks together, which reinforces their bond. They nest in burrows dug into soft soil on cliffs or islands. Atlantic and Tufted Puffins construct burrows over a meter deep, while Horned Puffins commonly nest in rock crevices or under boulders.
A single egg is laid, and both parents share incubation duties and feed the chick, known as a puffling. Chicks fledge after about 6 weeks, leaving the burrow at night to avoid predators and heading directly to the sea. They will spend their first few years at sea before returning to breed.
Driving Forces Behind Migration
Puffins undertake extensive migrations primarily due to resource availability and environmental conditions. Moving to different areas ensures access to abundant food sources, particularly small fish, which may fluctuate seasonally. By migrating, puffins optimize their foraging success throughout the year.
This is important during winter, when food near breeding grounds may become scarce. Migration also allows puffins to escape harsh winter conditions, such as freezing waters that limit foraging opportunities. They seek more temperate waters where food is accessible.
Migrating to isolated islands and cliffs provides safe, predator-free locations for successful breeding and raising their young. This annual cycle of movement is an evolved strategy that supports their survival and reproductive success.