The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), also known as the common puffin, is a seabird in the auk family and the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean. It breeds in regions such as Russia, Iceland, Ireland, Britain, Norway, Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and the Faroe Islands, with its most significant population found in the Westman Islands, Iceland. Despite a large overall population, the species has faced rapid declines in certain areas and is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.
The puffin has a black crown and back, light grey cheek patches, and a white body. Its striking red-and-black beak and orange legs contrast with its plumage. In winter, it moults at sea and loses some bright features, which return in spring. Males and females look alike, but males are usually slightly larger. Juveniles have dark grey cheek patches and lack the colorful ornamentation seen in adults. Puffins from northern populations tend to be larger and are often considered a different subspecies.
