Puffins are small seabirds in the genus Fratercula. This genus consists of three species of alcids. These pelagic birds primarily dive for food and breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices or soil burrows. The tufted puffin and horned puffin are found in the North Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic puffin resides in the North Atlantic.
All puffins have black or black-and-white plumage, a stocky build, and large, brightly colored beaks during the breeding season. Afterward, they shed this colorful outer layer, revealing a smaller and duller bill. Their short wings are adapted for swimming, allowing swift underwater movement, while they can fly low over the water.
Puffins are often called the “clowns of the sea” due to their distinctive appearance. They are vocal at breeding colonies but silent at sea, typically flying at heights of about 10 meters (33 feet).
They primarily eat fish and zooplankton, feeding their chicks small marine fish several times daily. Unlike other birds, puffins can hold multiple small fish in their bills simultaneously, thanks to a unique beak mechanism, enabling longer foraging trips and more food for their nestlings.
