Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arctica
The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a uncommon auks, puffins, and murr found in 27 countries, weighing about 593 g. The Atlantic puffin, also known as the common puffin, is a species of seabird in the auk family.
About the Atlantic Puffin
The Atlantic puffin, also known as the common puffin, is a species of seabird in the auk family. It is the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean; two related species, the tufted puffin and the horned puffin, are found in the northeastern Pacific. The Atlantic puffin breeds in Russia, Iceland, Ireland, Britain, Norway, Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and the Faroe Islands, and as far south as Maine in the west and France in the east. It is most commonly found in the Westman Islands, Iceland. Although it has a large population and a wide range, the species has declined rapidly, at least in parts of its range, resulting in it being rated as vulnerable by the IUCN. On…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Atlantic puffin is sturdily built with a thick-set neck and short wings and tail. It is 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in) in length from the tip of its stout bill to its blunt-ended tail. Its wingspan is 47 to 63 cm (19 to 25 in) and on land it stands about 20 cm (8 in) high. The male is generally slightly larger than the female, but they are coloured alike. The forehead, crown, and nape are glossy black, as are the back, wings, and tail. A broad, black collar extends around the neck and throat. On each side of the head is a large, lozenge-shaped area of very pale grey.
What the Atlantic Puffin sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in June. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Watch the Atlantic Puffin on live cams
- Puffin Loafing LedgeSeal Island, Maine, USA · Streaming now
- Puffin Burrow CamSeal Island, Maine, USA · Streaming now
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Atlantic Puffin?
- The Atlantic puffin is sturdily built with a thick-set neck and short wings and tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Atlantic Puffin?
- The Atlantic Puffin is a large sized bird weighing about 593 g.
- Where can you see an Atlantic Puffin?
- The Atlantic Puffin occurs in 27 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Norway and Iceland.
- What does an Atlantic Puffin sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Atlantic Puffin on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Atlantic Puffin?
- The Atlantic Puffin is most easily confused with the Tufted Puffin and the Horned Puffin.
- Is the Atlantic Puffin endangered?
- The Atlantic Puffin is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Atlantic Puffin for real
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