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MarineCavity nestLarge · 536 g
ID tip
The height of the adult puffin is approximately 20 cm (8 in), the weight is approximately 500 g (18 oz), and the wingspan is approximately 58 cm (23 in). Horned puffins are monomorphic (the male and female exhibit the same plumage coloration). Sexually mature birds have a small fleshy black "horn" extending upwards from the eye, from which the animal derives its common name — the horned puffin. A dark eyestripe extends backwards from the eye towards the occiput. The cheeks are white, with a yellow wattle at the base of the bill. The legs and feet are orange. Voice: Horned puffins emit a relatively small number of sounds, mostly low in volume. These guttural noises are identified as cooing, roaring or grunting. The most common puffin sound is usually transcribed as "arr-arr-arr", which accelerates when the animal is threatened, becoming an "A-gaa-kah-kha-kha".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Horned Puffin
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 5 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is June, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Horned Puffin
The map shades 2 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Horned Puffin
The horned puffin is an auk found in the North Pacific Ocean, including the coasts of Alaska, Siberia and British Columbia. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving for fish. It nests in colonies, often with other auks.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Tufted PuffinFratercula cirrhataTufted puffins are around 35 cm (14 in) in length with a similar wingspan and weigh about three-quarters of a kilogram (1.6 lbs), making them the largest of all the puffins.
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaThe Atlantic puffin is sturdily built with a thick-set neck and short wings and tail.
Side by side: Atlantic Puffin vs Horned Puffin · Horned Puffin vs Tufted Puffin
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