Atlantic Puffin | Discovering a Fascinating Animal Every Day 002

1️⃣The Atlantic Puffin is a charming seabird from the auk family and the only puffin truly native to the Atlantic Ocean. Its close relatives—the Tufted Puffin and the Horned Puffin—live in the eastern North Pacific. Their breeding grounds spread across Iceland, Norway, Greenland, Newfoundland, and numerous North Atlantic islands, extending as far south as western Maine and the eastern British Isles. Although still abundant, the species is listed as vulnerable due to increasing threats. On land, they stand upright; at sea, they float gracefully, feeding mainly on small fish.

2️⃣The Atlantic Puffin sports a black crown, gray cheeks, and a pure white belly, paired with a large red-and-black bill and striking orange legs—an outfit as colorful as a festival costume.

3️⃣During winter, they molt at sea, losing some of their vivid facial colors. Adult males and females look almost identical, with males only slightly larger. Juveniles have darker plumage and deep gray cheeks. Northern populations are generally larger and are considered separate subspecies.