Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

© 2025
Share   
0 recent observations

Brief #

A distinctive short, stout bird, overall black and white with bright orange beak, legs and feet.

Synonyms #

  • Arao papagaio (Galician)

Red List Status #

The Atlantic Puffin is at high risk of unnatural (human-caused) extinction without further human intervention.
Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

Sturdily built with a thick-set neck and short wings and tail, beak is very distinctive.. Sexes similar but males slightly larger. Forehead, crown, and nape are glossy black, as are the back, wings, and tail. Underparts of the bird, the breast, belly and under tail coverts, are white. 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. Short legs and large webbed feet are bright orange, contrasting with the sharp, black claws.

Measurements #

Length: 28 - 30 cm
Wingspan: 47 - 63 cm
Weight: 380 - 480 g