Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic puffin is a small seabird that breeds on coastal cliffs and islands around the North Atlantic, from northeastern North America to the British Isles, Iceland and Scandinavia, and spends the rest of the year far out at sea. It is instantly recognizable during the breeding season by its large, brightly colored triangular bill in shades of orange, yellow and grey, which fades in the non-breeding season, along with its black-and-white plumage and orange legs. Puffins are skilled divers, using their wings to swim underwater in pursuit of small fish such as sand eels and herring, which they can carry crosswise in their bills in impressive numbers back to their single chick. They nest in burrows dug into clifftop soil or among rocks, often in large colonies, and while still numerous in places, several populations have declined due to changes in fish availability and predation, leading conservationists to classify the species as vulnerable in parts of its range.