Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Shorebirds

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island Birds of Quebec Birds of England Birds of South Yorkshire Birds of Cumbria

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The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a member of the Alcidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 593 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Alcidae Auks
Genus Fratercula
Species arctica

Where it lives

Subarctic and temperate North Atlantic coasts: western, east-central Greenland, Iceland, Faroe, British, and Channel is., northwestern France, south to northern Scandinavia, Svalbard (north of Norway) and Novaya Zemlya (northwestern Russia); northern Hudson Bay to southeastern Canada and Maine (eastern Canada, northeastern USA)

Quick facts

Weight: 593 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Alcidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Main colours Black Orange White

Male vs female

Sexes look alike (glossy black above, white below, pale grey cheeks, and a large triangular bill patterned in slate-grey, yellow and orange-red, with bright orange feet); males average slightly larger.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles have darker grey cheek patches, a much narrower dull dark-grey bill with a yellowish-brown tip, and dark legs and feet.

Breeding vs non-breeding

In non-breeding (winter) plumage the face darkens to grey and the bill sheds its bright outer plates, becoming smaller and duller.

Similar birds

Least Concern

Rhinoceros Auklet

Cerorhinca monocerata

Least Concern

Thick-billed Murre

Uria lomvia

Least Concern

Black Guillemot

Cepphus grylle

Least Concern

Spectacled Guillemot

Cepphus carbo

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Atlantic Puffin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Atlantic Puffin is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a species of auks in the family Alcidae, order Charadriiformes. It is found in Europe & Northern Asia, North America — subarctic and temperate North Atlantic coasts: w, ec Greenland, Iceland, Faroe, British, and Channel is., nw France, s to n Scandinavia, Svalbard (n of Norway) and Novaya Zemlya (nw Russia); n Hudson Bay to se Canada and Maine (e Canada, ne USA).

Songs & calls

Atlantic Puffin — Call

Recorded by Roland Arnison Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Atlantic Puffin?

The Atlantic Puffin is a large bird that weighs around 593 g.

Where does the Atlantic Puffin live?

The Atlantic Puffin is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA subarctic and temperate North Atlantic coasts: w, ec Greenland, Iceland, Faroe, British, and Channel is., nw France, s to n Scandinavia, Svalbard (n of Norway) and Novaya Zemlya (nw Russia); n Hudson Bay to se Canada and Maine (e Canada, ne USA), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Atlantic Puffin belong to?

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) belongs to the Alcidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Atlantic Puffin eat?

The Atlantic Puffin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Atlantic Puffin migrate?

The Atlantic Puffin is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Atlantic Puffin endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Atlantic Puffin make?

1 real field recording of the Atlantic Puffin — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Atlantic Puffin's range?

The Atlantic Puffin has a mapped global range of about 2 million km².