Puffin Facts
A puffin is a small seabird in the auk family and genus Fratercula, a diving bird with a stocky body, black or black-and-white feathers and a large, brightly colored beak.
- Class
- Bird
- Scientific name
- Fratercula
About the puffin
Three species carry the puffin name. The tufted puffin and horned puffin live in the North Pacific, and the Atlantic puffin lives in the North Atlantic. All are open-ocean birds that plunge underwater to find food. When it is time to breed, they gather in big colonies on seaside cliffs or islands offshore and nest in rock crevices or in burrows dug into the soil.
The famous beak is a seasonal look. During breeding season it glows with color, and afterward the bird sheds the colorful outer parts, leaving a smaller, plainer bill. Short wings let puffins fly underwater in a way that resembles flying through air. Above the waves they flap fast and often skim low over the sea surface.
Did you know?
- A puffin can beat its wings up to 400 times per minute in flight.
- The tufted puffin and horned puffin both live in the North Pacific Ocean.
- Puffins are pelagic, which means they spend much of their lives out on the open ocean.
Questions about the puffin
Where do puffins live?
Atlantic puffins live in the North Atlantic, while tufted and horned puffins live in the North Pacific.
Why do puffins have colorful beaks?
Their beaks turn bright during breeding season. Afterward they shed the colorful outer parts.
Sources
- Wikidata Q311761, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Puffin, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.