Atlantic Puffin

By Karin Bolcshazy

The first question I had was why are they called Puffins? The precise origin is debated, but the most widely accepted explanation centers around the Old English word puff, referring to something swollen or inflated. This then evolved to describe the puffy appearance, particularly that of young puffin chicks. Early ornithologists noted this characteristic, and the name stuck. Puffins are often called "sea parrots" due to the striking resemblance of their brightly colored beaks to those of parrots. Atlantic Puffins with black backs, white bellies, quad-colored beaks, orange feet and orange rimmed eyes with a dashing under eye liner "look like something invented by a talented circus makeup artist."

Three species of puffin exist: the Atlantic Puffin (North Atlantic Ocean, breeding on coastal areas from Maine and Newfoundland to Iceland, Norway, and the British Isles, with Iceland hosting about 60%); the Horned Puffin (North Pacific breeds on coastal areas in Alaska, Siberia, and British Columbia); Tufted Puffin (breeds in coastal areas from California to Alaska and across eastern Asia).

Puffins are relatively long-lived birds. The average lifespan of an Atlantic Puffin in the wild is around 20-25 years, but some individuals have been known to live much longer, exceeding 30 years. They are skilled divers and feed off small fish. They are surprisingly adept fliers, despite their stocky bodies, and can reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour travelling long distances in search of food.

Puffins are generally considered to be monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds that can last for many years. They typically return to the same breeding site each year.

Sources:  Institute for Environmental Research and Education (IERE), Washington State, Wall Street Journal