Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica)
- HABITAT - Atlantic Puffins live most of their lives at sea, resting on the waves when not swimming. Atlantic Puffins coming ashore only to breed. They land on North Atlantic seacoasts and islands to form breeding colonies each spring and summer where they nest in burrows.
- DIET - The Atlantic Puffin's diet consists almost entirely of fish yet they will occasionally eats mollusc, shrimp and other crustaceans. They catch fish by swimming underwater. They are excellent swimmers that use their wings to stroke underwater with a flying motion and their webbed feet for steering. Atlantic Puffins can capture several fish during one dive, holding them crosswise in their bill.
- FACTS - In Canada and many other countries, large puffin colonies are migratory bird sanctuaries. This is great for when they are on land and raising young, but doesn’t protect them from fishing nets, oil pollution, and overfishing. Hunting is still permitted in some countries where they are killed while nesting.
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For a short video on Puffins, check out our Youtube video: Waltz of the Puffins
Atlantic Puffin GALLERY
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