Wild Windows · Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arctica
A small black-and-white seabird with a brightly colored beak that breeds in colonies on cliffs and islands in the North Atlantic. Spends most of its life at sea and returns to land only to nest.
Natural History
Habitat
Breeds on coastal islands in the North Atlantic — Iceland, Norway, the British Isles, and the northeastern United States. Winters at sea.
Diet
Small fish — particularly sand eels, herring, and capelin — caught by diving from the surface.
Lifespan
20+ years in the wild.
Behavior
Forms long-term pair bonds. Nests in burrows it digs into cliffside turf. Can hold a dozen fish at once crosswise in its beak.
Classroom Facts
- A puffin can flap its wings 400 times per minute.
- The colorful beak appears only during breeding season — the outer layer is shed each winter.
- They dive up to 60 meters underwater to catch fish.
Live Cameras
13 atlantic puffin cameras in the catalog.
Each listing shows its current source, permission, and playback-verification state.
