Atlantic Puffin: Adorable Seabird of the North

Waddling on rocky cliffs and zipping through the ocean like a torpedo, the Atlantic Puffin is equal parts cartoonish and majestic. With its rainbow beak, tuxedo plumage, and big personality, it’s no wonder this little bird has fans around the world.

What Does an Atlantic Puffin Look Like?

Breeding adults sport bright orange legs, white cheeks, and that signature multicolored beak that glows like a parrot’s. Outside of breeding season, puffins molt into a duller look—proof that even birds need a glow-up now and then.

Where Do Puffins Live?

Atlantic Puffins are found on coastal cliffs and islands of the North Atlantic, from eastern Canada and Maine to Iceland, Norway, and the UK. They spend most of their lives at sea and only come to land to breed.

How Do Puffins Fish?

With wings built for swimming, puffins “fly” underwater using powerful strokes to chase down small fish like herring or sand eels. They can hold multiple fish in their beak at once—thanks to backward-facing spines on their tongue and palate. The record? Over 60 fish in one trip!

How Do Puffins Nest?

Puffins are monogamous and return to the same nesting site year after year, digging a burrow or using crevices in the rocks. They lay just one egg per year, and both parents take turns keeping the chick fed and warm.

Fun Facts About Atlantic Puffins

• Puffins are amazing fliers—reaching speeds of up to 55 mph.

• They’re nicknamed “sea parrots” or “clowns of the sea.”

• In Iceland, puffins are so beloved they even appear on postage stamps and menus (yes… menus 😬).

Why Puffins Matter—and Need Our Help

Puffins are sensitive indicators of ocean health. Their numbers are dropping in parts of their range due to overfishing, climate change, and plastic pollution. Conserving their habitats means protecting our oceans too.