Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

Description:

A small pigeon-sized bird. During the mating season they are black and white/grey with a brightly colored beak. During the rest of the year, they are duller in color.

Habitat:

Spend most of their lives in the North Atlantic out at sea. They nest in burrows on rocky coasts during the summer.

Notes:

these pictures are of puffins off the coast of Maine at Machias Seal Island. The birds were nesting on the island, and so they have their mating plumage.

Species ID Suggestions

24 Comments

Caleb Steindel 10 years ago

would you consider adding this to http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/1960...
thanks!

bbprevas 11 years ago

Thank you matimar

bbprevas 11 years ago

Thank you Melissa

MelissaFerguson 11 years ago

Awesome spotting & photo's!

bbprevas 11 years ago

Thanks extremebirder. We almost missed out because of the epic downeast fog.

bbprevas 11 years ago

Thank you Elisa

extremebirder 11 years ago

I have Atlantic Puffin pics too, but there not as good as yours!

Elsa 11 years ago

Beautiful!!

bbprevas 11 years ago

Thank you birdlady. I'd highly recommend the Bold Coast Charter tour in Cutler, Maine. They do a small, more intimate tour (<20 people) with a great crew.

birdlady6000 11 years ago

Great spotting and photos. I think I will have to go there someday.

bbprevas 11 years ago

Thank you joan and mayra

MayraSpringmann 11 years ago

So beautiful!!

joanbstanley 11 years ago

Terrific series.

bbprevas 11 years ago

Thanks Jeannette

Jeannette 11 years ago

Lovely series :)

bbprevas 11 years ago

Thank you manuelap. was fortunate enough to see hundreds of these last weekend in the waters off the coast of Maine, USA by boat. In terms of the photographs, the birds did all of the work; they don't take bad photos.