![]() ![]() Individuals are characterized by the sharp projections above their eyes. arctica and instead has a yellow beak with an orange tip at the end. corniculata lacks the blue triangle of F. It is characterized by the deep blue triangle at the base of individuals' beaks ("Puffin FAQs", 2022). arctica is the smallest of the three species, though it is considered to be the most common. Their feet are orange-red, and when not in the breeding season, their beaks tend to be duller and smaller than what is commonly expected of puffins' "true" beaks ("Fratercula Brisson 1760", 2022). Puffins are typically black with white or "muddy" colored underparts, white faces, and short wings and tails. While there have been some observations of males being larger than females, the two sexes are typically the same height and have similar appearances (Burnham et al., 2020). They are stocky and have an average height of 10 inches. ( "Fratercula Brisson 1760", 2022)įratercula species can be identified mainly by their large beaks, which are brightly colored during their breeding season. The word "fratercula" translates to "little brother" in Latin ("Fratercula Brisson 1760", 2022). ( Cushman, 2022 "Fratercula Brisson 1760", 2022 "Puffins/Wildlife Fact Sheets", 2022 The Cornell Lab, 2022)įratercula was first introduced by Mathurin Jacques Brisson, with F. Mated pairs will often return to their burrows yearly to reproduce. It is here that parents raise their young until they are capable of flight themselves and can migrate to open waters. They either build their nests in rocky crevices/cliff faces or in the turf soil on top of cliffs ("Atlantic Puffin", 2022). Puffins are also capable of flight, allowing them to breed on small islands. ( "Fratercula Brisson 1760", 2022 "Puffin FAQs", 2022 "Puffins/Wildlife Fact Sheets", 2022)įratercula species inhabit open waters, made possible by their waterproof feathers which allow them to dive for small fish (eels and herring) as well as zooplankton. cirrhata are also found along the northern coasts of Asia ("Puffin FAQs", 2022). cirrhata range from northwestern Alaska to California, and they spend winters in the sea throughout the northern Pacific. corniculata range from southern sea waters to California, returning to breed in ranges from northwestern Alaska to the coast of the Alaska British Columbia border ("Puffin FAQs", 2022). arctica populations live near Iceland, strictly in the Atlantic ocean. ( The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2022 Cushman, 2022 "Fratercula Brisson 1760", 2022 "Puffins/Wildlife Fact Sheets", 2022) Geographic Rangeįratercula species can be found in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Nearctic and Palearctic regions. While not endangered, several species are threatened by oil spills and overfishing (Cushman, 2022). This occurred alongside the creation of the genus Fratercula, meaning "little brother," referencing the visual similarity of the puffins' plumage to monastic robes ("Fratercula Brisson 1760", 2022). ![]() These puffins were named in 1760 by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson. The most common puffin is Fratercula arctica, which can be found in the majority of Iceland. Genus Fratercula consists of three extant species, all of which are commonly referred to as "puffins." Belonging to family Alcidae, puffins are distinguishable by their large, colorful beaks and black/white plumage (Cushman, 2022). ![]()
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