Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) - Birds Around Me 0275

- December 31, 2025

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean. Measuring 28–34 cm in length with a wingspan of 50–60 cm, it is instantly recognizable by its stocky build, black back, white belly, and most famously, its large triangular bill that glows orange and red during the breeding season. This colorful beak, combined with bright orange legs, has earned puffins nicknames such as “sea parrot” and “clown of the ocean.”

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Iceland, July 2025

Puffins breed in colonies across Iceland, Norway, the British Isles, Greenland, and eastern Canada, nesting in burrows or rocky crevices. They are expert divers, using their wings to “fly” underwater while hunting fish such as sand eels. Outside the breeding season, puffins spend months at sea, riding the waves of the North Atlantic.

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Iceland, July 2025

Culturally, puffins hold a special place in human imagination. In Iceland, where over 60% of the world’s population breeds, puffins are both a national symbol and a traditional food source. In the British Isles, they feature in folklore as symbols of resilience and good fortune. Their comical appearance has made them beloved mascots in literature, children’s stories, and even tourism campaigns. Puffins are also central to conservation awareness: their vulnerability to climate change and declining fish stocks has made them a flagship species for protecting seabirds and marine ecosystems.

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Iceland, July 2025

Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, the Atlantic Puffin reminds us of the fragile balance between nature and culture. Its enduring charm ensures that the “sea parrot” continues to inspire awe, affection, and a commitment to conservation across the North Atlantic world.

Hindi Name of Indian vulture or long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus): देशी गिद्ध

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