Carol DM
Decided to start another series about Puffins. They are so adorable. I have watched them on documentaries and have seen them at zoos. It is amazing to research and learn more about these adorable seabirds.
Starting with part one of five. Below are some facts I learned and wanted to share. They always make me smile. I hope they do the same for you. We could all use more smiles.
1. HOW MANY SPECIES OF PUFFINS LIVE IN THE WORLD? FOUR
a) Atlantic Puffin: The Atlantic Puffin (formerly Common Puffin) lives in the North Atlantic.
b) Horned Puffin: The Horned Puffin looks similar to the Atlantic Puffin however it is easily distinguished by its mostly yellow bill with orange tip.
c) Tufted Puffin: The Tufted Puffin is the largest puffin and is characterized by long, straw-colored feathers that extend back from its crown during the mating season.
d) Rhinoceros Auklet: Although this Puffin differs noticeably in outward appearance from the other three species of puffin, this brown bird is anatomically still a puffin.
2. HOW MANY ATLANTIC PUFFINS ARE THERE IN THE WORLD? Estimates range from three to four million pairs. Wow that is impressive.
3. WHERE ARE ATLANTIC PUFFINS FOUND IN THE WORLD? Atlantic Puffins are found exclusively in the North Atlantic Ocean. In North America, they nest from Newfoundland to the Northeastern United States. In Europe, they nest south to the Brittany Coast of France, northwards to Iceland, Greenland, and Northern Russia. Most of the world’s puffins are found in Iceland, where sixty percent of the population breeds. 4. HOW DID PUFFINS GET THEIR NAME? The word puffin is thought to be derived from the word ‘puff’ which refers to swollen. And it is the puffin chick that contributes best to this name because of its round, puffed look resulting from its dense cover of down feathers – an adaptation for retaining body heat while the parent is off fishing. Indeed, they resemble little puff balls with beak and feet. Puffins have also been called “clown of the ocean” and “sea parrot” because of their clown-like facial markings and colorful beak.
5. HOW BIG ARE PUFFINS? Puffins are usually 10 inches tall (18 cm), which is about the height of a quart jug of milk. The puffin weighs about 500 grams, similar to a can of soda.
*Photo Courtesy of Nat Geo
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Don’t you just love seeing these Puffins? Adorable!
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Another very interesting topic. You know how to choose.
Thank you, I try to share what I like and what others might enjoy as well.
As always a great idea. I had not seen this bird and did not know these details. Thank you
Thank you, I love these when I go to the zoo.
i love this new series. Puffins are amazing birds!!! i love the cover picture!
Thanks Doc. I love these, so adorable. Could not resist the Nat Geo phot.
it is so cool, thank you for once again expanding my knowledge!
You are welcome, I started out because they are adorable and did not realize how much I did not know about them.
well i learned something today, and that is always fun for me!
This is really interesting facts about puffins
Glad you are enjoying. Thanks for the comment.
Interesting facts about puffins. I have never seen them. Are those beaks (don’t know teeth) real?
Yes the beast are real. Amazing to see the up close. Unlike many other birds, Puffins actually HAVE teeth, and they point backwards to hold more fish. They are not like our teeth, and are kind of built into their beak.
Wow! This is a unique bird. Looking foward to more of your post on this bird.
Thanks, so glad you are interested. More to come soon.
I have not seen this bird anywhere so far. Or even if I saw them in a zoo I don’t remember that. The bird sure looks cute and clever.
Good to see you. Thanks for the comment.
That puffin sure has a lot of fish in its mouth. Thank you for the info on these interesting birds.
Thanks for the comment. They are so interesting to learn about.
That’s a lot of fish at once! Very interesting facts, I love these birds too. The jug of milk comparison made me imagine it and laugh. So cute!
I know, I just love that photo. These are the cutest birds. I should have done this is a list so I could add photos. They are adorable.
Photos would be awesome, they are always fun to watch.
I will figure it out for the next series.