Where Are Puffins Found?

Puffins are famous for their eye-catching, brightly colored bills. However, that vivid appearance does not last all year. During the warmer summer months, puffins develop their most colorful and impressive beaks as part of their breeding display. A larger and brighter bill can make a puffin appear more attractive to potential mates. Once breeding season ends and a mate has been chosen, the beak gradually becomes much duller during the winter months.

Puffins Are Dedicated Parents

Puffins are highly devoted to their families. Many pairs remain with the same partner for many years and work together to care for their offspring. Each breeding pair produces only one egg annually, and both the male and female share the responsibility of protecting, feeding, and raising their chick.

Impressive Flying and Swimming Skills

Puffins are powerful and agile birds. They can beat their wings up to 400 times per minute, allowing them to reach speeds of around 55 miles per hour while flying. They are also excellent underwater swimmers.

Puffins can dive as deep as 200 feet beneath the ocean surface. While underwater, they move their wings in a motion similar to flying through the air. Their large orange feet act like steering paddles, helping them navigate the water as they search for fish.

Puffins Return to the Same Homes

Puffins are selective when choosing where to live. Breeding pairs often return to the same burrow year after year. These underground homes are carefully prepared with soft materials such as grass, seaweed, and feathers, creating a comfortable and protected space for raising their young.