Fratercula corniculata
The Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata) is a striking and charismatic seabird of the North Pacific, instantly recognizable by its vibrant, triangular bill and the distinctive fleshy, horn-like projection above each eye during the breeding season. Growing to about 36-41 cm (14-16 in) in length with a wingspan of 58-64 cm (23-25 in) and weighing 600-800 g (1.3-1.8 lb), it sports a sleek black back, pristine white belly, and a clean white face contrasted by a dark line extending back from the...
Primarily coastal, breeding on remote rocky islands and sea cliffs with suitable crevices or soil for burrowing; winters pelagically in the open ocean.
Mainly small schooling marine fish such as sand lance, capelin, and Pacific herring, supplemented with squid and crustaceans. They are pursuit-divers, catching prey underwater.
Horned Puffins are diurnal, spending their days foraging at sea or attending to their colonies. They are expert pursuit-divers, using their powerful wings to 'fly' underwater at depths of up to 60 meters (200 feet) to catch prey, while their webbed feet act as rudders. During the breeding season,...
The Horned Puffin's breeding range spans the northern Pacific Ocean, extending from the Aleutian Islands and the coast of mainland Alaska, eastward along the Gulf of Alaska to south-central Alaska and parts of British Columbia. Significant breeding populations are also found across the Russian Fa...
Least Concern
- Horned Puffins can carry up to a dozen small fish in their specialized bills at once, thanks to rough projections on their tongues and palates that help hold fish in place. - The 'horn' above their eye, from which they get their name, is a fleshy growth that is shed after the breeding season. -...