Fratercula cirrhata
The magnificent Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) is an iconic seabird of the North Pacific, instantly recognizable by its striking breeding plumage. Adults measure approximately 35-40 cm (14-16 inches) in length with a wingspan of 60-70 cm (24-28 inches) and weigh between 700-900 grams (1.5-2 pounds). Their primary field marks include an entirely black body, a distinct white facial mask, and, most notably, two prominent, long golden-yellow head plumes, or "tufts," extending gracefully behi...
Tufted Puffins are obligate marine birds, nesting exclusively on remote, predator-free islands and coastal cliffs, from sea level to several hundred meters elevation. Outside the breeding season, they are pelagic, spending their lives far offshore in the open waters of the North Pacific.
Their diet primarily consists of small schooling fish such as sandlance, capelin, and herring, supplemented with marine invertebrates like squid and crustaceans. They forage exclusively by pursuit diving, utilizing their wings for underwater propulsion.
Tufted Puffins are diurnal, spending daylight hours foraging at sea or attending their nesting burrows during the breeding season, typically roosting communally within their colonies at night. They are expert pursuit divers, using their powerful wings to "fly" underwater, propelling themselves wi...
The Tufted Puffin's extensive breeding range stretches across the North Pacific Rim, from the Aleutian Islands and coastal Alaska south along the coasts of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. Its distribution also extends westward to Russia's Far East, encompassing the ...
Least Concern
- Often called "sea parrots" due to their brightly colored bills and comical appearance, especially during the breeding season. - They "fly" underwater using their wings, much like penguins, but can also achieve impressive flight above the surface with rapid wingbeats. - A single Tufted Puffin ha...