World Puffin Day

1. There are three different species of puffin (some people say there are four). The most common puffin by far is the Atlantic Puffin. This species of puffin make up about 90% of all puffins! The other species are called Horned Puffins and Tufted Puffins, and then there are Rhinoceros Aucklets. 

2. Puffins are small black and white birds with brightly coloured beaks. While the Atlantic, Horned and Tufted Puffins look fairly similar, the Rhinoceros Aucklets look quite different from the rest. Rhinoceros Aucklets were given their name when it was believed they weren’t a type of puffin, but it has since been discovered they are, or they are at least very closely related!

3. While they are known for their brightly coloured beaks during the winter their beaks are actually a grey colour.

4. All the puffins live in the Northern Hemisphere, above the equator. They live in the north of the Atlantic Ocean, with lots living around Iceland. But puffins can be found living in lots of places, including the UK.

5. Puffins spend most of their time swimming and floating in the sea, only really spending time on land when nesting and looking after their young.

6. Puffins are carnivores and catch small fish such as herrings and sandeels. They ‘fly’ through the water, diving up to 60 metres down from the surface to catch their prey.

7. While they spend a lot of time in the water, they can also fly really well. They have quite small wings so it takes them quite a lot of effort to take off but once they get going they can fly at about 55 miles per hour. They flap their wings around 400 beats per minute.

8. Puffins are often partners for life, meeting back up every year! They lay one egg at a time. To create a nest they dig out a burrow using their claws and beak, in a cliff top or crevice. Once the female lays her egg both parents take it in turn to incubate the egg for about 45 days.

9. A baby puffin is called a puffling! It is looked after well by both parents for about six weeks after they have hatched. During this time they collect fish for it to eat and protect it from predators, such as gulls.

10. Atlantic Puffins are listed as vulnerable, which is one level below endangered. But in some places in Europe, including the UK, they are actually seen as endangered because their numbers are falling dramatically. This is because of climate change, pollution and a lack of food for them to eat.