The
puffin is an auk (or alcid) of the genus Fratercula (Latin:
Little Brother - probably a reference to their black and
white plumage resembling monastic robes) with a brightly
colored beak in the breeding season. These are pelagic
seabirds that feed primarily by diving. They breed in
large colonies, nesting in crevices or burrows. Puffins
are chunky birds with large bills. Their short wings are
adapted for swimming under water. In the air, they beat
their wings rapidly in swift flight, often flying low
over the ocean's surface. Sailors used to refer to these
birds as "sea parrots". There are three species:
F. arctica (Atlantic Puffin) F. corniculata (Horned Puffin)
F. cirrhata (Tufted Puffin) |
