Page 47 - World of Animals - Issue #29

Triangular bill
Stocky body The puffin’s bill is one

Atlantic puffins are short of its most recognisable

in the body, and rounded features. In the winter
in shape, with layers of it is smaller and mostly
insulating fat to keep them blueish grey, but during
warm as they dive in and the breeding season it is
out of the sea. covered in bright plates.

Scapula (shoulder blade) Eye ring

Atlantic puffins have
distinctive colouration
around their eyes, with
a black triangular mark
above and a red-orange
ring around the eye itself.

White cheeks
During the summer, Atlantic

puffins have white cheeks,
emphasising their colourful Shedding feathers
beaks, but in the winter the

feathers turn grey. A puffi n’s wings will molt between breeding seasons.
Until the feathers grow back, the bird is unable to fly.

Short wings

Puffin wings are adapted
for use underwater, but they
can still fly at speeds of up Primary feathers

to 88km/h (55mph).

The first feathers to be lost are
the primaries at the tips of the
wings (shown in red). These
provide thrust during flight.

Secondary feathers
Two or three weeks later, the
secondary feathers (shown in
blue) are shed. These provide
lift during flight.

Closest family

Closely related to the Atlantic puffi n are…

Intestine

Horned puffin Tufted puffin Rhinoceros auklet

Horned puffi ns are found in There are thought to be around These dark grey seabirds

Alaska and are named for 3.5 million tu ed puffi ns living are named a er the horn at

the distinctive ‘horn’ above in and around the North Pacific the base of their bill, but its

Mate for life Old age each eye. They look similar Ocean. They are similar in function is unknown. They live
6 years onwards 20-30 years to Atlantic puffi ns, but have a appearance and lifestyle to in the North Pacific Ocean, and

Atlantic puffi ns mate for life, returning Atlantic puffi ns live for a different approach to breeding, Atlantic puffi ns, but can be feed their young under cover of

to the same breeding grounds year long time, some reaching making their nests on the distinguished by the yellow darkness, to avoid detection
a er year to raise their young. into their 20s or 30s. rocks instead of burrowing. tu s on their heads. by predators.

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