Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Tribe: Fraterculini
Genus: Fratercula
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Tribe: Fraterculini
Genus: Fratercula
Common Name
Puffin
Morphology
Puffins, on the other hand, are any of three small species of auk (or alcids) in
the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak in the breeding season.
These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They
breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in
crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil. Two species, the Tufted Puffin
and Horned Puffin, are found in the North Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic
Puffin, is found in the North Atlantic Ocean.
the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak in the breeding season.
These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They
breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in
crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil. Two species, the Tufted Puffin
and Horned Puffin, are found in the North Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic
Puffin, is found in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Biology
Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic,
flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere,
especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have
countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers. Most
penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sealife caught while
swimming underwater. They spend about half of their life on land and half in the
oceans.
flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere,
especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have
countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers. Most
penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sealife caught while
swimming underwater. They spend about half of their life on land and half in the
oceans.
Distribution Map
Importance: Ecological and Economical
Puffins are hunted for eggs, feathers and meat. Atlantic Puffin populations
drastically declined due to habitat destruction and exploitation during the 19th
century and early 20th century. They continue to be hunted in Iceland and the
Faroe Islands
On the Blasket Islands off the coast of County
Kerry, which were abandoned in 1953, the islanders, who often
lived just above starvation level, hunted and ate puffins in large numbers.
The Atlantic Puffin forms part of the national diet in Iceland, where the
species does not have legal protection. Puffins are hunted by a technique called
"sky fishing", which involves catching low-flying birds with a big net. Their
meat is commonly featured on hotel menus. The fresh heart of a puffin is eaten
raw as a traditional Icelandic delicacy
drastically declined due to habitat destruction and exploitation during the 19th
century and early 20th century. They continue to be hunted in Iceland and the
Faroe Islands
On the Blasket Islands off the coast of County
Kerry, which were abandoned in 1953, the islanders, who often
lived just above starvation level, hunted and ate puffins in large numbers.
The Atlantic Puffin forms part of the national diet in Iceland, where the
species does not have legal protection. Puffins are hunted by a technique called
"sky fishing", which involves catching low-flying birds with a big net. Their
meat is commonly featured on hotel menus. The fresh heart of a puffin is eaten
raw as a traditional Icelandic delicacy
Interesting Facts
Puffins breed in colonies on coasts and islands; several current or former
island breeding sites are referred to as Puffin Island. The male Atlantic Puffin builds
the nest and exhibits strong nest-site fidelity. Both sexes of the Horned Puffin
help to construct their nest. Horned Puffin burrows are usually about 1 meter
(3.3 feet) deep, ending in a chamber, while the tunnel leading to a Tufted
Puffin burrow may be up to 2.75 meters (9.0 feet) long. The nesting substrate of
the Tufted and Atlantic Puffins is soft soil, into which tunnels are dug; in
contrast the nesting sites of Horned Puffins are rock crevices on cliffs
The Atlantic Puffin burrow is usually lined with material such as grass, leaves and
feathers but is occasionally unlined. The eggs of the Atlantic Puffin are
typically creamy white but the odd egg is tinged lilac.
Where rabbits breed, sometimes Atlantic Puffins breed in rabbit burrows.
Puffins form long-term pair bonds or relationships. The female lays a single
egg, and both parents incubate the egg and feed the chick (or "puffling The
incubating parent holds the egg against its brood patch with its wings. The chicks fledge at night. After fledging, the chicks spend
the first few years of their lives at sea, returning to breed about five years
later. Puffins in captivity have been known to breed as early as three years of age.
After breeding, all three puffin species winter at sea, usually far from
coasts and often extending south of the breeding range.
Iceland is the home to most of the Atlantic Puffins with about 10 million
individuals. The
largest single puffin colony in the world is in Westmann Isles, islands that belong to Iceland. In 2009, scientists estimated the number
of nests to be 1.1 million, and
number of individuals there is estimated to be up to 4 million.
island breeding sites are referred to as Puffin Island. The male Atlantic Puffin builds
the nest and exhibits strong nest-site fidelity. Both sexes of the Horned Puffin
help to construct their nest. Horned Puffin burrows are usually about 1 meter
(3.3 feet) deep, ending in a chamber, while the tunnel leading to a Tufted
Puffin burrow may be up to 2.75 meters (9.0 feet) long. The nesting substrate of
the Tufted and Atlantic Puffins is soft soil, into which tunnels are dug; in
contrast the nesting sites of Horned Puffins are rock crevices on cliffs
The Atlantic Puffin burrow is usually lined with material such as grass, leaves and
feathers but is occasionally unlined. The eggs of the Atlantic Puffin are
typically creamy white but the odd egg is tinged lilac.
Where rabbits breed, sometimes Atlantic Puffins breed in rabbit burrows.
Puffins form long-term pair bonds or relationships. The female lays a single
egg, and both parents incubate the egg and feed the chick (or "puffling The
incubating parent holds the egg against its brood patch with its wings. The chicks fledge at night. After fledging, the chicks spend
the first few years of their lives at sea, returning to breed about five years
later. Puffins in captivity have been known to breed as early as three years of age.
After breeding, all three puffin species winter at sea, usually far from
coasts and often extending south of the breeding range.
Iceland is the home to most of the Atlantic Puffins with about 10 million
individuals. The
largest single puffin colony in the world is in Westmann Isles, islands that belong to Iceland. In 2009, scientists estimated the number
of nests to be 1.1 million, and
number of individuals there is estimated to be up to 4 million.
Vocabulary
EXSKELETON: A SKELETON THAT FORMS THE EXTERNAL
SURFACE OF AN ANIMAL, AS IN ARTHROPOND
CIRRI: THE
PLATES ON THE UPPURS SURFACE OPEN TO ALLOW FEATHERY FILTERING APPENDAGE (CIRRI),
WHICH ARE ACTUALLY THE LEGS, TO SWEEP THE
WATER.
NAUPILIUS: BUT THE TYPE AND NUMBER
OF LARVAL STOGES VERY WIDELY FROM GROUP TO
GROUP.
CEPHALOTHORAX: THE
ANTERIOR PORTION OF THE BODY OF MANY ARTHROPODS,WHICH CONSISTS OF THE HEAD FUSED
WITH OTHER BODY
SEEGMENTS.
MOLT: THE
EXOSKELETON THAT IS SHED DURING THE MOLTING
PROCESS.
SURFACE OF AN ANIMAL, AS IN ARTHROPOND
CIRRI: THE
PLATES ON THE UPPURS SURFACE OPEN TO ALLOW FEATHERY FILTERING APPENDAGE (CIRRI),
WHICH ARE ACTUALLY THE LEGS, TO SWEEP THE
WATER.
NAUPILIUS: BUT THE TYPE AND NUMBER
OF LARVAL STOGES VERY WIDELY FROM GROUP TO
GROUP.
CEPHALOTHORAX: THE
ANTERIOR PORTION OF THE BODY OF MANY ARTHROPODS,WHICH CONSISTS OF THE HEAD FUSED
WITH OTHER BODY
SEEGMENTS.
MOLT: THE
EXOSKELETON THAT IS SHED DURING THE MOLTING
PROCESS.