Atlantic Puffins and tufted puffins are both types of seabirds in the auk family. They have similar appearances but also some key differences. Here we will explore their similarities, differences, breeding habits, habitat, diet, and conservation status.
Quick Facts
Here are some quick facts about Atlantic and tufted puffins:
- Atlantic Puffins:
- Scientific name: Fratercula arctica
- Size: 25-28 cm long
- Weight: 400-550 g
- Breeding plumage: Black above, white below with gray cheek patches
- Non-breeding plumage: Darker above, duller below
- Bill: Triangular, red/orange with bluish base
- Range: North Atlantic coasts
- Tufted Puffins:
- Scientific name: Fratercula cirrhata
- Size: 30-36 cm long
- Weight: 500-800 g
- Breeding plumage: Black above, white below with yellow head plumes
- Non-breeding plumage: Darker gray above, duller below
- Bill: Long, yellow with orange tip
- Range: North Pacific coasts
Physical Appearance
Though Atlantic and tufted puffins look very similar, there are some key physical differences between the two species:
- Size: Tufted puffins are slightly larger, averaging 30-36 cm long compared to 25-28 cm for Atlantic puffins.
- Weight: Tufted puffins weigh more on average, around 500-800 g versus 400-550 g for Atlantic puffins.
- Bill: The tufted puffin has a longer, mostly yellow bill with an orange tip. The Atlantic puffin has a shorter triangular bill that is orange/red with a bluish base.
- Plumage: Both have black feathers on the back and wings and white underparts. However, tufted puffins have distinctive yellow head plumes in breeding plumage while Atlantic puffins have gray cheek patches.
In non-breeding plumage, the black feathers become darker gray and the white underparts become duller for both species. But the bill colors remain fairly consistent year-round.
Habitat and Range
Atlantic and tufted puffins occupy coastal habitats on opposite sides of the northern hemisphere:
- Atlantic puffins live along the coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean including Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom and New England in the United States.
- Tufted puffins occupy coastal areas of the North Pacific Ocean including Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Japan, and eastern Russia.
Both species nest on offshore islands, rocky cliffs, and sea stacks but seldom come inland. They spend most of their lives floating on the ocean and only come to land for breeding. Their ranges do not overlap as tufted puffins reside strictly in the Pacific while Atlantic puffins live only in the Atlantic.
Breeding and Nesting
Atlantic and tufted puffins have similar breeding behaviors:
- They nest in underground burrows on cliff sides, digging 1-2 meters back into the soil or turf.
- No nesting materials are used aside from what is naturally present underground.
- A single egg is laid per pair. Both parents take turns incubating for around 40-45 days until hatching.
- Chicks fledge at around 6 weeks old but may return to the burrow occasionally for 1-2 months after fledging.
- They are colonial nesters, with colonies ranging from just a few pairs up to several hundred thousand birds.
Some differences in their breeding include:
- Tufted puffins tend to nest deeper underground, excavating burrows up to 2 meters.
- Atlantic puffins are more likely to nest in rock crevices above ground.
- Tufted puffins have lower reproductive rates with less frequent breeding success.
Diet and Feeding
As seabirds, Atlantic and tufted puffins feed mainly on fish, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates. Their diets are relatively similar and include:
- Small schooling fish like herring, sandlance, and capelin
- Crustaceans including krill, copepods, amphipods
- Mollusks such as squid
They capture prey by diving from the air into the ocean, using their wings to “fly” underwater. Puffins can dive to impressive depths of 20-30 meters to hunt for food. Some subtle dietary differences:
- Atlantic puffins rely more heavily on fish like herring and sandlance.
- Tufted puffins consume more invertebrate prey like mollusks, polychaete worms, and echinoderms.
Parents feed nestlings with small fish carried crosswise in their bills. Adults carry an average of 10-30 fish at once when provisioning young.
Threats and Conservation
Both Atlantic and tufted puffin populations have declined substantially in recent decades due to a combination of threats:
- Overfishing of prey species
- Oil spills and marine pollution
- Introduced predators at colonies
- Climate change and severe weather
Their conservation status is as follows:
- Atlantic puffins are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
- Tufted puffins are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Efforts to restore colonies include predator control, artificial burrow creation, and reducing marine pollution. Public education is also key to ensure support for seabird conservation.
Key Similarities
To summarize, Atlantic and tufted puffins share many similar traits including:
- Stocky body shape adapted for swimming and diving
- Mostly black upperparts and white underparts
- Large colorful beaks used for catching fish
- Ability to carry many fish crosswise in their bills
- Nest in underground burrows and rocky crevices on islands/cliffs
- Feed on small fish, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates
- Conservation concerns due to overfishing, pollution, climate change, etc.
Key Differences
The two species can be distinguished based on several differences:
Trait | Atlantic Puffin | Tufted Puffin |
---|---|---|
Size | 25-28 cm long | 30-36 cm long |
Weight | 400-550 g | 500-800 g |
Bill Color | Orange/red with bluish base | Yellow with orange tip |
Breeding Plumage | Gray cheek patches | Yellow tufts on head |
Range | North Atlantic Ocean | North Pacific Ocean |
Conclusion
In summary, Atlantic and tufted puffins occupy opposite coasts but share many common traits and behaviors as auk seabirds. The most noticeable difference is their bill color and facial markings. While they face similar conservation challenges, tufted puffins are faring slightly worse with a Near Threatened status versus Vulnerable status for Atlantic puffins. Protecting puffin prey species and seabird habitat will be key to ensuring the future survival of these charismatic seabirds.