Puffins are seabirds that are known for their colorful beaks. They live along coastlines and islands in the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There are four main species of puffins: the Atlantic Puffin, the Horned Puffin, the Tufted Puffin, and the Rhinoceros Auklet.
Quick Answers
Puffins do not live in the continental United States. The only puffin species found in North America is the Atlantic Puffin, which breeds in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and some islands off the coast of Maine. Puffins spend most of their lives out at sea, only coming to land to breed. They nest in rocky crevices and burrows along cliffs and shores of northern islands.
Where do puffins live?
As mentioned above, puffins live along the coasts and islands of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Here are some more details on the ranges of each puffin species:
- Atlantic Puffin – Islands and coasts of the North Atlantic from Maine to Iceland, Norway, Greenland, and Newfoundland
- Horned Puffin – North Pacific, from Russia to Alaska and down to Japan
- Tufted Puffin – North Pacific, from California to Alaska and across to Russia and Japan
- Rhinoceros Auklet – North Pacific, from Japan to California
The Atlantic Puffin has the largest range and the only puffins found near the continental US. Small breeding colonies of Atlantic Puffins can be found on islands off the coast of Maine, which is the southernmost extent of their range. But they do not come onshore elsewhere along the east coast or live permanently inland.
Puffin Habitats
As seabirds, puffins spend most of their lives floating on the open oceans. But during breeding season, they seek out specific habitats and features to nest:
- Rocky islands and sea cliffs – Puffins nest in burrows and crevices in rocky terrain on islands and cliffs along the shoreline.
- Grasslands and slopes – They prefer islands with grassy slopes and meadows nearby to their nesting sites.
- Protected coves – Puffins look for islands with coves and inlets that provide some protection from crashing waves and storms.
- Nearby feeding grounds – Good access to schools of small fish and other prey is key when choosing a nesting site.
These nesting habitat requirements restrict puffins to only certain northern islands and limit how far inland or south they can breed. The puffins that nest in Maine are at the very southern limit of these suitable habitats.
Puffin Migration and Winter Range
Puffins are pelagic seabirds, spending most of their lives roaming far offshore. Here are some key facts about their migration and winter movements:
- After breeding, puffins migrate far from land out to sea to molt and spend the winter.
- Winter range extends down to New England in the west and to Spain and Morocco in the east across the Atlantic.
- Some juvenile puffins may remain in southern wintering areas for 2-3 years before returning north to breed.
- Puffins can travel long distances between breeding and wintering grounds, migrations up to 4,300 km have been recorded.
- They typically avoid coming to land and stay offshore during the non-breeding season.
So while puffins may be found off the coasts of some northern US states in winter, they do not come onshore. Their pelagic lifestyle keeps them living offshore and restricts them from inhabiting mainland areas year-round.
Breeding and Nesting
During the spring and summer breeding season, puffins come to land to form breeding colonies and nest. Here are some key facts about puffin breeding ecology:
- Breeding occurs between April and August, varying by location.
- Nesting happens in burrows in the ground or rocky crevices.
- Both parents help dig the burrow and care for the single chick.
- Chicks fledge and leave the nest by late summer to head out to sea.
- Puffins are monogamous and mate with the same partner year after year.
- Most return to the same burrow and colony to breed each year.
This nesting behavior further limits puffins to specific islands and habitats. They require access to burrows and crevices in grassy, rocky terrain near productive feeding areas. These criteria restrict puffins to northern coastal islands even during breeding season.
Puffins in the USA
Only one puffin species, the Atlantic Puffin, is found in the United States. Here are some key facts about puffins in the US:
- The only Atlantic Puffin colonies in the US are in Maine.
- Three major colonies with ~3000 pairs total are on Eastern Egg Rock, Seal Island, and Matinicus Rock.
- Small numbers of pairs nest on other Maine islands like Petit Manan and Green Island.
- Atlantic Puffins were nearly hunted to extinction in Maine by the late 1800s.
- Populations have recovered since conservation measures were enacted in the early 1900s.
- Puffins do not breed anywhere else along the US east coast or inland areas.
So while puffins can be seen offshore during migration and winter along the northeast US coast, the only place they come ashore to breed in the continental US is on a handful of Maine islands. Their specialized island nesting habitat prevents them from breeding elsewhere in the country.
Conclusion
In summary, puffins are limited to living along the coasts and islands of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The Atlantic Puffin has the widest range and is the only puffin found in North America. Small populations breed on islands off the coast of Maine, which represents the southern limit of the species’ range. Puffins spend most of their time far offshore except during the breeding season when they nest in burrows and crevices on rocky, grassy islands. Their pelagic lifestyle and specific nesting requirements restrict puffins from inhabiting mainland areas or more southerly latitudes. So while puffins may be spotted from shore or during pelagic birding trips off northern coasts, they do not live or breed in the continental United States beyond a few small colonies in Maine.