Tufted Puffin

Size:

• Medium to large member of the auk, or alcid, family. The largest of the puffins, about the size of a crow.
• Size varies some based on location. Western Pacific birds tend to be slightly larger than eastern birds.
• Common length of 15 inches (38 cm).
• Common wingspan of 15 inches (38 cm).

Appearance:

• Coloration becomes more decorative starting in the winter in preparation for breeding season in the spring.
• Body and top of the head are brownish black, with a white face mask extending around the sides of the head to two long yellow to gold tufts of feathers which start above and behind the eye. Bright orange legs and feet.
• Very large, bright, mostly orange to red bill during mating season, which may have yellow or greenish markings.
• After breeding season, loses its tufts, and bill fades to a duller orange or reddish-brown. Belly may be spotted with paler brown speckles.
• Male and female are similar in appearance. Male is larger.
• Juvenile is similar to adult, except with a grey-brown breast, white belly and brown bill.

Diet:

• Diet consists primarily of anchovies and other small fish, as well as squid, octopus, crabs, zooplankton and jellies.
• Chick diet is almost entirely fish, while adult diet is more varied.

Feeding behaviors:

• Feeds by diving under water in pursuit of prey.
• Forages over waters close to breeding colonies, unless iced over.
• May capture and hold multiple small fish crosswise in bill to bring to chicks – often carrying 5 to 20 fish at a time, but may carry up to 60 fish at once. Adult eats its own food while foraging under water.

Range:

• Northern Pacific along the coast of Japan to Northeast Asia and from Southern California to Alaska.

Habitat:

• A pelagic seabird. Spends much of the year off shore; returns to the coast to nest and raise chicks.
• During breeding season, found along sea coasts, rocky cliffs and offshore islands.
• During non-breeding season, ranges over adjacent waters usually only to the edge of the continental shelf.

• Forms large breeding colonies on the shores of islands and coastal areas throughout its range, often mixed with other puffins and auks.
• Prefers to nest in areas with steep, grassy slopes suitable for burrowing, though may build nests on rocky cliffs too. Higher areas are preferred, because this allows birds to dive down and gain momentum in order to take flight.
• Breeds once yearly, usually starting in April, though mating may begin as early as March or as late as May. Peak egg-laying period is usually about two weeks for each colony. Eggs laid later than June are unlikely to produce fledglings.
• Forms monogamous pairs.
• Mating may take place either in the water or on land.
• Courtship rituals include flying straight up, or skypointing, strutting and billing.
• Each mating pair produces one off-white egg per season, sometimes with light blue or brown markings.
• Both parents protect and incubate the egg until it hatches after about 40-53 days.
• Parents continue to care for and feed the chick until fledging at about 45-55 days.
• Both male and female reach reproductive maturity between 3-4 years of age.

• “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
  • Abundant in Alaska, where federal and state laws protect seabird colonies.
  • Colonies along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington have been declining since the beginning of the century due to decreasing numbers of fish, ocean pollution and oil spills.

• www.iucnredlist.org
• www.animaldiversity.org
• www.montereybayaquarium.org
• www.beautyofbirds.com
• www.allaboutbirds.org
• www.audubon.org
• www. naturalhistory.si.edu
• www.hbw.com