Horned Puffin

Scientific Name: Fratercula corniculata

Category: bird

Horned Puffin

Brief Description

A medium-sized auk with a black and white body and a large, colorful bill, often called the 'sea parrot'.

Characteristics

White face, black crown, and a yellow bill with a red tip. In summer, they develop a small black 'horn' above each eye. They have an upright posture and webbed orange feet.

Habitat

Nests on rocky coastal cliffs and offshore islands; spends winters far out in the open ocean.

When to Find It

Best observed at breeding colonies from May to August; pelagic and difficult to find in winter.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Ecological Role

Serves as a predator of small forage fish and marine invertebrates; their nesting behavior helps transport nutrients from the sea to terrestrial cliff ecosystems.

Easily Confused With

Atlantic Puffin (found in the Atlantic, lacks the black horn) and Tufted Puffin (has long yellow head tufts and a dark belly).

Observation Tips

Use binoculars to look for them on steep sea cliffs or swimming in nearby waters. Avoid getting too close to nesting burrows to prevent disturbing the birds.

Interesting Facts

Unlike many other auks, Horned Puffins usually nest in rock crevices or among boulders rather than digging burrows in the soil. Their colorful bill plates are actually shed after the breeding season.