This parrot-like bird is an excellent swimmer. All about ‘Atlantic Puffin’ and its quirks

Atlantic Puffins have been touted as ‘clowns of the sea.’ (Photo: Wikipedia)

Fun facts about the feathery creature

Measuring around 25 cm in length, puffins spend their lives in the ocean, sometimes sea-bathing, and sometimes resting on waves. These water babies are excellent swimmers. Using their wings, they flip and flap underwater, and use their webbed feet to control direction, diving 60m underwater.

When not swimming or resting, you will find them flying across the eastern coast of Canada and the United States to the western coast of Europe.

Avian enthusiasts must note that puffins’ beak (or bill) changes colour depending on the season. If you spot the colourful bird in winter, you will find the beak turning dull grey, while it is a vibrant orange in spring.
Interestingly, puffins are believed to attract potential mates on the blooming days of spring when their bright beaks are considered ideal for drawing the opposite sex.

Adding to their adorable quirks, puffins impress spectators with their exceptional flying skills, flapping their wings up to 400 times per minute.

Wondering what they eat? As carnivores, puffins hunt for small fish like herring and hake. They carry their hunt to their nest situated along a grassy bank where a small burrow awaits the female puffin to lay her egg. The egg is incubated for 36-45 days before the baby hatches.

While they are not yet endangered, their population, according to the National Geographic, has declined due to overfishing, their primary source of food. Pollution is another setback, particularly oil spills, which destroy their feathers, which are essential for their survival.

Best season to spot Atlantic Puffins: March and July

Where to find Atlantic Puffins: Scotland, Wales, England, Channel Islands, Northern Ireland (UK), Ireland