Horned Puffin

The Horned Puffin, Fratercula corniculata, is a striking seabird of the auk family, Alcidae. It is characterized by its black and white plumage, reminiscent of a friar's robes, and a distinctive fleshy black "horn" above the eye of sexually mature birds. The adult puffin stands about 20 cm tall, weighs roughly 500 g, and has a wingspan of 58 cm. Both sexes are similar in appearance, exhibiting monomorphic plumage.

Identification Tips

Adult Horned Puffins are identifiable by their small black horn-like extension above the eye and a dark eyestripe that extends towards the back of the head. Their cheeks are white, accented with a yellow wattle at the bill's base. The bill itself is large, red-tipped, and yellow-based. In breeding plumage, the bill's rhamphotheca is bright yellow with a dark orange tip, aiding in mate attraction. Juveniles lack the horn and have smoky-gray cheeks with a fine, black beak.

Habitat

Horned Puffins favor steep rocky slopes and cliffs, often eschewing burrows for rock crevices or shelters under rock piles for nesting.

Distribution

This species is found across the North Pacific Ocean, from the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia to Siberia. It is not migratory but winters far out at sea.

Behaviour

Horned Puffins are adept fliers, taking off by either jumping from cliffs or running across water. They are sociable birds, living and breeding in colonies, and exhibit a range of behaviors from dominant displays to submissive postures. At sea, they are agile swimmers, using their wings and webbed feet to navigate underwater.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of Horned Puffins are low and guttural, including cooing, roaring, and grunting. The most common sound is an "arr-arr-arr" that accelerates when threatened. During mating season, they may produce a sound transcribed as "Op-op-op-op-op."

Breeding

Horned Puffins are monogamous and reach sexual maturity at five to seven years. They engage in courtship displays on water and select nesting sites in rock crevices. Both parents incubate the single egg laid per year and participate in chick rearing.

Similar Species

The Horned Puffin can be confused with the Atlantic Puffin but can be distinguished by the horn above the eye and differences in bill coloration.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet is varied, including fish, invertebrates, crustaceans, and small algae. They dive to catch prey, often hunting in the early morning and returning with multiple catches in their bills.

Conservation status

The Horned Puffin is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated population of 1.2 million individuals. However, changes in ocean temperatures have been noted to affect their reproductive rates.