Description
Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) AP110
The Atlantic Puffin is a medium sized seabird well known for its brightly coloured beak and clown like features. They live in colonies mainly on coastal cliffs and dig burrows where the male builds a nest for the female to lay a single egg. Their staple diet is mainly small fish and sand eels. The average number of fish a Puffin may carry at one time is around 10, but an amazing count of 62 has been recorded! Puffins fly rapidly over the water reaching speeds of between 40 and 55 mph. To achieve this, their wings may beat up to 400 times per minute.They imitate flight underwater whilst catching fish. After the breeding season the Puffin sheds its brightly coloured beak revealing a much duller, smaller beak.
