The Atlantic Puffin

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Classification
The Class of the Atlantic Puffin is Aves. The puffin’s Order is Charadriiformes.  The puffin belongs to the Alcidae Family. The Genus is Fratercula. The Atlantic Puffin belongs to the Arctica Species. Tthe scientific name for the Atlantic Puffin is, Fratercula Arctica.

Habitat
The Atlantic Puffin lives on the coast off certain areas of countries.

Description
The Atlantic Puffin has black and white feathers and orange legs. The legs are placed far back of the body. It has a triangular beak. The beak colors are yellow, greyish-blue, and vermilion. In the winter, the beak turns grey. The puffin has greyish-blue markings around the eye. There is an orange circle around each corner of the mouth. The Atlantic Puffin has a 50-60 cm wingspan.

Diet
Because it lives off the coast, the Atlantic Puffin eats marine life. It eats small fish like herring. The puffin also eats mollusks and crustaceans.

Countries Where the Puffin Lives
You can find the Atlantic Puffin in the United States, United Kingdom, and Scotland.

Popularity
The Atlantic Puffin isn’t endangered. Even though they’re not rare, their plumage (or feathers) is hunted for clothing.

Other Interesting Facts
The Atlantic Puffin is also called a Sea Parrot or Clown of the sea. Because Puffins are made for diving and swimming, they are clumsy on land and tend to waddle. The beak is almost as big as its head. The lifespan is 20 or more years. The Puffin’s greatest predators are the Great Black-backed Gull. It takes an average up to 42 days for Puffin eggs to hatch. The Puffin can dive up to 200 feet under water. For a bird, the Atlantic Puffin can stay under water for 20 seconds.

Bibliography
“Auk, Murre, and Puffin” http://www.school.ed.com/comfons/article-9273014?query=puffin&ct=#cit   Compton’s by Britannica Online School Edition    Encyclopedia Britannica, 2010. Web. 21 Dec. 2011

“Atlantic Puffin”, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/atlantic-puffin/?source=A-to-Z, 1996-2011   National Geographic Society

“Fratercula arctica”, http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Fratercula_arctica.html, 1995-2008   The Regents of the University of Michigan

“Atlantic Puffin”, http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/british wildlife/atlantpuffin.html, 2003-2011 Animal Corner ™

By: Van-An Dinh 6S