The Atlantic Puffin Clowning Jewel of the North

Standing closely together on a grassy, seabird colony slope, this pair of birds is the iconic Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica),…

Standing closely together on a grassy, seabird colony slope, this pair of birds is the iconic Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica), often affectionately nicknamed the "sea parrot" or "clown of the ocean." They are immediately recognizable by their striking, dramatically patterned breeding plumage. Their backs and napes are a glossy black, sharply contrasting with the clean white underparts and pale cheeks. The most captivating feature is the massive, brightly colored, triangular bill, a masterpiece of ornamentation that features bands of red, yellow, and blue-grey during the breeding season. The orange-red legs and the characteristic dark eye markings, which give them a comical appearance, complete the look. These birds’ stout, upright posture highlights their terrestrial mobility within the breeding colony before they return to a life at sea.