While the Atlantic Ocean is home to its well-known puffin, the Pacific Ocean has its own stunning counterpart: the Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata). This incredible seabird shares the "puffin" name and family, but its look is remarkably different and, some might say, even more flamboyant. With its dark body and striking blond crest, this puffin is truly a one-of-a-kind sight along the coasts of the North Pacific.
Like its Atlantic cousin, the Tufted Puffin's appearance changes significantly between summer and winter.
During the breeding season, the Tufted Puffin is unmistakable. Its body is almost entirely black, which creates a stunning contrast with its bright white face and large, powerful reddish-orange bill. But the true showstoppers are the long, silky, pale-yellow tufts of feathers that sweep back from its crown, giving it a dramatic, punk-rock look.
In winter, the glamour fades. The puffin sheds its tufts, its face becomes a dusky grey, and its bill becomes smaller and duller in color. The all-black body remains, but the bird is far less conspicuous when out at sea.
It's easy to tell these two species apart if you know what to look for. The most obvious differences are their coloring and their location.
| Feature | Tufted Puffin | Atlantic Puffin |
|---|---|---|
| Body Color | Almost entirely black | Black back, white belly (tuxedo-like) |
| Head (Breeding) | White face with long, golden tufts | Grey cheeks, no tufts |
| Bill | Large, mostly reddish-orange with a yellow base | Triangular, with bands of red, yellow, and blue-gray |
| Geographic Range | North Pacific Ocean (California to Alaska, Japan) | North Atlantic Ocean (Maine to Greenland, Europe) |
The Tufted Puffin's lifestyle is very similar to its Atlantic relative. It is an expert diver, using its wings to "fly" through the water to catch fish like sand lance, herring, and anchovies. It also nests in colonies, digging burrows into grassy seaside slopes where it lays a single egg. They are known for their deep, growling calls, which can be heard echoing from their burrows in the colony.
The Tufted Puffin is a bird of the North Pacific Ocean. Its breeding colonies can be found on offshore islands and coastal cliffs from northern California, through Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and up to the coasts and islands of Alaska. Its range extends across the Bering Sea to the shores of Siberia and Japan.
Globally, the Tufted Puffin is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. However, its populations have seen dramatic declines in the southern part of its range. For example, it is now listed as an endangered species in Washington state. The threats it faces are similar to other seabirds: climate change impacting food availability, oil spills, and entanglement in fishing gear.