Puffin

The Atlantic Puffin, the official bird of Newfoundland, is a member of the Auk family and a relative of the extinct Great Auk. They are small birds that draw a lot of attention. People travel great distances to see these birds during their nesting seasons on Newfoundland's coastline between May and September. It is at Witless Bay that you will find most Atlantic Puffin colonies; at Elliston, you will find fewer; and on many more populated coasts, you will find none at all. A puffin has black and white primary colors, orange feet and legs, and a distinctive orange and yellow bill. The puffin's deep bill and leg colors will fade after mating season. Couples mate for life and will have one egg per mating season, on average. They spend their lives in the open sea, returning to the coasts only to mate and bear young before returning to sea.

Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin at their burrows at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin at their burrows at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin and common murre at Gull Island, Witless Bay
Atlantic puffin and common murre at Gull Island, Witless Bay
Atlantic puffin wading in the ocean with a small fish in its beak
Atlantic puffin wading in the ocean with a small fish in its beak
Atlantic puffin carrying fish in its beak as it soars overhead
Atlantic puffin carrying fish in its beak as it soars overhead
Colony of puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Colony of puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Family of Atlantic puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Family of Atlantic puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin wading in the ocean at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin wading in the ocean at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin taking flight from the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin taking flight from the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin at their burrows at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin at their burrows at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin gathering near nesting burrows at Gull Island
Atlantic puffin gathering near nesting burrows at Gull Island
Atlantic puffin seems to be running on water while carrying fish
Atlantic puffin seems to be running on water while carrying fish
Size comparison of a puffin holding a bird feather in its beak
Size comparison of a puffin holding a bird feather in its beak
Family of Atlantic puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Family of Atlantic puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin at their burrows at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin at their burrows at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin spraying ocean water as it takes flight
Atlantic puffin spraying ocean water as it takes flight
Atlantic puffin skimming water on the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin skimming water on the ocean surface
Colony of puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Colony of puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin and common murre on nesting grounds at Gull Island
Atlantic puffin and common murre on nesting grounds at Gull Island
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin carrying fish in its beak as it soars overhead
Atlantic puffin carrying fish in its beak as it soars overhead
Atlantic puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin at their burrows at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin at their burrows at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin taking flight from the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin taking flight from the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin inspecting a potential mate
Atlantic puffin inspecting a potential mate
Atlantic puffin at Gull Island, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin at Gull Island, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin seems to be running on the ocean's surface
Atlantic puffin seems to be running on the ocean's surface
Atlantic puffin skimming water on the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin skimming water on the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin wading in the ocean near Gull Island
Atlantic puffin wading in the ocean near Gull Island
Atlantic puffin at Gull Island, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Atlantic puffin at Gull Island, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Two Atlantic puffin in the ocean at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Two Atlantic puffin in the ocean at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Puffling rescued from land to be returned to sea
Puffling rescued from land to be returned to sea
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin skimming water on the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin skimming water on the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin skimming water on the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin skimming water on the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin taking flight from the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin taking flight from the ocean surface
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
Atlantic puffin soaring in the deep blue sky in Newfoundland
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