Tufted Puffin
Fratercula cirrhata

Conservation status | Disappeared from former nesting sites off southern California decades ago; numbers nesting off northern California much lower than historical levels. Farther north, some island populations probably reduced by introduced foxes or rats. Still, Alaska population estimated at over 1 million pairs in late 1970s. |
---|---|
Family | Auks, Murres, Puffins |
Habitat | Ocean, nesting colonially in burrows on sea cliffs. Ranges widely at sea, from fairly near shore to far out of sight of land. Even during breeding season, may be at sea far from nesting colonies. Nests on islands, primarily on grassy steep slopes or cliff tops (steep dropoff may help birds take flight). Throughout range, prefers treeless islands. |
Photo Gallery
Feeding Behavior
Forages by diving and swimming underwater, using wings to "fly" through the depths, with tail spread and feet back to aid with steering. Swims rapidly through schools of small fish, catching them in bill.
Eggs
one. Dull white to bluish-white, often spotted with gray and brown. Incubation is by both sexes, about 40-42 days. Young: both parents feed nestling, carrying fish in bill and dropping them on ground in nest or near entrance. Tufted Puffin may forage farther from colony than Horned Puffin, and sometimes 1-2 days pass between feeding visits to nest. Young leave nest about 6-7 weeks after hatching. 1 brood per year, or 2 possibly in south.
Young
both parents feed nestling, carrying fish in bill and dropping them on ground in nest or near entrance. Tufted Puffin may forage farther from colony than Horned Puffin, and sometimes 1-2 days pass between feeding visits to nest. Young leave nest about 6-7 weeks after hatching. 1 brood per year, or 2 possibly in south.
Diet
Mostly fish. Feeds mainly on small fish, especially sand lance and capelin; also small squid, and miscellaneous fish such as saury, rockfish, smelt. Reported to eat some crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, small amounts of algae.
Nesting
Breeds in colonies on islands; active at colonies by day. Nest site in burrow, mostly in grassy areas on slopes or cliffs. Sometimes in deep natural crevice among rocks, or on ground under shrubs. Burrows (excavated by both sexes) usually 2-7' long, occasionally longer. Nest chamber at end of burrow may have lining of grass, feathers, or may be unlined.
Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
Learn more about these drawings.
Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds
Download Our Bird Guide App
Migration
Not well known. Must leave northernmost breeding colonies, where surrounding seas freeze solid in winter. Most may spend winter very far offshore, where seldom observed.

- All Seasons - Common
- All Seasons - Uncommon
- Breeding - Common
- Breeding - Uncommon
- Winter - Common
- Winter - Uncommon
- Migration - Common
- Migration - Uncommon
See a fully interactive migration map for over 450 bird species on the Bird Migration Explorer.
Learn moreSongs and Calls
Silent except for occasional growling notes uttered around the nest site.Learn more about this sound collection.