Buhairi Rifqa Moustafid
The puffin is one of the three species of diving birds belonging to the Alcid family, Alcidae (order Charadriiformes).
They are widely distributed in the northern waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean, with specific species found in Arctic and subarctic regions.
The puffin varies in body size between species but generally ranges from 25 to 35 cm (9.84-13.78 inches), weighing around 300 to 600 grams (10.58-21.16 ounces).
They typically breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or remote islands, with females laying a single egg in burrows or rock crevices.
After hatching, both parents care for their offspring until they are capable of flying and foraging independently.
The puffin primarily preys on small fish such as herring, capelin, sand eels, and other small fish. They capture their prey by diving underwater, utilizing their wings for propulsion.
Additionally, they may also consume crustaceans and zooplankton, particularly during the breeding season when feeding their chicks.
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Flying as Swift as a Car, Diving as Fast as a Fish
Like birds in general, this species of the Alcid family can fly due to their lightweight, hollow bones, enabling them to glide through the air.
The optimal flying speed for them can reach up to 80km/h (49.71 mph), equivalent to a car’s speed on a highway.
Although their wings are small, they continuously flap them 300-400 times per minute to remain airborne.
Besides flying, they are adept swimmers, using their wings as paddles and their feet as rudders.
Moreover, these swimming birds are recognized as proficient divers and can even dive, reaching depths of up to 60 meters (196.85 feet).
One species, the horned puffin, can even dive to depths of 76 meters (249.34 feet). Underwater, a puffin can hold its breath for up to a minute while hunting for fish.
This species is among the few birds capable of carrying multiple small fish in their brightly colored beaks.
This differs from most seabirds that need to swallow and regurgitate fish to feed their young.
This ability is due to the puffin’s serrated tongue and spiny palate, enabling them to grasp fish tightly. During a single trip, a puffin can carry 10-12 small fish.
Faithful Birds
In addition to their prowess in flight and diving, they are also known as faithful birds. Throughout their lives, these species typically mate with only one partner.
These pairs are formed when they reach 4-6 years old and arrive at various islands in the North Atlantic during spring and summer to establish colonies.
Puffin pairs demonstrate their affection by rubbing or tapping their brightly colored bills.
However, it turns out that this dramatic bill coloration is seasonal. The birds only display bright colors during the mating season.
While at sea, each puffin sheds all parts of its colorful bill and the black markings around its eyes.
During winter, they are often unrecognizable. Even young, they only have gray coloration on their faces, bills, and feet.
These creatures have surprisingly long lifespans. Faithful to their mates, they can live up to 20 years. Some records even indicate that puffins can live up to 36 years.
Great Appetite with High Social Traits
Their eggs hatch within 7-8 weeks. A newly hatched puffin requires a lot of food. In a single day, both puffin parents may need to dive 276 times to feed their chick.
This continues for 45 days until the puffin chick leaves the nest. By that time, each parent will have dived 12,420 times.
Furthermore, all puffin species are known for their high social traits. Besides living in large colonies, they also have special ways to maintain harmony among their members.
An individual puffin will bow its bill to its chest when passing by another puffin’s nest. This is intended to prevent disputes between colonies.
On the other hand, the Fratercula genus, in particular, is a highly territorial group. They are not hesitant to fight each other to claim nesting sites or territorial areas.
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Spending Most of Their Time at Sea
Despite being part of a bird family capable of flying well, they spend eight months out of the year away from land, bobbing in cold oceans and hunting for fish.
They only come ashore to mate and nest, usually land in mid-April each year, and return to sea by the end of August.
Interestingly, paired puffins may not necessarily spend their time at sea together. Instead, the puffin couples reunite at the same nesting site every spring.
After the adorable chicks are born, the parents share the responsibility of caring for the offspring for several months before parting ways again.