Tufted puffin Fratercula cirrhata

Identification Tips:

• Length: 12.5 inches
• Sexes similar
• Immature similar to adult basic but bill is smaller and darker
• Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
• Medium to large alcid that dives for food from water surface
• Very large bill
• Entirely dark plumage
• Breeds from coastal Alaska to California, pelagic in winter

Adult alternate

• Extremely colorful bill-yellow at base and red at tip
• White, triangular face patch
• Yellow tufts extending from behind the eye

Adult basic

• Duller bill lacks yellow plate at base
• Dark face
• Lacks obvious tufts

Similar species:

The large bill separates adults from all other alcids except other puffins, both of which have white underparts. Juvenile Tufted Puffins are similar to Rhinoceros Auklets, but are rounder-headed with a slightly different bill shape.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.