auk

The Atlantic, or common, puffin Fratercula arctica lives in the open seas and breeds on the rocky coasts of the North Atlantic. With its short tail and narrow wings, which beat rapidly in flight, the puffin is a typical auk. Like all of the auks, the puffin spends most of its life at sea, coming ashore only during the breeding season. Its colourful striped beak has serrated edges to allow it to catch and grip many small fish before flying back to the nest.

Oceanic bird belonging to the family Alcidae, order Charadriiformes, consisting of 22 species of marine diving birds including razorbills, puffins, murres, and guillemots. Confined to the northern hemisphere, their range extends from well inside the Arctic Circle to the lower temperate regions. They feed on fish, and use their wings to ‘fly’ underwater in pursuit.

Most auks are colonial, breeding on stack tops or cliff edges, although some nest in crevices or holes. With the exception of one species they all lay a single large, very pointed egg.

The largest was the flightless great auk Pinguinis impennis, 2.5 ft/75 cm and flightless, the last recorded individual being killed 1844. The smallest is the least auklet, Aethia pusilla, 6 in/15 cm long. It is found along Pacific coasts from Siberia to Alaska.