Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata)

Alaska

Cooks Inlet

Duck Island

Lake Clark National Park

 

This Horned Puffin image was taken on Duck Island in Cooks Inlet in Alaska. The island is used by several sea birds during mating season. The horned puffin is one of just three Puffin subspecies. The other puffin on the island is the tufted puffin. The third type of puffin is the Atlantic Puffin over near Europe. They are extremely fast flyers and live the rest of their lives out on the open sea diving for fish. Another image of a horned puffin can be seen in the first comment section.

 

The horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) is an auk, similar in appearance to the Atlantic puffin; this bird's bill is yellow at the base and red at the tip. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving for fish. It nests in colonies, often with other auks.

 

The yellow bill plate grows before the breeding season and is shed later. They have a small fleshy black "horn" above their eyes.

 

This species breeds on rocky islands off the coasts of Siberia, Alaska and British Columbia, in burrows, in rocky cavities or among rocks. It winters far out to sea. Feeding areas are usually located fairly far offshore from the nest. There is usually one chick and both parents feed the young.

 

Horned puffins will return from hunting with several small fish in their beaks. They also eat squid and crustaceans.

 

The population of these birds has declined due to the introduction of rats onto some islands used for nesting. Info: Wikipedia

 

Done