Atlantic Puffin essays

Atlantic Puffin essays The Atlantic Puffin is member of the Alcidae Family. These birds can be found abundantly, estimated 14 million, in the North Atlantic ocean. They can be found on both sides of the Atlantic ocean, but a much larger population is found in Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. They only come ashore to breed and raise a chick. Puffins range in size from 11.5-13.5 inches in length, and their wingspan 21-24 inches. Their weight is usually no more than 490.5 grams. They have been given nicknames like sea parrot and clowns of the sea because of their multi-colored bills. Atlantic puffins were once used by humans for their feathers, which were used in ladies hats. Today they are a common food item in Iceland.( ) Something else that makes these birds so unique is their eyes. They are set deeply in the skull with round full cheeks. Around the eye there is crimson ring and above it a small triangular blue, horny plate and below it a bar similar in color. However it is only during breeding season that the Atlantic Puffin sports its colorful red, yellow, and blue beak. Once nesting season is over the color disappears. During the winter months both adult and juvenile have a dirty gray face, usually the juveniles is even darker. From September through February these birds can be located from the North Atlantic into the Mediterranean Sea. While at sea they can swim easily, riding the waves even in the roughest weather. Puffins feed on small fish mollusks, and crustaceans. They are able to catch these animals from wither the air or water. They dive down and swallow the animals underwater. Towards the end of February and early March the start to arrive at their nesting grounds . They usually gather just offshore in rafts. As the season advances , and more time is spent on land, the birds bond with eat other, cooing and nibbling. Both male and ...