Puffin nesting cliff

Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) nest on remote sea cliffs across the North Atlantic, digging burrows in grassy slopes and forming loud, bustling colonies.

About this subject

Atlantic puffins are celebrated seabirds known for their striking multicolored beaks and endearing waddling gait. Each spring and summer, millions of these birds return to remote cliff-top colonies from Iceland to Norway, Canada to the Faroe Islands. They use their strong bills and feet to excavate burrows in soft soil or among rocks, often reusing the same nest site year after year.

A puffin pair typically raises a single chick per season. Both parents take turns incubating the egg for about 36, 45 days. Once hatched, the puffling is fed a diet of small fish, which the adults cleverly carry crosswise in their beaks, sometimes holding over a dozen fish at once. After six to seven weeks, the chick leaves the burrow at night to avoid predators and heads out to sea, not returning to land for two to three years.

Puffins are highly adapted to life at sea: they can dive up to 60 meters using their wings to “fly” underwater, and their waterproof feathers keep them dry. However, climate change is causing shifts in fish stocks, and extreme weather events can flood burrows. In well-managed colonies, such as those in the Látrabjarg cliffs (Iceland) or the Farne Islands (England), conservationists monitor populations and work to minimize disturbance. The species is listed as Vulnerable globally, with some colonies experiencing drastic declines that highlight the need for continued protection of their vulnerable cliff habitats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do puffins build their nests?

Puffins nest on coastal cliffs and islands across the North Atlantic, digging burrows in grassy slopes or among rocks. Notable colonies include the Farne Islands (England) and Látrabjarg cliffs (Iceland).

Why are puffins threatened?

Key threats include declining fish stocks due to ocean warming, plastic pollution, predation by invasive species, and extreme weather flooding burrows. The IUCN lists the Atlantic puffin as Vulnerable.

How many chicks do puffins raise each year?

Most pairs raise only one chick per season. The single egg is incubated by both parents, and the puffling stays in the burrow for about six to seven weeks before heading to sea.