Wildlife Around Las Vegas, Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)

Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas

	General Description: Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) are plump seabirds that are the northern hemisphere counterpart to penguins. Adult Tufted Puffins are black overall with thick necks, massive orange bills, and orange feet. In summer, adults get a white face, yellow on the bill, and long tufts of yellow feathers that fall onto the neck. In winter, they loose the tufts and fancy colors. Favored Habitat: Tufted Puffins are birds of the open Pacific Ocean and coastal areas. Where to Find: Don't look for Tufted Puffins around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them along the Pacific coast from northern California north to Alaska.
	Comments: These birds are interesting in that they live on the open ocean, but return to land and nest on rocky cliffs and islands.
	Tufted Puffins (left with orange bills) and Common Murre at a nesting colony.
	Tufted Puffin at a nesting colony.
	Tufted Puffins dig nesting burrows. Here, two puffins can be seen (white arrows) at the entrance to their burrows.
	Tufted Puffin in flight
	Tufted Puffin in flight
	Tufted Puffin; carrying a fish back to the nest. These birds can catch and hold several fish in the bill at one time.
	Tufted Puffin
	Tufted Puffin
	Tufted Puffin in flight
	Tufted Puffin in flight
	Tufted Puffin carrying fish

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© 2012 Jim Boone; Last updated 100120

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