Birds of South Marble: Horned Puffin

Horned puffins are excellent swimmers, potentially diving 250 feet deep for prey.

NPS Photo/S. Schaller

Horned Puffin, Fratercula corniculata

 
Unlike their tufted cousins, horned puffins have chests and white bellies. The "horns" are black fleshy spikes above each eye. Puffin bills function like pipe wrenches, opening wide to allow them to carry many fish at one time. The bills of immature and non-breeders birds are dark, as are their check patches, but their bellies are always white. These puffins do not dig borrows, but nest on cliffs. As with all seabirds, both sexes help raise their one chick.
 

Measurements

Wingspan	Length	Weight
23"	15"	1.4 lbs/620 g

Know before you go: South Marble Island is closed to camping and foot traffic year-round. All vessels (including kayaks) must remain further than 50 yards from the southern half of South Marble Island and remain further than 100 yards from nesting seabird colonies. Binoculars are advised.