The Atlantic or Common Puffin of the north Atlantic, usually just called the Puffin in Europe, is one of three species of puffin,
the other two being the Horned and the Tufted both of the Pacific.
In breeding plumage it has a bright red beak. Thanks to Keith Wood for the 3 photos immediately above of a breeding colony
off Newfoundland.
The red beak is shed to duller orange in non-breeding plumage. The
yellow "gape button" and eye adornments are also shed and the orange legs become paler.
The fledged juvenile has a dark grey face, grey bill and grey legs. The older juvenile
has pink and then orange legs and a yellow-tipped beak but retains dark grey cheeks.
Atlantic Puffin breeding colours.
Breeding Puffins outside their burrows, Newfoundland.
A Puffin with Guillemots (Murres) and Kittiwake.
Thanks again to Keith Wood for the breeding colony photos immediately above.
They spend most of their time at sea, coming ashore only to breed. Diet is fish and sand eels.