Whiskered Auklet vs Atlantic Puffin
Aethia pygmaea compared with Fratercula arctica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Whiskered Auklet | Atlantic Puffin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aethia pygmaea | Fratercula arctica |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 22.4 cm (8.8 in) | 56.0 cm (22.0 in) |
| Weight | 119.83333333333333 g (4.23 oz) | 380.0 g (13.40 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Small fish, especially sand eels, herring, and capelin. Dives underwater using wings for propulsion, catching … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Atlantic Puffin
Breeds on grassy cliff tops and offshore islands. Spends winter entirely at sea in the North Atlantic.
Song & Call Comparison
Whiskered Auklet
Atlantic Puffin
At burrow gives a low, moaning 'arr-arr-arr' growl. Silent at sea. At breeding colonies produces a series of grunting croaks. Chicks give soft peeping calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Whiskered Auklet
Atlantic Puffin
North Atlantic from eastern Canada and northeastern United States to Iceland, Norway, and northwest Russia.
Conservation Status
Whiskered Auklet
Atlantic Puffin
How to Tell Them Apart
Whiskered Auklet
Atlantic Puffin
Black upperparts and white underparts with a distinctive white face. In breeding season, the face brightens and colourful bill plates develop. Winter plumage is duller with a darker face.
Large, laterally compressed, triangular bill — bright orange, blue, and yellow in breeding season
About These Birds
Whiskered Auklet
Whiskered Auklet, 18–22 cm, breeds on the Aleutian and Kuril Islands in colonies in crevices. Three white facial plumes give the 'whiskered' appearance; forward-curving black crest. Smallest crested auklet. Planktivore; forages in fast tidal currents feeding on euphausiids. Year-round resident near breeding islands.
Atlantic Puffin
The Atlantic puffin, often called the clown of the sea, is a charismatic seabird that nests in burrows on northern sea cliffs. Puffins can carry up to a dozen fish crosswise in their beaks at once thanks to backward-facing spines on their palate. Climate change and overfishing are threatening their food supply, leading to population declines.