Atlantic Puffin vs Long-billed Murrelet
Fratercula arctica compared with Brachyramphus perdix
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Atlantic Puffin | Long-billed Murrelet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fratercula arctica | Brachyramphus perdix |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Near Threatened |
| Length | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 56.0 cm (22.0 in) | 26.9 cm (10.6 in) |
| Weight | 380.0 g (13.40 oz) | 308.0 g (10.86 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
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.
Long-billed Murrelet
Geographic Range & Migration
Atlantic Puffin
North Atlantic from eastern Canada and northeastern United States to Iceland, Norway, and northwest Russia.
Long-billed Murrelet
Conservation Status
Atlantic Puffin
Long-billed Murrelet
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Long-billed Murrelet
About These Birds
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.
Long-billed Murrelet
Long-billed Murrelet, 26–28 cm, breeds remarkably far inland in old-growth forests of Siberia, nesting directly on mossy tree branches — no burrow. Sea-going for the rest of the year, wintering off eastern Asian coasts. Piscivore; dives for small fish. Near Threatened; nesting ecology unusual for alcids.