Atlantic Puffin vs Black Guillemot
Fratercula arctica compared with Cepphus grylle
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Atlantic Puffin | Black Guillemot |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fratercula arctica | Cepphus grylle |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 56.0 cm (22.0 in) | 30.8 cm (12.1 in) |
| Weight | 380.0 g (13.40 oz) | 421.8666666666666 g (14.88 oz) |
| Diet | Small fish, especially sand eels, herring, and capelin. Dives underwater using wings for propulsion, catching … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-2 |
| 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.
Black Guillemot
Geographic Range & Migration
Atlantic Puffin
North Atlantic from eastern Canada and northeastern United States to Iceland, Norway, and northwest Russia.
Black Guillemot
Conservation Status
Atlantic Puffin
Black Guillemot
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
Black Guillemot
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.
Black Guillemot
Black Guillemot, 30–32 cm, is a compact North Atlantic alcid, distinctive in summer: entirely black with bold white wing patches and vivid red feet. Resident on rocky Arctic and boreal shores year-round; does not undertake long pelagic migrations. Dives to 50 m for blennies and sand eels near shore.