Atlantic Puffin vs Rhinoceros Auklet
Fratercula arctica compared with Cerorhinca monocerata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Atlantic Puffin | Rhinoceros Auklet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fratercula arctica | Cerorhinca monocerata |
| 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) | 35.8 cm (14.1 in) |
| Weight | 380.0 g (13.40 oz) | 503.75 g (17.77 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.
Rhinoceros Auklet
Geographic Range & Migration
Atlantic Puffin
North Atlantic from eastern Canada and northeastern United States to Iceland, Norway, and northwest Russia.
Rhinoceros Auklet
Conservation Status
Atlantic Puffin
Rhinoceros Auklet
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
Rhinoceros Auklet
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.
Rhinoceros Auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet, 37–41 cm, breeds colonially in burrows on North Pacific islands from California to Japan. Adults develop a prominent horn at bill base in breeding plumage plus white facial plumes. Nocturnal at colonies. Piscivore; dives up to 50 m for sand lance and herring. Winters at sea.