Tufted Puffin vs Great Auk
Fratercula cirrhata compared with Pinguinus impennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tufted Puffin | Great Auk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fratercula cirrhata | Pinguinus impennis |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.8 cm (15.3 in) | — |
| Weight | 767.3 g (27.07 oz) | 4750.0 g (167.55 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Tufted Puffin
Extinct
Great Auk
About These Birds
Tufted Puffin
Tufted Puffin, 36–41 cm, is the largest North Pacific puffin, breeding on grassy slopes of islands from California to Kamchatka. Jet-black body, white face, massive orange-red bill, striking golden head tufts. Piscivore; carries multiple fish crosswise in bill. Pelagic in winter across North Pacific.
Great Auk
Great Auk was the Northern Hemisphere's giant flightless auk, 75–85 cm, hunted to extinction in 1844. The last pair was killed on Eldey Island, Iceland. Black above, white below with a white oval eye patch; vestigial wings. Spent most of its life at sea; bred colonially on Atlantic islands and rocks.