Horned Puffin vs Great Auk
Fratercula corniculata compared with Pinguinus impennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Horned Puffin | Great Auk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fratercula corniculata | Pinguinus impennis |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.1 cm (14.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 559.8333333333334 g (19.75 oz) | 4750.0 g (167.55 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Horned Puffin
Extinct
Great Auk
About These Birds
Horned Puffin
Horned Puffin, 36–41 cm, breeds on rocky cliffs and talus slopes of Alaska and the Russian Far East. White face, massive orange-red bill, fleshy dark 'horn' above eye — striking in breeding plumage. Piscivore; dives for capelin, sand lance, and herring. Pelagic in winter across the 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.