Atlantic Puffin vs Great Auk
Fratercula arctica comparé à Pinguinus impennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Atlantic Puffin | Great Auk |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Fratercula arctica | Pinguinus impennis |
| Ordre | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Famille | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Statut de conservation | Vulnerable | Extinct |
| Longueur | 30,0 cm (11.8 in) | — |
| Envergure | 56,0 cm (22.0 in) | — |
| Poids | 380,0 g (13.40 oz) | 4750,0 g (167.55 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish, especially sand eels, herring, and capelin. Dives underwater using wings for propulsion, catching … | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | 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.
Great Auk
Geographic Range & Migration
Atlantic Puffin
North Atlantic from eastern Canada and northeastern United States to Iceland, Norway, and northwest Russia.
Great Auk
Statut de conservation
Atlantic Puffin
Great Auk
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
Great Auk
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.
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.