Atlantic Puffin vs Ancient Murrelet
Fratercula arctica comparé à Synthliboramphus antiquus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Atlantic Puffin | Ancient Murrelet |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Fratercula arctica | Synthliboramphus antiquus |
| Ordre | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Famille | Alcidae | Alcidae |
| Statut de conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 30,0 cm (11.8 in) | — |
| Envergure | 56,0 cm (22.0 in) | 27,1 cm (10.7 in) |
| Poids | 380,0 g (13.40 oz) | 208,16666666666666 g (7.34 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish, especially sand eels, herring, and capelin. Dives underwater using wings for propulsion, catching … | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | 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.
Ancient Murrelet
Geographic Range & Migration
Atlantic Puffin
North Atlantic from eastern Canada and northeastern United States to Iceland, Norway, and northwest Russia.
Ancient Murrelet
Statut de conservation
Atlantic Puffin
Ancient Murrelet
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
Ancient Murrelet
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.
Ancient Murrelet
Ancient Murrelet, 24–27 cm, breeds in burrows on North Pacific islands from British Columbia to Japan. Black hood, grey back, white underparts with yellow bill. Nocturnal at colonies to avoid predators. Chicks lead-march to sea within days of hatching — abandoning the nest very early. Planktivore and piscivore.