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Gallery
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Records through the year
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Distribution
Atlantic Puffin   Fratercula arctica
Occurs throughout the whole island group. Arrives late and is not normally seen before May. Often seen singly or in small groups in flight to and from the colonies or foraging on the sea. The greatest density of colonies is on west Spitsbergen. The Puffin is split into several subspecies; those on Bjørnøya are probably of the nominate subspecies arctica, but otherwise on Svalbard the majority are probably of the high-arctic subspecies naumanni. The population is probably at least 10,000 pairs.   

Features: 28-34 cm, ca. 500 gram. ♂=♀. Easily recognizable with their contrasting black and white plumage and characteristic large and colourful bill. The young resemble adults in winter plumage, but are smaller and have a much smaller and darker bill.

Breeding: Nests in colonies, often together with other seabirds in the bird cliffs. Lays one egg in holes among rocks or in crevices. Breeds late, and the last young may not leave the colony before early October.