B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
---|---|---|---|---|
12.5" 31.75cm | 21" 53.34cm | 13oz 368g | Alcidae | Fratercula arctica |
Distribution: The Atlantic Puffin is a member of the alcid family. When seen in breeding plumage this is a very colourful seabird. It is the only puffin species found on the Atlantic ocean side of North America. This puffin nests in cavities that are dug out on the face of steep hills. These nesting locations are usually but not always on islands in the sea. The main reason is to reduce the chance of predation of their young. They can be seen from Maine through Nova Scotia, in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence River, Newfoundland and Labrador to the far northern coast of Quebec.
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.