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Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

Bird · family Alcidae · order Charadriiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Atlantic Puffin
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
6 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
35 years[4]

The Atlantic Puffin is a seabird in the family Alcidae[5]. NatureServe lists it as native in 6 US states and territories, and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[3][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Atlantic Puffin G5 (Secure) worldwide[2]. In the United States, its national rank is N1B, which means Critically Imperiled as a breeding bird[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N1B (Critically Imperiled (breeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Vulnerable
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Atlantic Puffin lives

NatureServe lists the Atlantic Puffin as native in Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey and New York[3]. NatureServe gives each state its own rank, shown in the table on this page[10]. Observation reports on GBIF come most often from Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Maryland[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not how many birds live there[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S2BMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank SNRNNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S2NMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank SNANJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: native, state rank SNAMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (6 states)
StateRankMeaning
MaineS2BImperiled (breeding)
MarylandSNANot Applicable
MassachusettsS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New YorkSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records grassland or herbaceous, near shore and pelagic habitat for this bird[12]. Outside the breeding season it is mostly pelagic, which means it lives away from the shore[13]. Most breeding colonies sit on islands with soil, where nests are in burrows[13]. Birds often reuse the nest site from the year before[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Atlantic Puffin eats mostly fish and some invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone[14]. One estimate puts its diet at 80% fish and 20% invertebrates[15]. Chicks are fed fish[16]. NatureServe records a typical length of 32 cm (13 in)[17] and a typical adult weight of 381 g[18]. A pair raises a clutch of 1[19]. Incubation lasts about 42 days[20]. The longest recorded lifespan is 45 years in the wild[21]. The oldest known banded wild puffin was at least 35 years 11 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 32 cm (13 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 381 g (13.4 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[21] 45 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 35 years 11 months
Litter or clutch size[19] 1
Gestation or incubation[20] 42 days
Female maturity[22] 1,460 days (about 4.0 years)
Food habits[14] Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[23] local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[15]

  • 80% fish
  • 20% invertebrates

When to look for it

NatureServe calls the Atlantic Puffin a local migrant and a long-distance migrant, and populations can differ[23]. In Maine, birds come back to their breeding grounds in March[24]. Egg laying starts in late April in Maine[25]. GBIF records in the United States are highest in June, July and August[26]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].

January: 431 recordsJanFebruary: 1,745 recordsFebMarch: 1,216 recordsMarApril: 2,974 recordsAprMay: 2,961 recordsMayJune: 6,676 recordsJunJuly: 7,640 recordsJulAugust: 4,028 recordsAugSeptember: 569 recordsSepOctober: 474 recordsOctNovember: 221 recordsNovDecember: 331 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January431
February1,745
March1,216
April2,974
May2,961
June6,676
July7,640
August4,028
September569
October474
November221
December331

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Atlantic Puffin as present in 1 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Maryland[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Atlantic Puffin endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide but N1B (Critically Imperiled as a breeder) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN category is Vulnerable[7].
Where does the Atlantic Puffin live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey and New York[3]. The states with the most observation records are Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Maryland[11].
What does the Atlantic Puffin eat?
It eats mostly fish, with some invertebrates[14]. One estimate is 80% fish and 20% invertebrates[15].
How big is an Atlantic Puffin?
NatureServe records a typical length of 32 cm (13 in)[17] and a typical weight of 381 g[18].
How long does an Atlantic Puffin live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 45 years[21]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 35 years 11 months old[4]. These are records, not typical lifespans.

Facts and sources

  1. Atlantic Puffin is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Atlantic Puffin: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Atlantic Puffin as native in 6 US states and territories: Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Atlantic Puffin from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 35 years 11 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a bird in the family Alcidae, order Charadriiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N1B (Critically Imperiled (breeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Atlantic Puffin is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Atlantic Puffin (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Atlantic Puffin: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Maryland. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Atlantic Puffin: Grassland/herbaceous, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Atlantic Puffin. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 80% fish, 20% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Atlantic Puffin. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 32 cm (13 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 381 g (13.4 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  20. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 42 days. AnAge
  21. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 45 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,460 days (about 4.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Atlantic Puffin: local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on migration for Atlantic Puffin. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Atlantic Puffin. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Atlantic Puffin in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Atlantic Puffin as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.