{"id":16636,"date":"2022-05-14T08:00:12","date_gmt":"2022-05-14T06:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=1570"},"modified":"2022-05-14T08:27:38","modified_gmt":"2022-05-14T06:27:38","slug":"puffin-guide-what-they-eat-when-they-breed-and-best-places-to-see-puffins-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/puffin-guide-what-they-eat-when-they-breed-and-best-places-to-see-puffins-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Puffin guide: what they eat, when they breed and best places to see puffins in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By BBC Wildlife Magazine\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 14 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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With their brightly-coloured beaks, puffins are charismatic seabirds and loved by many.<\/p>\n

It has been suggested that we adore puffins, or \u2018sea parrots\u2019 as they are traditionally known in northern Scotland, because their rotund features and comical gait on land remind us of human babies. That may be a little far-fetched, but there\u2019s no doubting the affection in which we hold these auks.<\/p>\n

Learn when puffins breed, what they eat and the best places to see them in the UK in our expert puffin guide.<\/p>\n

What is the scientific name of the Atlantic puffin?<\/h2>\n

The scientific name of the Atlantic puffin, also known as the common puffin, is Fratercula arctica.\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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Atlantic puffin landing on Farne Islands. \u00a9 Henk Bogaard\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

It is one of three puffin species, all belonging to the Fratercula<\/i>\u00a0genus. The other two species are the tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata<\/i>) and the horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata<\/i>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How big is a puffin?<\/h2>\n

Despite being pint-sized seabirds at just 27\u201328cm in length, Atlantic puffins are extremely tough, braving storm-tossed seas throughout autumn and winter, out of sight of land.<\/p>\n

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Puffins on the Farne Islands, Northumberland. \u00a9 nyiragongo\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

When is the best season to see puffins in the UK?<\/h2>\n

The UK\u2019s puffins spend the winter out at sea (there\u2019s a reason our puffin species is properly called the Atlantic puffin), so you need to schedule a trip to a breeding colony during spring or summer if you want to see these comic delights.<\/p>\n

More on puffins:<\/h4>\n