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When a puffin spies a school of small fish such as smelt, it dives through the school and uses its special beak to catch and hold a mouthful of fish. Pointy backward-facing barbs on the roof of its beak and a rough tongue help to hold onto the fish.

 

horned puffin standing on rock

Did You Know?

Diving Experts:Puffins are built for diving and swimming underwater with small, sturdy wings and webbed feet. A puffin can carry up to 60 small fish in its beak at once!

Quick Facts

Latin Name:
Fratercula corniculata

Range:
Bering Sea, Arctic and North Pacific oceans

Lifespan:
Up to 20 yrs

Zoo Location:
Birds of the World

Diet:
Fish, mollusks and crustaceans