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Puffins are one of the most common seabirds of Iceland. The puffins belong to the Alcidae family. Two kinds of puffins are common-the Horned Puffin and the Tufted Puffin.
Physical Features-Puffins have an average height of 14inches and weigh about 1 pound. They have a black colored stout body with white on the sides of head and breast. Puffins are recognized by their large colorful beaks which has given them the nicknames 'sea parrots' or 'clowns of the sea'. Their beaks also help them to store numerous fish at a time. They have webbed feet with sharp claws to dig burrows in the soil. Their waterproof feathers keep them protected from the cold.
Characteristics-Puffins spend most of their lives on sea except the breeding season. Therefore they are extremely agile in water where they use their short wings to move forward and their feet for changing direction. They walk on land on their toes. In air however puffins face a little difficulty.
Habitat-Puffins come to land only in the breeding season. They dig burrows in soil to live or nest in rocky cliffs and ledges.
Food-Puffins are carnivorous. Their main diet consists of small fish and sea plankton.
Breeding-Puffins breed in spring. The bird lays only one egg usually which the pair incubates together for about 6weeks. Then they are left to fend for themselves.
Puffins have never been listed as endangered but they are killed for their skin. They also die because of oil pollution and loss of habitat.
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