Crisply black-and-white patterned with a colorful bill, unlikely to be mistaken for any west coast seabird. Alternate plumaged adults are black above, white below, with a dark throat, white face, and orange and yellow bill. In basic and juvenile plumages, the bill and face are smudged with black and the bill is dark on the base and reddish orange on the outer half. Similar Tufted Puffin has an all dark body in all plumages, and the smaller Atlantic Puffin occurs only in eastern North America.

Length: 38 (cm) Wingspan: 58 (cm)

Voice:

Growls around nest site; silent at sea.

Habitat:

Open ocean, usually not visible from shore except near breeding site. Breeds on islands and rocky outcroppings.

Behavior:

Often alone at sea. Nests colonially in burrows.

Feeding:

Main diet is fish. Can carry several at once clamped in its huge bill.