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A member
of the alcid family, the tufted puffin is the northern hemisphere's
ecological counterpart to the penguin. Found only in the North
Pacific, tufted puffins are one of the most colorful marine birds
when in breeding plumage. In late May, these colonial birds will
return to their burrow nests on the side of cliffs where one creamy
white egg is laid. Both parents will incubate the egg (about
41 days) and feed the charcoal gray chick pieces of fish until the
fledgling is ready to leave the nest for open ocean. This commonly
occurs after 43 to 51 days. |
