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puffin

puffin

7 4.5
A seabird with a short neck and bright, colorful beak
  • noun
  • /ˈpʌfɪn/
translation icon : frailecillo
  • In the summer, puffins return to the islands to breed and raise their young.
  • the atlantic puffin

So I made this amazing puffin salad.

Examples

  • The puffin is known for its colorful beak and distinctive appearance as it dives for fish.

  • During our trip to Iceland, we were thrilled to see a puffin nesting on the cliffside.

  • Finally, when we were able to set up, my heart almost stopped beating when a puffin appeared only a few feet away.

    Academic text (2010)
  • We have little rooms for each of the puffins that are staying here.

  • For lenses, I recommend a telephoto zoom for the closer puffins and a longer prime lens if you own one.

    Academic text (2001)
  • But the biologists are still waiting, just as Kress waited for puffins on Eastern Egg Rock.

    Blog text (8)
  • But after nearly a decade, Kress had proved that he could lure puffins to new breeding grounds.

    Blog text (8)
  • Predatory gulls kept showing up at Eastern Egg Rock to harass puffins and kill chicks.

    Blog text (8)
  • Witless Bay hosts the largest North American puffin colony, and the objective was to photograph Atlantic puffins and Northern gannets.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The terns are aggressive and keep predatory gulls at bay, thus protecting the puffin eggs and newborn chicks.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

Fratercula
vspuffin
  • Specialized
9.9

A small sea bird with a bright, colorful beak that lives in northern oceans

covers birds from both genera rather than a single genus
Lunda
vspuffin
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of seabirds that includes puffins

includes birds from both genera rather than only one genus
Atlantic puffin
vspuffin
6.8

A seabird with a black back, white belly, and a bright, colorful beak that nests on northern Atlantic cliffs

is the general name for birds across two genera, not one species
Fratercula arctica
vspuffin
  • Specialized
9.6

A small seabird with a colorful beak found in the northern Atlantic

is the general name covering birds from both genera rather than a specific species name
Fratercula corniculata
vspuffin
  • Specialized
9.9

A small black-and-white seabird with fleshy 'horns' above its eyes found in the northern Pacific

is a general term for birds in both genera rather than one Pacific species
horned puffin
vspuffin
  • US
9.0

A sea bird from the northern Pacific with small black horns above its eyes

is the general name for birds across both genera rather than a specific species
Lunda cirrhata
vspuffin
  • Specialized
9.9

A puffin with large yellow feathers above its eyes

is a general name for birds from both genera rather than one Pacific species
tufted puffin
vspuffin
  • US
8.9

A large seabird with bright yellow feathers over each eye when it has chicks

is the general name covering birds from both genera rather than that breeding species

Compounds

A seabird with a black back, white belly, and a bright, colorful beak that nests on northern Atlantic cliffs

9.0

A sea bird from the northern Pacific with small black horns above its eyes

8.9

A large seabird with bright yellow feathers over each eye when it has chicks

Surface Forms

puffin singular
puffins plural

Etymology

Puffin probably comes from the English word puff ('to blow' or 'puffed') plus a small ending -in, and it was used for the bird because of its round, puffed look and thick, colorful beak, so the name helps you picture this small, chubby seabird.