The Atlantic puffin lives throughout the North Atlantic Ocean. They come ashore only to breed in large colonies on islands and mainland coastal areas of Britain and Ireland. Only then can puffin courtship begin.

In spite of their seemingly thriving numbers, the population of the Atlantic puffin is in sharp decline. Climate change, overfishing, pollution and the introduction of invasive predators present continuing challenges to the puffins’ fight for survival.

Evolution

The first known fossil of a puffin-like bird dates back 5 million years. Puffins were found living in large nesting colonies which provided safety in numbers. These same numbers allow options for a discerning female when looking for a suitable mate. Atlantic puffins are monogamous birds, meaning they mate for life. The challenge for a female puffin is to sift through the riff raff to identify a strong, reliable male to start a family with.

Living within a social community facilitates the act of hunting. Often a puffin would identify the densest cluster of puffins at sea best fishing grounds.

Why do puffins have colourful beaks?

The puffin’s colourful beak helps the male appear more attractive to a female. Over the somber months of winter, the male beak mirrors the season spotting a dull grey appearance. Spring brings warmth to the cooler of Atlantic puffin as its beak and beaks take on a vibrant shade of orange. The first of many changes of colour as the male puffin prepares itself to enamour its female counterpart during the summer breeding season.

As puffins mature, its colours take on a more vibrant hue and its beak size, now broader making them better hunters.

How do puffins choose a mate?

Mature male puffins with bigger and more colourful beaks are identified by females as more attractive. This trait correlates to a males health, hunting prowess and successful experience in raising young.

Recent research reveals that the bills of the Atlantic puffin glow in ultraviolet light which can be seen by other puffins. This phenomenon lasts for the entire breeding season helping male puffins stand out to searching females looking for a mate.

How do puffins find their mate?

Puffin couples return to their matrimonial home every breeding season. Although monogamous, puffin couples might spend time apart outside the breeding season. Their reunion is marked with a unique courtship display as they reconnect. When the pair arrives they perform billing. Billing behaviour is a courtship display where puffins pair rattle their beaks together.

Puffin courtship

The male approaches the female. He nibbles at her beak. Then both come together and start wagging their heads side to side, so their bills rattle against each other. At the same time, they lower and raise their heads together, while still bill-rubbing. This goes on for a minute, with brief intervals. Sometimes an onlooking male will rush in and upset them, resulting in a fight between the males.

Billing is common during the early breeding season but continues throughout their brief stay on land. Puffin billing behaviour can be an indicator that they will soon start to breed.

Puffin social network

At their breeding colonies puffins are very social birds. Puffins build their burrows close together, and they behave like busybody residents of a high-rise block flats.

Like many gregarious species, puffins are inquisitive creatures. Their curious nature spurs them to check up on the activities of their neighbours. They pay regular visits to the burrows of their neighbours and exchange a few grunts.

Social interaction often attracts an audience. One puffin interaction will lead to other social interactions in the neighbourhood. For example, billing behaviour can be contagious among puffins. Neighbouring pairs of excited puffins will crowd around to watch and begin billing near the first billing pair.

Puffins communicate using body language which has important social and predator defence benefits. Successful communal living allows for an intense flow of information between the puffins. This is vital for survival as information can be availability of burrows, mates, and food.