Talk:Puffin

What food do they eat?

I want to know what they eat so plz tell me

Mating

I added some information I found about the puffin, and their mating habits. It seemed important, since it seems so different from the way other animals mate.

I think it would be interesting if there are any ornithologists, or puffin experts, who can expand upon what I have added. I included my source (even though there were many web sites I found this information on).

(??? 01:26, 17 November 2005 (UTC))

Domestication?

I'm interested to know if people ever domesticate puffins. I suppose their nesting and feeding patterns would probably make it unfeasible.... Too bad. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.103.172.9 (talk) 16:51, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Chunky Birds???

Haha! what are they, Campbells soups??? (Paragraph 2 Line 1)

many people think that the puffin looks like a penguin and then gets them confused for one dont be the beak clearly distinguishes them!

How big are they? 210.50.228.4 03:33, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

Not very - around a foot. 92.25.241.38 (talk) 06:18, 18 January 2009 (UTC)

Evolutionary examples

I would very much have like more (much more) discussion on the analogies or relationship between (Arctic) puffins and (Antarctic) penguins. It appears that two distinct species of seabird developed pretty much the same way on opposite sides of the globe, and I think that is very revealing about the mechanisms of evolution. Both species have a black back and white chest, so that, while swimming for fish, they cannot be seen from above by predator birds nor from below by fish. Sussmanbern (talk) 20:06, 4 July 2008 (UTC)Bernard J. Sussman

Puffins as food

I believe the article should include some reference to the eating of puffins as food, particularly in Iceland and on the Lofoten islands. Also serves as an example of meat that Catholics are traditionally allowed to eat during lent, even if the reasoning behind this exception is factually incorrect. Pelican eats pigeon (talk) 17:16, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

I think that only applies to Atlantic Puffin Jimfbleak (talk) 18:55, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

That's entirely possible - however, there is no reference in that article either. The problem faced in a situation like this is that somebody looking for information on puffins as food might not know to head for the Atlantic Puffin article rather than this one. What is the best approach in situations such as this? - ‡Pelican eats pigeon‡ message _{contributions} 19:28, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

My understanding is that Tufted Puffins have always been an important component of the diet among Aleuts and Ainu in the North Pacific, which is to be expected considering how abundant they are and relatively easy to capture. I don't have sources, though I'm sure they exist. I can vouch from personal experience that the breast, while tough, is extremely dark (rich in hemo- and myoglobin from the extreme aerobic requirement of the high-frequency wing beats) and consequently flavorful. When marinated with onions and soy sauce it is quite an enjoyable alternative to the stewed-beef-in-a-can which dominates the diet of the field worker. (Don't hate me, puffin lovers!) - Eliezg (talk) 19:53, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

That's interesting to know - might have to try one some day. Where do we start, then - does anybody have any published sources or will it be a question of gooogle trawling? - ‡Pelican eats pigeon‡ message _{contributions} 20:42, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

The University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web states:

“ Tufted puffins were historically hunted for food. Hunting puffins is discouraged nowadays in most places, and forbidden by law in others, but people who do still hunt them try to capture only non-breeding animals. In the past, skins were used to make tough parkas worn feather side in.... ”

They cite: (1) Kessel, B. 1989. Birds of Alaska. New York: University of Alaska Press and (2) Paul, T., W. Lehnhausen, S. Quinlan. 1994. ""Puffins" ADF&G Wildlife Notebook Series" (On-line). Accessed March 20, 2000 [1]. The first I don't have. The latter quotes 19th century naturalist Edward Nelson:

“ [Tufted Puffin] are extremely abundant about the Commander Islands where the natives capture them in hand-nets. The skins of both this and the other species are used by the Eskimo of the coast and islands for clothing, and the silky tufts of cirrhata are sewed into ornamental work by the Aleuts."... ”

But I don't have access to any of his works either. Anyways, its a start. Eliezg (talk) 23:03, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

I expanded the Tufted Puffin article considerably, with an all-too short comment on human hunting. Regarding Atlantic Puffin (which are beyond my Pacific-centric jurisdiction) I did stumble across some incredible images of hunting on Commons. Check out this and this! Regards, Eliezg (talk) 09:17, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

Might be interested in http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2474798/Chef-Gordon-Ramsay-under-fire-for-F-Word-puffin-murder.html (and the video of that The F-word episode). It details Icelandic puffin-eating and cooking according to Gordon Ramsay. TheFeds 04:08, 14 November 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by TheFeds (talk • contribs)

Oops, I didnt see the talk page but added a para on puffin eating in the wiki as my share of the collaboration. Please retain, amend or delete as per policy. AshLin (talk) 20:28, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Pufflings?

I've just been watching a TV show which discussed puffin chicks, which they called pufflings. I checked Wikipedia to see if it was correct. Nothing on this page, but puffling redirects here. If it's the correct term should we include the term puffling within the article somewhere? Thanks.FruitMonkey (talk) 18:57, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

I heard this too, but can get no confirmation that it's the correct term. sounds a bit too twee to be true. I am, however, reliably informed that Puffins have warm feet - which is more than can be said for my wife Jimmiethe1 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jimmiethe1 (talk • contribs) 18:29, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Yes, puffling is what seabird biologists call young puffins - but only informally. Not worth including in the article. I have no source for this other than personal experience gained over 30 years of studying the species, and I don't think you'll find the word in the biological literature. GNUSMAS : TALK 22:04, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

"Puffling" is the correct term for a young puffin. It's what I would call a young puffin and we have puffins nesting on the cliffs below our ancestral castle (Dunnottar Castle) and I have definitely heard the term used in wildlife programmes. I also came across it in a National Geographic article (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0812_020812_TVpuffin.html) and on the website of St Kilda, one of their main breeding islands in the UK (http://www.kilda.org.uk/blog/entry.aspx?ID=56160611-6441-4f00-8b48-480fd2d81254). I think the term should be mentioned in the article and will add it. GrahamPadruig (talk) 20:10, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

Puffin is bird collab for April 2009

Nominated February 4 2009;

Support:

1. Sabine's Sunbird talk 08:32, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
2. Snowman (talk) 22:15, 12 February 2009 (UTC)
3. MeegsC | Talk 23:37, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
4. Grantus4504 (talk) 07:49, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
5. Shyamal (talk) 09:12, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Comments:

• A genus (maybe 2) but only three (maybe 4) relatively well studied charismatic species. Plenty of images. Sabine's Sunbird talk 08:32, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
• Popular and well-known. And as Sabine's Sunbird says, a good genus article! MeegsC | Talk 23:37, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
• And cute too. Just found a reference for the source of the name puffin. Will add later today! Grantus4504 (talk) 07:49, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

And I live on one of the Puffin Islands! Grantus4504 (talk) 07:58, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Pesky rhinos

Before we can start we need to decide whether this article is about the puffin genus or the the genus plus the Rhinoceros Auklet (RHAU). The article is a bit all over the place at the moment, it starts by saying four species, then specifies the genus Fratercula, then describes them as having bright bills (the RHAUs don't) then mentions that they are sometimes inluded in the genus, then forgets about them in the table. I think we should treat the RHAU as a separate genus for now and keep this article about the genus Fratercula, while of course mentioning the close relations between the two genera and the sometimes included hereness. Sabine's Sunbird talk 23:17, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

I've followed the Fratercula line and tried to standardise around the three species. jimfbleak (talk) 07:00, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

The Rhinoceros auklet stuff is interesting, but if there is no consensus and most authorities still call it an auklet, then it looks pretty weird calling this page '3 puffins and an auklet..' You never know what consensus will be in the future but until then...Casliber (talk · contribs) 07:30, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Three puffins and an auklet sounds either like the start of a joke or an obscure Seatle indie rock band! Anyway, I'll be getting some info from the library on these guys soon. Sabine's Sunbird talk 07:45, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Gaston & Jones (1997) do not consider tribes in their descriptions. Friesen et. al. (1996) has Cerorhinca and Fratercula as members of tribe Fraterculini. Do we need pages for tribes, or redirects to Auk? Grantus4504 (talk) 09:32, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Yeah. I think a redirect to Auk for the time being. In an ideal world, the term puffin (I guess) would sit nicely on the stronger and more well defined branch/clade, whichever that was out of the genus or tribe....Casliber (talk · contribs) 10:28, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

I'm not aware that there is any debate. Rhino's place as sister taxon to the other 3 puffins is well-accepted. There was even a proposal before the AOU to rename it Rhinoceros Puffin. Regardless of the outcome of that proposal, the species is still a "basal puffin". I think it deserves a place on this page. Natureguy1980 (talk) 16:41, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Update

• this makes interesting reading....but I don't know if it was adopted. Casliber (talk · contribs) 08:40, 1 April 2009 (UTC)

• The proposal failed. Sabine's Sunbird talk 19:40, 1 April 2009 (UTC)

• :( (gawd, isn't that well known that the earth would shake with such a name change, oh well...) Casliber (talk · contribs) 07:06, 6 April 2009 (UTC)

• Bird names = serious business. Sabine's Sunbird talk 09:05, 6 April 2009

Theres a show and for the life of me I cant remember the name...but this guy goes around eating weird stuff...and on one episode he captured and ate puffins with a family. It was quite disturbing, But it was all legal and they even had puffin hunting season!

restored text

Some text was removed with the claim it was not supported by the ref I gave, but the ref clearly says In general, North American puffin populations have increased since early 1900s, rebounding from near devastation caused by habitat destruction and excessive hunting for meat and feathers and Puffins still legally hunted for food and recreation in Iceland and Faeroe Is. Sabine's Sunbird talk 19:00, 5 April 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, I guess this is in a bit us nonsubscribers can't read... :( Casliber (talk · contribs) 07:08, 6 April 2009 (UTC)

No different to many journals.ted by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760" Did this involve the use of a steel bench, a lightning rod on the roof and an assistant called Igor?

Perhaps "This classification was created..." or something Brunnian (talk) 08:44, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

A genus, and all other taxa except species, are man-made constructs which can be created by humans. Often the genus a species is placed in changes over the course of time, but that doesn't make any difference to the birds.

A species is also a man-made construct. GNUSMAS : TALK 20:17, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Merge?

Should Faroese puffin be merged here? Currently, at least, it is rather what you would expect from a "ralationships with humans" section than an article on a puffins as food in the Faroes. —innotata (Talk • Contribs) 18:47, 3 March 2010 (UTC)

wrong article, it should be merged with Atlantic Puffin, no other species is involved Jimfbleak - talk to me? 19:16, 3 March 2010 (UTC)

Yes, any merge should be to Atlantic Puffin. Some history - the Faroese puffin article really started as a culinary article (main project involved should have been WP:FOOD) before I had anything to do with it. I added most of the stuff on hunting / harvesting etc, and I guess this could be moved to Atlantic Puffin. However, I think a purely culinary article could stand alone given that puffin has a high profile in traditional Faroese (and Icelandic) cuisine. Maias (talk) 23:36, 3 March 2010 (UTC)

New additions

Hi, in the upcoming weeks I will be adding specific details about the conservation status of the Tufted Puffins in the Pacific Northwest, specifically around the greater Puget Sound area of Washington State. This is my first time contributing to Wikipedia and this is a part of my quarter long case study for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington Bothell. Recycleplease (talk) 20:35, 7 February 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Recycleplease (talk • contribs)

Related Places

I have restored the information regarding the presence of Puffins on the Farne Islands and Coquet Island in Northumberland but removed the reference to the upcoming Puffin Festival.Sarahatamblenorthumberland (talk) 21:36, 21 March 2013 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 28 January 2015

Please add that a grouping of Puffins as considered to be titled a Circus. Clucius3 (talk) 19:19, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Not done: as you have not cited reliable sources to back up your request, without which no information should be added to, or changed in, any article. - Arjayay (talk) 19:24, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 28 January 2016

The text "Poop from puffins are accually very good for you to eat" appears all over the scientific classification box. I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to be there. 67.190.7.203 (talk) 22:30, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Question: Where in the article is this? I could not find it. Datbubblegumdoe^{[talk – contribs]} 01:35, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

Not done: Closed, not seeing this on the article or in article history --allthefoxes ^(Talk) 03:46, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

Puffins are awesome!

Look at this cute photo of a puffin!!!:

Puffin — Preceding unsigned comment added by Loganslowik (talk • contribs) 17:01, 27 July 2016 (UTC)

Decreasing in Iceland - the Net for catching

The iceandic puffins are decreasing. In 2010 there were about 100 at Hjörleifshöfði on th south coast, a few years earlier 350.000 were counted.

The text mentions big nets for catching. In Iceland as well as the Faroes they use a small net (½-1 m across) on a pole 5-10 m long. On a windy day an experienced hunter can catch a puffin pr minute!

Best regards Steen Thomsen Brønshøj Danmark. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.215.210.23 (talk) 21:20, 10 August 2016 (UTC)

The genus name

The genus name Fratercula is interesting, peculiar, even bizarre. Frater is Latin for "brother"; no problem there. -culus is the masculine form of a diminutive suffix (i.e., meaning "little"); the feminine and neuter forms end in -a and -um instead of -us. So fraterculus means "little brother". (Lewis and Short, A Latin Dictionary)

But why fratercula instead of fraterculus? -cula is the feminine diminutive suffix, and it makes no sense here. Fratercula doesn't mean "little sister"; that would be sororcula. (Lewis and Short) This would be worth mentioning and explaining, or if no explanation is available, to mention with that fact. --Thnidu (talk) 04:51, 4 June 2018 (UTC)

Cultural symbol of Iceland?

It’s pretty important to mention how the puffin has grown to become a cultural symbol of Iceland in recent years — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.227.143.152 (talk) 19:34, 9 March 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 July 2022

Add the word "are" between the words "there" and "no":

Although there no records from the Miocene in the Atlantic, a re-examination of the North Carolina material indicated that the diversity of puffins in the early Pliocene was as great in the Atlantic as it is in the Pacific today. 2601:19C:4280:2610:4169:F29:93B8:DFE0 (talk) 12:35, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

 Done Cannolis (talk) 13:38, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 July 2022 (2)

Change "there" to "their"

Because of there striking appearance they are also referred to as "clowns of the sea" and "sea parrots". 2601:19C:4280:2610:4169:F29:93B8:DFE0 (talk) 12:36, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

 Done. And thanks Cannolis (talk) 13:38, 2 July 2022 (UTC)

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• Fratercula-dowii 653x600.jpg

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 16:38, 22 August 2022 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion:

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linking the subject Miocene to the existing Wikipedia page

Can you link the subject "Miocene" to the existing Wikipedia site? 2A02:3032:1:96A6:15EE:52E6:298:D6AC (talk) 16:40, 2 September 2023 (UTC)

 Not done: Already WP:LINKONCE. — Paper9oll (🔔 • 📝) 16:54, 2 September 2023 (UTC)