Horned Puffin Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesHorned Puffin
© Sam Woods / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 21, 2018
Breeding adult
Stocky seabird with large red and yellow bill. Breeding birds have black "horns" above their eyes.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 30, 2013Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding birds have a gray face and the bill is gray and red instead of yellow and red.
© Kasia & Takashi Someya / Macaulay LibraryHokkaido, November 22, 2015Nonbreeding adult
Stocky seabird with large triangular-shaped bill. Nonbreeding birds have a gray face.
© Richard MacIntosh / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, October 11, 2017Immature
Immatures have a gray face and a smaller gray and yellow bill. Separated from Atlantic Puffins by range.
© Richard MacIntosh / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, September 08, 2016Breeding adult (with Tufted Puffin)
Stocky seabird with a white belly and face.
© Brian SullivanAlaska, August 24, 2004Similar SpeciesTufted Puffin
Breeding adult
Tufted Puffins have a black (not white) belly. Breeding Tufted Puffins have golden plumes on the head that Horned Puffins lack.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 30, 2013Similar SpeciesTufted Puffin
Nonbreeding
Nonbreeding Tufted Puffins have a dark belly while Horned Puffins have a white belly.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 27, 2010Similar SpeciesRhinoceros Auklet
Breeding adult
Rhinoceros Auklets lack the white cheek patch that Horned Puffins have and they have a smaller bill.
© Ken Langelier / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, August 24, 2016Similar SpeciesRhinoceros Auklet
Nonbreeding
Nonbreeding Rhinoceros Auklets lack the white cheek patch that Horned Puffins have and they have a smaller bill.
© Kim Beardmore / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, August 24, 2016Similar SpeciesAtlantic Puffin
Breeding
Atlantic and Horned Puffins do not overlap in range. The color of the base of the bill separates them; slaty blue on Atlantic and yellow on Horned.
© Fyn Kynd / Macaulay LibraryMaine, June 16, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Auks, Murres, and Puffins(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Alcidae)
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