Puffins Pictures
Adorable Puffin pictures taken in Alaska and Canada. These Puffin images show the iconic Atlantic birds going about their lives, nesting on rocky shores, enjoying flights, and providing for their chicks. These photos of Atlantic Puffins, Horned Puffins, and Tufted Puffins are available as stock photography.

A Horned Puffin Spreads Its Wings And Flies Toward The Camera WiHorned puffins have different-colored bills than their better-known relatives in the Atlantic. They can also be distinguished by the larger “horns” above their eyes.
This photograph was taken at Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. Matt Shetzer leads trips to the park — America’s third-least visited — to teach wildlife photography. You can sign up for an expedition today.
Stock Image #20180730-18483254
This photograph was taken at Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. Matt Shetzer leads trips to the park — America’s third-least visited — to teach wildlife photography. You can sign up for an expedition today.
Stock Image #20180730-18483254

A Pair Of Puffins Inhabitat “bird Island” In The Alaskan WildernA puffin climbs a rock while another ascends from its perch with a fish in its mouth on an island near the Cook Inlet in Alaska. The puffin, nicknamed "Clown of the Sea" is a seabird with lots of character, a colorful beak, bright orange legs and webbed feet.
Stock Image #20130801-172650
Stock Image #20130801-172650

Cheeky Fellow Puffin PortraitCheeky Fellow - The Atlantic Puffin of Newfoundland is an unique sea bird. While watching this bird dive gracefully underwater, it is easy to forget that he is covered with fine feathers that shed the water easily. This puffin gives us a great profile shot and lets us see the detail in its face and beak.
Stock Image #20110707-181340
Stock Image #20110707-181340

Two Horned Puffins Nest Together On A Rocky OutcropMated pairs of horned puffins are a common sight around the Alaskan Coast, where they build their nests on rocky islands. In the summer, they forage in the waters near their nests, while in winter, they can be seen ranging farther out to sea.
Stock Image #20190729-163636
Stock Image #20190729-163636

A Horned Puffin Perches On A Rock With A Small Fish In Its BeakHorned puffins forage by diving underwater and swimming through schools of small fish. When it catches a fish, the puffin flies out of the water and takes the fresh meal to the nest for the young chicks to enjoy.
Horned puffins are common in Alaska, but they’re vulnerable to oil spills and introduced predators like foxes. Lake Clark National Park has one of the biggest populations. Join a trip led by veteran photographer Matt Shetzer and learn to photograph puffins and other iconic Alaskan wildlife.
Stock Image #20130108-172632
Horned puffins are common in Alaska, but they’re vulnerable to oil spills and introduced predators like foxes. Lake Clark National Park has one of the biggest populations. Join a trip led by veteran photographer Matt Shetzer and learn to photograph puffins and other iconic Alaskan wildlife.
Stock Image #20130108-172632

Horned Puffins Birds Of AlaskaOf the numerous birds of Alaska, horned puffins are quite unique. They nest in large colonies among the rocky cliffs and coasts of Alaska. Seen here in this close up nature image are puffins relaxing on a rocky outcropping on Bird Island. Photo taken on Cook Inlet excursion.
Stock Image #20170731-115033
Stock Image #20170731-115033

Modeling PuffinModeling Puffin - The brilliant coloring of the beak and eye will fade on this Atlantic Puffin once the breeding season is over. Also, the legs of the puffin will start to fade from brilliant orange to a duller yellow color when they have been on land for some time.
Stock Image #20110707-182135A
Stock Image #20110707-182135A

Picture Of Puffins On Bird IslandCalled Bird Island for good reason, this picture of puffins shows the ruling class of wildlife here. Centered in this nature image is a pair of puffins nuzzling their beaks together. Makes sense as the bills of Horned Puffins transforms to these lively colors when mating. Pelagic in nature, meaning living mostly on the open sea, these birds are sometimes mistakenly confused as a penguin species. Horned Puffins, pictured here, differ from other puffins in that they prefer rocky cliffs or crevices for nesting. These birds choose the islands and coastlines of Alaska for breeding. Laying one egg each year, they generally stay with the same partner too. Image taken during an excursion on our Grizzly Bear Photo Tour to Lake Clark National Park.
Stock Image #20170731-120126
Stock Image #20170731-120126

Getting Your Puffins In A RowGetting your Puffins in a Row - This line of Atlantic Puffins (also known as the Common Puffin) takes a break from their nesting duties to pose for my camera. Well maybe that wasn't their intention, but I took advantage of the wonderful sunset lighting to showcase this adorable little sea bird.
Stock Image #20110704-190938
Stock Image #20110704-190938

Kiss’in PuffinsKiss'in Puffins - Watching the social interaction between the Atlantic Puffins was hilarious at times. While these two appear to be kissing, it is most likely a beak rubbing that helps strengthen the bond between a mating pair. Did you know that puffins have been known to mate for life?
Stock Image #20110630-142509A
Stock Image #20110630-142509A

Puffin PosePuffin Pose - Newfoundland's northern coast is home to a number of seabird colonies, including the Atlantic Puffin. This little puffin sits patiently on the shore before taking flight into the Atlantic Ocean to feed on the Capelin that are spawning on the nearby rocky beaches.
Stock Image #20110626-133743B
Stock Image #20110626-133743B

Horned Puffin On A RockWhile horned puffins range as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as Washington State to look for food, they’ve got a relatively small breeding range, confined to Alaska’s southern coast and Aleutian Islands. Lake Clark National Park is one of the best places to spot breeding pairs.
Stock Image #20180726-11594324
Stock Image #20180726-11594324

Puffins Gather On Rock With Lush BackgroundA puffin party - A group of puffins gather together on a smooth gray stone with grass and flowers in the background. Here, one puffin attempts to land and join to others on a rock at Bird Island in Alaska. These colorful seabirds are well adapted to the climate in Alaska and are known for being inquisitive and social animals. There are four species of puffins, which include the Atlantic Puffin, Horned Puffin, Tufted Puffin and Rhinoceros Auklet.
Stock Image #20130801-173435
Stock Image #20130801-173435

Bird Island Puffin PicturesThree Horned Puffins gazing out to sea from Bird Island. Immersed in the lush summer foliage of this untouched island, we see the colorful beaks that distinguish them from other puffins. Taken on a Cook Inlet excursion during our Grizzly Bear Photo Tour.
Stock Image #20170731-112742
Stock Image #20170731-112742

Horned Puffin Explores A Rock FaceThis shot of a horned puffin by photographer Matt Shetzer provides a good opportunity to study what makes it different from its cousin the Atlantic puffin: its larger size, the wide band of yellow on its beak, and the bigger rounded “horns” above and behind its eyes.
Stock Image #20180726-12091071
Stock Image #20180726-12091071

Precision PuffinPrecision Puffin - While very graceful in the water, the Atlantic Puffin was not so graceful as it came in for a landing in the grassy areas near its burrow. We watched with delight as many of the Puffins bounced their way to a stop on the grassy surfaces.
Stock Image #20110626-142438E
Stock Image #20110626-142438E

Puffin Spotted LandingSpotted Landing - While an Atlantic Puffin's wings are wonderful for diving underwater for up to 200 feet, flying through the air is a bit more challenging. If this puffin looks a little nervous about his landing, it probably is as they seem to bounce at least once or twice upon hitting the ground. Thank goodness for soft green grass.
Stock Image #20110702-174004A
Stock Image #20110702-174004A

Puffins Shooting The BreezeShooting the Breeze - Is this a group of three female Atlantic Puffins gossiping outside their burrows in Newfoundland? We have no idea as there are no differences in the physical characteristics between males and females. Captive puffins at the Alaska Sea Life Center had to be DNA tested and then banded to know the differences between male and female.
Stock Image #20110704-191438B
Stock Image #20110704-191438B

Capelin Delivery By Atlantic PuffinCapelin Delivery - While this little Atlantic Puffin may appear to be greedy with lots of Capelin stuffed in his mouth, it is actually just bringing back food for a very hungry young one. Newfoundlands colonies of Atlantic Puffins represent over 95% of Canadas colonies.
Stock Image #20110711-110222B
Stock Image #20110711-110222B

Flight Of The Puffins Before Snowy PeaksPicture of puffins flying around Bird Island on the Cook Inlet of Alaska. Three horned puffins fly in formation near the volcano Mt. Redoubt over the cold Alaskan waterway as the snowy peaks stand tall in the background. Nature image taken from an optional excursion during our Grizzly Bear photo workshop.
Stock Image #20150720-110130
Stock Image #20150720-110130

Perched Puffin On A Rocky Newfoundland LedgePerched Puffin - Overlooking the green grassy areas where the nesting burrows are, this puffin stands guard on a rocky ledge. Puffin burrows can reach up to 3 feet in length and help protect the single egg and chick from predators.
Stock Image #20110630-141725
Stock Image #20110630-141725

Puffins EverywherePuffins Everywhere - Puffins dropping in from above is just another part of a nesting colonies life. While it might be hazardous for those below, it is quite comical to watch as the head searches for a landing, brightly colored orange feet extend, and wings spread to try to land near the burrow.
Stock Image #20110702-174313E
Stock Image #20110702-174313E

Puffin RockPuffin Rock - Grassy slopes along rocky islands are the favorite nesting grounds of the Atlantic Puffin in Newfoundland. Large groups will gather into colonies to dig their burrowed nests, lay a single egg and rear the young until its time to return to the Atlantic Ocean.
Stock Image #20110630-124832
Stock Image #20110630-124832
Puffins was last modified: May 27th, 2022 by