- Where to see one
- 4 U.S. zoos in our directory hold horned puffin, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the horned puffin
The horned puffin is an auk of the North Pacific Ocean, found along the coasts of Alaska, Siberia and British Columbia. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds mainly by diving for fish and nests in colonies, often alongside other auks. It resembles the Atlantic puffin but adults have a small fleshy black horn above the eye. Adults stand about 20 cm (8 in) tall and weigh about 500 g. Its bill is larger than in other puffins, and in the breeding season it turns bright yellow with a dark orange tip. Unlike other puffins, it digs little or no burrow, preferring rock crevices or spaces under piles of rock. It is not migratory, though it winters far out to sea.
Horned Puffin facts
- Puffins can see ultraviolet light, which lets them spot the fluorescent glow on each other's bills.
- The Latin name Fratercula means friar, a reference to its black-and-white plumage.
- The bill reaches its brightest coloration at five years, when the bird becomes sexually mature.
- To take off, it jumps from a cliff or races across the water to build speed.
Where to see horned puffin in the U.S.
4 zoos across 4 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 4 zoos holding horned puffin by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
Alaska· 1
Missouri· 1
North Carolina· 1
Ohio· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
