Puffins, with their colourful beaks and clownish waddle, are beloved birds of the northern seas. But these charming seabirds face many dangers in their ocean home. From the air, sea, and land, puffins must constantly be on guard against predators. Some hunters target puffin eggs and chicks in their burrows, while others snatch adult birds from the air or sea. Despite their comical appearance, puffins are hardy birds that have evolved to survive in harsh environments. However, they’re not invincible, and many creatures have developed a taste for puffin. Here’s a look at 15 animals known to prey on these charismatic seabirds.
Great Black-Backed Gull
The great black-backed gull is the largest gull species in the world. These powerful birds are known to attack and kill adult puffins, often snatching them mid-flight. They use their strong beaks to crush the puffin’s skull before swallowing their prey whole. Great black-backed gulls also raid puffin burrows, eating eggs and chicks. These gulls are particularly threatening to puffin colonies because they can target all life stages of the puffin, from egg to adult.
Arctic Fox
Arctic foxes are opportunistic predators that thrive in the same harsh environments as puffins. During the breeding season, they raid puffin colonies, digging into burrows to steal eggs and chicks. Adult puffins aren’t safe either, as foxes will catch them if given the chance. In some areas, puffins make up a significant part of the Arctic fox’s diet during summer months. Arctic foxes have been known to cache surplus puffin eggs and chicks, burying them in the ground for later consumption.
Great Skua
Also known as the bonxie, the great skua is a fierce predator of the northern seas. These birds are known for their aggressive behaviour and will attack puffins in mid-air. Skuas often force puffins to drop their catch of fish, but they’ll also kill and eat the puffins themselves. They’re particularly dangerous to puffin chicks that are just learning to fly. Great skuas have been observed working in pairs to hunt puffins, with one bird distracting the adult puffins while the other raids the nest.
Orca
Orcas, or killer whales, are apex predators of the ocean. While they’re better known for hunting larger prey, orcas will eat puffins if the opportunity arises. They catch puffins when the birds are swimming or diving for fish. Orcas have been observed working together to create waves that wash puffins off rocky ledges and into the sea. Some orca populations have developed specialized hunting techniques for seabirds, including puffins, demonstrating their remarkable adaptability and intelligence.
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals on Earth when diving, reaching speeds over 200 mph. They use this incredible speed to catch puffins in mid-air. Peregrines typically hunt over open water or along coastal cliffs where puffins nest. Their sharp talons and hooked beak make quick work of their puffin prey. Peregrines have excellent eyesight, able to spot a puffin from over a kilometre away, making them efficient hunters of these seabirds.
American Mink
Mink, introduced to many parts of Europe for fur farming, have become a serious threat to puffin colonies. These semi-aquatic mammals are excellent swimmers and can easily access puffin burrows on coastal cliffs. Mink primarily target eggs and chicks but will also attack adult puffins if they can catch them. Their slender bodies allow them to enter puffin burrows with ease, making them particularly devastating to breeding colonies.
Herring Gull
While smaller than their great black-backed cousins, herring gulls are still formidable predators of puffins. They often work in groups to mob puffins, forcing them to drop their catch of fish. Herring gulls will also raid puffin burrows for eggs and chicks. In some areas, they’ve learned to catch puffins in mid-air, much like the larger gulls. Herring gulls are highly adaptable and have been known to modify their hunting techniques based on local puffin behaviour.
White-Tailed Eagle
The white-tailed eagle, also known as the sea eagle, is one of Europe’s largest birds of prey. These massive raptors hunt a variety of seabirds, including puffins. They use their powerful talons to snatch puffins from the air or from cliff ledges. White-tailed eagles have been reintroduced to parts of the UK, which could impact some puffin populations. Their impressive wingspan, which can reach up to 2.5 metres, allows them to soar effortlessly over puffin colonies, picking off vulnerable birds.
Grey Seal
Grey seals are curious and intelligent marine mammals. While fish make up the bulk of their diet, they’ve been known to catch and eat puffins. Seals often catch puffins when the birds are swimming or diving for fish. In some areas, puffins have learned to be wary of seals and will avoid areas where they’re present. Grey seals can dive to depths of up to 300 metres, giving them a significant advantage over puffins in underwater pursuits.
Northern Gannet
Gannets are large seabirds known for their spectacular plunge-diving hunting technique. While they primarily eat fish, gannets will occasionally catch and eat puffins. They’re most likely to target puffins when other food sources are scarce. Gannets can dive from heights of 30 metres, hitting the water at speeds up to 60 mph. Their streamlined bodies and air sacs under the skin protect them from the impact of these high-speed dives, making them formidable underwater predators.
Raven
Ravens are highly intelligent birds that will eat almost anything they can catch. In coastal areas, they’ve been observed preying on puffin eggs and chicks. Ravens use their strong beaks to peck through the entrance of puffin burrows. They’re also known to work in pairs, with one bird distracting adult puffins while the other raids the nest. Ravens have been observed using tools and solving complex problems, skills that likely aid them in accessing puffin nests in challenging locations.
Black Rat
Black rats, introduced to many islands by humans, can devastate puffin colonies. These agile rodents easily access puffin burrows, where they eat eggs and chicks. Adult puffins are too large for rats to tackle, but the damage to breeding success can be severe. Efforts to eradicate rats from some islands have led to dramatic recoveries in puffin populations. Rats can reproduce rapidly, with a single pair potentially producing up to 2,000 descendants in a year, making them a significant threat to island-nesting puffins.
Great Cormorant
Cormorants are expert underwater hunters, usually feeding on fish. However, they’ve been known to catch and eat puffins when the opportunity arises. Cormorants can dive to depths of 45 metres, allowing them to chase puffins underwater. They use their hooked beaks to grab and hold onto their prey. Cormorants have special feathers that become waterlogged, helping them stay submerged while hunting, but this means they must spend time drying their wings after each hunting session.
European Otter
Otters are primarily known for eating fish, but coastal otters will take seabirds when they can catch them. They’re excellent swimmers and can easily outmanoeuvre puffins in the water. Otters have been observed catching puffins near their nesting sites, particularly when the birds are returning from fishing trips laden with food for their chicks. Otters have incredibly dense fur, with up to 1 million hairs per square inch, which keeps them warm and buoyant in cold waters where puffins live.
Snowy Owl
In the far north of the puffin’s range, snowy owls are a potential predator. These large, powerful owls are active during the long summer days when puffins are breeding. They’re capable of catching adult puffins, but more commonly raid nests for eggs and chicks. Snowy owls are opportunistic hunters and will take advantage of any available food source in their harsh Arctic habitat. Unlike most owls, snowy owls are diurnal, hunting during the day, which coincides with the puffins’ active periods in the land of the midnight sun.
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