15 Puffin Facts That Sound Totally Made Up—But Are Actually True (Perfect for Puffin Day)
Puffins may look like tiny cartoon birds, but these real-life weirdos are full of surprises.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Puffins aren’t just cute—they’re full of bizarre behaviors and secret talents you’d never expect. From glowing beaks to deep-sea diving, these birds are like nature’s pranksters in a tuxedo. Here are 15 wild puffin facts that sound fake but are 100% legit.
1. Puffins’ beaks glow under UV light
Charles J. Sharp on Wikimedia Commons
Seriously—they glow. Under ultraviolet light, puffins’ beaks shine with a neon blue glow. Scientists think it’s part of their mating game, like showing off a disco beak. Move over rave clubs; puffins were glowing way before it was cool.
2. They’re called “sea parrots”
Charles J. Sharp on Wikimedia Commons
Puffins are often nicknamed sea parrots because of their colorful beaks and flappy wings. They look like the lovechild of a penguin and a toucan. No, they can’t talk, but their honks are just as dramatic. Basically, they’re the feathered drama queens of the sea.
3. Puffins can dive over 200 feet deep
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
Despite their chubby appearance, puffins are sleek underwater rockets. They flap their wings like flippers and zoom down to snatch fish. One puffin reportedly hit over 200 feet deep on a single dive. It’s not bad for a bird that waddles like it forgot how legs work.
4. They carry 10+ fish in their beaks at once
Charles J. Sharp on Wikimedia Commons
Puffins don’t go back and forth for dinner—they bring the whole buffet. Thanks to spiky tongues and clever beak grooves, they can hold over ten fish at once. The record is 61 tiny fish in one beak. That’s a full sushi platter with wings.
5. Puffins are faithful life partners
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
These birds mate for life, returning to the same partner year after year. They even meet at the same burrow every breeding season, like a cozy seaside Airbnb for two. They bond by rubbing their beaks together in a puffin kiss called “billing.” It’s cute enough to ruin your standards.
6. Baby puffins are called “pufflings”
Richard Bartz on Wikimedia Commons
Yes. They are called pufflings. Could anything be more adorable? They stay in cozy burrows until they’re ready to waddle out into the world. When they do, they’re basically fluff balls with feet.
7. Puffins dig underground homes
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
Instead of building nests, puffins act like little avian miners. They dig burrows into cliffs or grassy banks to hide from predators. Some burrows go over three feet deep. The real estate game is strong.
8. They can live over 30 years
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
You’d think a puffin would be a short-lived fluff nugget. Nope—some have been recorded living well into their 30s. That’s like 100 in puffin years, with zero retirement plan.
9. They only look colorful in summer
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
Puffins lose their bright beaks and eye markings in the winter. It’s like they pack away their party outfit until next season. During cold months, they go full grayscale. They’re still cute—just a bit more goth.
10. Puffins flap their wings up to 400 times per minute
Charlton on Wikimedia Commons
They don’t glide—they hustle. Puffins flap their wings like a feathered blur, reaching 400 beats per minute to stay in the air. It’s not elegant, but it gets them where they’re going. Basically, puffin flight is 90% determination.
11. Puffins can drink saltwater
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
No water bottle? No problem. Puffins have special glands that filter salt out of seawater. That means they can hydrate straight from the ocean like tiny pirates. Stay salty, puffins.
12. They’re expert navigators
T.Müller on Wikimedia Commons
Puffins travel hundreds of miles across the open sea and somehow find their way home. No maps, no GPS, just brain magic. Scientists still don’t fully know how they do it. Puffins just know—like feathery little wizards.
13. Puffins return to the same nesting site every year
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
They don’t just return to the same island—they often come back to the exact same burrow. Like, GPS-pin-it level of memory. Some even fix it up before the breeding season, puffin-style home improvement. HGTV, but make it puffin.
14. They can fly up to 55 mph
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
That flappy chaos? It’s fast. Puffins can hit speeds over 50 miles per hour in the air. They look goofy doing it, but they’re basically feathered bullets. Never underestimate the puffin hustle.
15. There’s an actual Puffin Day
Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons
Yup—May 17 is World Puffin Day. A whole day to celebrate this bird-shaped oddball. People wear puffin hats, donate to puffin conservation, and post an obscene number of puffin pics. Honestly, it’s the holiday we all needed.