Fratercula corniculata, horned puffins, is widespread in the Pacific and low Arctic. It breeds along the coast of British Columbia, on some islands and peninsulas around Alaska, and along the Bering Sea coast of Russia. It winters off shore, mainly in the North Pacific. The species is commonly found on Russian islands but can also be seen off the coast of Japan and British Columbia, rarely as far south as southern California. Horned puffins tend to stay in their breeding grounds during the winter as long as the grounds are not iced over.
In Alaska, 50% percent of all individuals live ninety kilometers from the mainland of the west coast, on the Semidi Islands.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: holarctic
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Bibliographic Citation: Catanescu, I. 2011. "Fratercula corniculata" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at
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