Atlantic puffin
The Atlantic puffin, also known as the common puffin, is one of the most striking birds in the Arctic ecosystem. It belongs to the auk family and is native to the Arctic Ocean, northwestern Europe and North America. However, it spends most of the year at sea, only coming ashore to breed.
Unique appearance
Because of its colourful appearance, the Atlantic puffin is also known as the "clown of the sea" and "sea parrot". The large triangular beak is mainly orange-red with yellow and grey-violet parts. The feet are also bright orange. However, the bird's distinctive features lose color every year at the end of the breeding season. The scientific name “Fratercula arctica” means “little friar of the Arctic” and also refers to its appearance.
Nesting and diving
The breeding takes place in large and very dense colonies. To reduce the risk of predation, the nesting burrows are usually located at the top of steep cliffs and often on islands, including Greenland. The young leave the nest at around six weeks of age and then spend several years at sea. The Atantic puffin searches for food underwater. It can dive for up to a minute and to a depth of over 60 m (196.9 ft), using its wings as paddles and its feet as a rudder.
Facts
- Binominal name: Fratercula arctica (Latin for "little friar of the Arctic")
- Other names: Common puffin, sea parrot, clown of the sea
- First described: 1758 (Carl Linnaeus)
- Distribution: Arctic Ocean, northwestern Europe and North America
Atlantic puffin souvenir note
This souvenir note from the Greenland Series is dedicated to the Atlantic puffin. Printed on genuine security paper, it features the coat of arms of Greenland as a gold foil patch, motifs in UV color and haptic elements. While the vertically designed obverse depicts two Atlantic puffins, the reverse shows the tail fin of a whale, a coastal glacier and the Kingittorsuaq Runestone, which was discovered in 1824 by a hunter in north-west Greenland and is now in the Danish National Museum. The runes on it are of Norse origin and date from between 1135 and 1330. The Greenland Series which comprises a total of eight souvenir notes, is also available in a booklet with lots of information and pictures.
Obverse: Two Atlantic puffins, coat of arms of Greenland, map of Greenland
Reverse: Tail fin of a whale, coastal glacier, Kingittorsuaq Runestone, Inuit art
| Dimensions: 145 x 70 mm (5.71 x 2.76 in) Material: Paper |
