BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 
Part [ 
WATER BIRDS 
BLRDS OF - THE OPEN. SE A 
12. TUFTED PUFFIN. — Lunda cirrhata. 
Famity: The Auks, Murres, and Puffins. 
Length: 15.00. 
Adults in Summer: Top of head, wings, back, and tail uniform blackish 
brown ; throat, breast, and belly dark grayish brown ; cheeks, fore- 
head, and chin white; a long silky tuft of yellow feathers, curved 
like horns, hanging down and back from each side of the crown, just 
back of the eyes. End of the bill bright red, base greenish yellow ; 
feet bright red. 
Adults in Winter: Tufts wanting ; sides of head dusky ; feet and bill 
duller; horny covering at base of bill replaced by brown skin. 
Downy’ Young: Uniform dark gray or black. 
Geographical Distribution : Coasts and islands of the North Pacifie from 
Southern California to Alaska. 
Breeding Range: From the Farallone Islands north to Behring Sea. 
Breeding Season: Approximately, June 1 to August 1. 
Nest: Usually in crevice in rock ; sometimes a burrow is excavated in 
the shale; bare, or lined with coarse weeds. 
Eggs: 1; ranging from white to yellowish buff, variously marked 
with lilac dots at both ends ; or, irregular, indistinct tan-color spots 
over entire surface ; or, having nondescript zigzag markings. Size 
2.81 X 1.89. 
THE name “sea parrot” is applied to all puffins on 
account of their curious parrot-like bill. The Tufted 
