BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Part I 

 WATER BIRDS 



BIRDS OF THE OPEN SEA 



12. TUFTED ?\]^'Pm.—Umdacirrhata. 

 Family : 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 tult 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. 



Dovmy Young: Uniform dark gray or black. 



Geographical Distribution : Coasts and islands of tlie North Pacific 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 



