pufflings

Pufflings are juvenile puffins, the offspring of the genus Fratercula. They breed on coastal cliffs and islands in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. Pufflings stay in the nest while dependent on parents for warmth and food.

Development and appearance: They hatch naked or with sparse down, then grow a thicker coat and waterproof juvenile plumage. They begin swimming and diving with parental help and may accompany adults on short foraging trips as they learn to fend for themselves.

Nesting and breeding: Puffins nest in colonies in burrows or crevices. A single egg is laid per season; both parents incubate, and later feed the chick. The puffling remains in the nest until fledging.

Diet and feeding: Parents regurgitate fish and occasionally crustaceans to feed the puffling. Diet reflects local prey; pufflings grow quickly on abundant small fish.

Fledging and dispersal: When ready, pufflings fledge and head to sea, often at night to avoid predators. They spend months to years at sea before returning to breed.

Conservation: Threats include introduced predators on breeding islands, overfishing reducing prey, pollution, and climate change. Some puffin populations are stable or increasing due to conservation measures; others remain vulnerable.

Etymology and terminology: The term puffling is used for a young puffin; pufflings is the standard plural. This usage is common in ornithology and field guides.