A Colorful Beak for Picking Mates

A Colorful Beak for Picking Mates

During the spring and summer breeding season, Atlantic Puffins wear their signature colored beaks and cheerful bright orange feet. Each year their beak increases a bit in size as the bird matures. The size and color of puffin beaks may serve as badges of experience and help birds assess the ‘quality’ of potential mates.

Yet during their ocean bound winter, the feet of puffins fade to dull shades of orange and they shed their colorful sheath on their beak, leaving a small conservative looking gray. They will keep these modest colors until spring rolls around once more and they make their way back to land after a winter at sea. (Project Puffin)