Tufted puffins are called “parrots of the sea” for their famously flashy breeding season colors. But when there’s no pressure to show off for potential mates, they dress down for winter in more understated black feathers. 🖤
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ALTSo how do you tell the difference between our murres and puffins this time of year? Our aviculturists are showing, not telling, with these scientifically sharp and seasonally-specific seabird styles!
The social behaviors of these seabirds also help set them apart. In the wild, common murres form dense colonies to stop their eggs from rolling off the steep cliffs where they breed. These black-and-white beauties often huddle together on exhibit, while puffins tend to be more solitary.
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