First record of horned puffin in the North Atlantic and tufted puffin in High Arctic Greenland

Abstract

An accelerating decrease in summer sea-ice extent in the Arctic Ocean and Canadian Arctic Archipelago (North-west Passage) is predicted to increase the movement of species between the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans. Here we report observations of two Subarctic North Pacific puffin species in the North Atlantic near the coast of north-west Greenland. We observed a horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) repeatedly during the summer months of 2002–06 and 2013–19 and a single tufted puffin (F. cirrhata) in 2019. While single tufted puffins have been observed a few times in the North Atlantic, this is the first record of a horned puffin in the North Atlantic, and the first record for both horned and tufted puffins in north-west Greenland. In 2019, both puffin species were observed simultaneously at an Atlantic puffin (F. arctica) colony.

Sympatry of genetically distinct Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) in the High Arctic

“…On Dalrymple Rock Island (Igánaq: 76°28′21.65″N, 70°13′12.40″W; Greenland) near Thule Air Base, there is a small Puffin colony (hereafter ‘Thule’) that falls well within the expected High Arctic distribution of F. a. naumanni (66–79°) (Harris & Wanless 2011, Gaston & Provencher 2012, Burnham et al . 2020a). Unlike previously studied colonies, Thule consists of discrete large and mid‐sized Puffin phenotypes.…”

“…Mid‐sized individuals are similar in size to F. a. arctica and have been observed for multiple breeding seasons (Burnham et al . 2020a). Migratory monitoring data previously collected from both size phenotypes show an equally diverse non‐breeding season distribution, with Thule Puffins using locations thousands of kilometres apart (Burnham et al .…”

“…The largest Puffins (F. a. naumanni) form the most distinct genetic cluster and inhabit the High Arctic (e.g. Spitsbergen; Salomonsen 1944, Burnham et al 2020a, Kersten et al 2021. Finally, there is an F. a. arctica/F.…”

“…Unlike previously studied colonies, Thule consists of discrete large and mid-sized Puffin phenotypes. Large-sized Puffins are most common, with mid-sized Puffins representing fewer than 9% of individuals (the total Thule population size is 15-35 pairs) (Burnham et al 2020a). Mid-sized individuals are similar in size to F. a. arctica and have been observed for multiple breeding seasons (Burnham et al 2020a).…”

“…Large-sized Puffins are most common, with mid-sized Puffins representing fewer than 9% of individuals (the total Thule population size is 15-35 pairs) (Burnham et al 2020a). Mid-sized individuals are similar in size to F. a. arctica and have been observed for multiple breeding seasons (Burnham et al 2020a). Migratory monitoring data previously collected from both size phenotypes show an equally diverse non-breeding season distribution, with Thule Puffins using locations thousands of kilometres apart (Burnham et al 2021).…”