Puffin vs Penguin: What's The Difference

By: NDTVNewsDesk

Image: Pexels

Puffins and penguins are both black-and-white seabirds but differ in habitat, flight, and family.

Image: Pexels

Puffins can fly and swim, while penguins are flightless, using their wings as powerful flippers for swimming only.

Image: Pexels

Puffins live in the Northern Hemisphere (North Atlantic/Pacific), while penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere (Antarctica, etc.).

Image: Pexels

Puffins are Alcids (family Alcidae), while penguins are Spheniscidae (family Spheniscidae).

Image: Pexels

Puffins are smaller (about 10-15 inches), while penguins are generally much larger and heavier.

Image: Pexels

Puffins have large, brightly coloured beaks that change seasonally, while penguins have sleek and narrow beaks.

Image: Pexels

Puffins have longer feathers for flight, while penguins have short, scale-like feathers for insulation and efficient swimming.

Image: Pexels

Puffins nest in burrows or cliffs, while penguins often form large land colonies. 

Image: Pexels

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