A specimen of the high arctic subspecies of Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica naumanni, in Canada

Abstract

A fresh specimen of an adult Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica, was obtained from a local hunter at the Minarets (Akpait) on the east coast of Baffin Island on 3 August 2007. The measurements of this bird exceeded those of Atlantic Puffins from Newfoundland and Labrador (F. a. arctica) but fell within the limits of the High Arctic subspecies (F. a. naumanni). This specimen appears to be the first of the High Arctic subspecies to be collected on a potential breeding site in Canada. This subspecies is highly disjunct from the Low Arctic subspecies and is probably represented in Canada by only a few hundred individuals. © The Canadian Field-Naturalist.