Southern puffin (SciiFii)

The southern puffin (Fratercula californianus) is a species of auk, most closely related to the horned puffin, that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the Pacific coasts of North America to help boost biodiversity. The height of the adult southern puffin is approximately 20 cm (8 inches), the weight is around 500 grams (18 oz), and the wingspan is about 58 cm (23 inches). Southern puffins are monomorphic (the male and female exhibit the same plumage coloration). Sexually mature birds have a small fleshy black "horn" extending upwards from the eye. A dark eyestripe extends backwards from the eye towards the occiput. The cheeks are white, with a yellow wattle at the base of the bill. The legs and feet are orange. Southern puffins emit a relatively small number of sounds, mostly low in volume. These guttural noises are identified as cooing, roaring or grunting. The most common southern puffin sound is usually transcribed as "arr-arr-arr", which accelerates when the animal is threatened, becoming an "A-gaa-kah-kha-kha”. These noises are most often produced by adults and are similar to bellowing, described as the "distant sound of a chainsaw”. The sounds during the mating season can be transcribed as "Op-op-op-op-op”. These sounds are rarely made outside breeding times, and puffins are quieter at sea. To achieve flight, southern puffins either jump off a cliff to gain momentum, or races across the water to reaching the speed required for takeoff. Southern puffins fly compactly and quickly, 10 to 30 meters (33 to 98 ft) above sea level. The wing beats are constant, rapid and regular. They fly in groups of about two to fifteen individuals, traveling between nesting and foraging grounds, sometimes with horned puffins, tufted puffins, guillemots, or murres. Adult southern puffins are quite general in their diet, feeding on fish, small invertebrates, crustaceans, polychaete worms and squid. They also feed on small algae and marine plants. The southern puffin reaches sexual maturity between the age of five and seven years, entering the breeding season between May to September. Southern puffin pairs are monogamous. Courtship begins as the male and female puffin swim alongside on the water. The male displays by arising from the water, neck outstretched, opening and closing the bill while jerking the head. The female makes a hunched posture with her neck contracted inwards, close to the water surface. This is followed by billing, a practice where mated birds touch beaks. A slight head movement from both partners confirms that the couple will now mate for life. The male then mounts the female from behind, beating his wings to keep balance. After about 35 seconds of mating, the female proceeds to dive down and surface again. The pair then flap their wings. Pairs choose a nesting ground a week after arriving at the breeding area, preferring rock crevices. They clear a space and gather materials to build their nest, mostly out of grass and feathers. Each pair usually lays either one or two egg per year, although three eggs have been known. Pairs in the same colony usually lay around the same time, but very rarely this occurs over more than one week. The egg is oval, off-white in color with lavender, gray and brown highlights. Both parents take turns incubating the egg over about 41 days, and spend another forty days raising the chick. The fledgling leaves the nest alone and at night, making its way towards open water, then quickly dives and swims away to begin independent life. The conservation status of the southern puffin is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the southern puffin's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.