Two Atlantic puffins in Elliston Aug. 19, 2024

Two Atlantic puffins in Elliston

In Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic puffins, like the ones in today"s image, draw onlookers with their black and white plumage and orange beaks. As well as in Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, these seabirds breed in several countries, including Russia, Iceland, Norway, and Greenland. These "sea parrots" have a wingspan of 47 to 63 centimetres and travel vast distances to mate. Surprisingly, the colour of their beaks changes seasonally; during the breeding season, it is brighter with a hint of yellow and orange. However, in the nonbreeding season, the beak sheds its yellow highlight.

© Daphne Roberts Photography/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Im ready for my close-up, Mr. DeSquirrel
Let’s go to the Ex!
Aug. 19, 2025Vancouver Island, British Columbia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep. 13, 2024Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
This lesson is going swimmingly
Mar. 14, 2025Celebrating Pi Day
Jun. 26, 2024Banggai cardinalfish with sea anemone
Oct. 23, 2024Madame Sherri Forest, New Hampshire, United States
Apr. 22, 2024Earth Day
Feb. 5, 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Oct. 15, 2025National Mushroom Day
Jun. 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Mar. 7, 2025Plum blossoms, China
Oct. 23, 2025International Day of the Snow Leopard
What the heck is a distaff?
May 23, 2025World Turtle Day
Staying in the loop
Nov. 19, 2024Tasmans Arch, Tasman National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Out of this world
A chocolate lovers favourite fruit
Dec. 28, 2023Humpback whale, Disko Bay, Greenland
May 16, 2025Endangered Species Day
Mar. 19, 2026Short-beaked echidna, Adelaide Hills, Australia
Oct. 29, 2024Great horned owl
May 18, 2024International Museum Day
Bring the king cakes
A fox in the dunes
Jan. 16, 2026Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia
Feb. 27, 2024International Polar Bear Day
May 7, 2024A duckling swimming in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
The old castle at sunrise
Feb. 16, 2026Banff, Alberta
Sep. 6, 2025Rufous hummingbird