BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Fratercula corniculata
Horned Puffin
| Scientific Name: | Fratercula corniculata |
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| English Name: | Horned Puffin |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S2B |
| Date Status Assigned: | June 01, 1996 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 05, 2015 |
| Reasons: | There are very few known breeding locations with very few individuals. The population is expanding but its limited distribution makes it vulnerable to oil spills. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | AB = <100-250 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | Restricted to offshore islands off the Queen Charlotte Islands and northern Vancouver Island (Campbell et al. 1990). |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | A = 1 - 5 |
| Comments: | Although Horned Puffins were once known to breed at only one site on Anthony Island (Campbell et al. 1979), they were likely thought to breed at 11 additional sites along the outer coast (Campbell et al. 1990; Rodway 1991). Breeding is now confirmed on Anthony Island, Kerouard Island, Flatrock Island, and Lepman Point in the Queen Charlottes, and Triangle Island off northern Vancouver Island (R.W. Campbell, pers comm.). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | BC = 1 - 12 |
| Comments: | Protected in Anthony Island Ecological Reserve, Gwaii Haanas National Park, Scott Islands Provincial Park, and Anne Vallee Ecological Reserve. |
| Population Size: | AC = 1 - 1,000 individuals |
| Comments: | The breeding population in British Columbia is thought to be approximately 25 pairs (Campbell et al. 1990; Rodway 1991). |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Comments: | The species is moderately threatened by oil spills (Burger and Fry 1993), gill-nets (DeGange et al. 1993), and human disturbance of breeding colonies. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | GH = Relatively Stable to increase of <25% |
| Comments: | Horned Puffins are likely stable and may be expanding their summer range along the coast of British Columbia (Rodway 1991). |
| Long-Term Trend: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Environmental Specificity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | Using standardized methods (Resources Inventory Committee 1997 #13) survey potential breeding sites to confirm nesting status and determine the size and distribution of the breeding population. Important marine habitats, particularly areas of concentration, should also be identified and mapped if possible. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | Marine oil spill response plans (e.g., Howes and Wainwright 1993) should be evaluated and amended as necessary to address the needs of Horned Puffin populations. Gill-net fisheries should be regulated and managed to reduce the threat of by-catch. Develop guidelines for visitation of seabird colonies, including appropriate minimum altitudes and aircraft restrictions that could be registered with the federal Ministry of Transport. Develop measures to prevent the introduction of rats and Raccoons to nesting colonies. The significance of mortality associated with gill-net fisheries should be evaluated and techniques for mitigating impacts should be developed. |
| Version | |
| Author: | S. Cannings and L. Ramsay |
| Date: | December 01, 1998 |
| References | |
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Burger, A.E., and D.M. Fry. 1993. Effects of oil pollution on seabirds in the northeast Pacific. Pages 254-263 in K. Vermeer, K. Briggs, K. Morgan, and D. Seigel-Causey, eds. The status, ecology, and conservation of marine birds in the North Pacific. Can. Wildl. Serv. Spec. Publ., Ottawa.
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Byrd, G.V., E.C. Murphy, G.W. Kaiser, A.Y. Kondratyev, and Y.V. Shibaev. 1993. Status and ecology of offshore fish-feeding alcids (murres and puffins) in the North Pacific. Pages 176-186 in K. Vermeer, K. Briggs, K. Morgan and D. Seigel-Causey, eds. The status, ecology, and conservation of marine birds in the North Pacific. Can. Wildl. Serv. Spec. Publ., Ottawa, ON.
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Campbell, R.W., H.R. Carter, and S.G. Sealy. 1979. Nesting of Horned Puffins in British Columbia. Can. Field-Nat. 93:84-86.
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Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, et al. 1990b. The Birds of British Columbia Vol. 2: Nonpasserines: Diurnal Birds of Prey through Woodpeckers. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC.
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Cannings, R.J. 1998. The Birds of British Columbia - a taxonomic catalogue. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch, Victoria, Wildl. Bull. B-86. 266pp.
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DeGange, A., et al. 1993. Losses of seabirds in gill nets in the North Pacific. Pages 204-211 in K. Vermeer, K. Briggs, K. Morgan, and K. Seigel-Causey, eds. The status, ecology and conservation of marine birds in the North Pacific. Can. Wildl. Serv. Spec. Publ., Ottawa.
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Howes, D.E., and P. Wainwright. 1993. Coastal resources and oil spill response atlas for the southern Strait of Georgia. Environ. Emergencies Coordination Off., B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC.
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Milko, R., L. Dickson, R. Elliot and G. Donaldson. 2003. Wings Over Water - Canada's Waterbird Conservation Plan. Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, ON. 32pp.
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Piatt, J. F., and A.S. Kitaysky. 2002. Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata. The Birds of North America, No. 603 (A. Poole, and F. Gill eds.). The Birds of North America Inc., Philadelphia, PA. Online version: The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; URL: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/603
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Rodway, M.S. 1991. Status and conservation of breeding seabirds in British Columbia. Pages 43-102 in J.P. Croxall, ed. Seabird status and conservation: a supplement. Int. Counc. for Bird Preservation Tech. Publ. No. 11. Cambridge. U.K.
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Smith, J. L. and K. H. Morgan. 2005. An assessment of seabird bycatch in longline and net fisheries in British Columbia. Technical Report Series No. 401, Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region, Delta, BC.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 1998. Conservation Status Report: Fratercula corniculata. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jul 1, 2025).