thumb|Adult in winter plumage They are primarily black with a white facial patch, and, typical of other puffin species, feature a very thick bill, primarily red with some yellow and occasionally green markings. Their most distinctive feature and namesake are the yellow tufts () that appear annually on birds of both sexes as the summer reproductive season approaches. Their feet become bright red and their face is also bright white in the summer. During the feeding season, the tufts molt off and the plumage, beak, and legs lose much of their luster.
thumb|adult in winter plumage they are primarily black with a white facial patch and typical of other puffin species feature a very thick bill primarily red with some yellow and occasionally green markings their most distinctive feature and namesake are the yellow tufts () that appear annually on birds of both sexes as the summer reproductive season approaches their feet become bright red and their face is also bright white in the summer during the feeding season the tufts molt off and the plumage beak and legs lose much of their luster