Atlantic puffin showcased on special postage stamp

Canada Post is releasing a series of special stamps to showcase Canadian birds,and the beloved Atlantic puffin has made the grade.

The five-stamp seriesdesigned by illustrator Keith Martin depicts each bird in a characteristic pose, and features the puffin's "cartoon-like colouring."

According to Canada Post, the provincial bird is noteworthy as it spendsmost of its life at sea, and can dive as deep as 60 metres to catch its prey. The main breeding grounds for puffins are along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador and eastern Quebec.

Canada Post says this is the first in an ongoing series aimed at celebrating "the diversity of Canada's bird life."

The common raven, the rock ptarmigan, the sharp-tailed grouse and the great horned owl were also chosen.