16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Icelandic Puffin

Látrabjarg, Iceland is home to thousands of Puffins who nest along the cliffs. A long and bumpy ride will take you to them. Tourists and locals journey to this place to lay on their bellies in the hope to see a Puffin up close. Puffins have to flap their wings twice as fast as other birds. Lift-off can be hard for puffins because their bodies are so heavy in comparison to their wingspan. Puffins are very social birds, but they don’t squawk or chirp to communicate. Instead they depend heavily on body language. If you visit Látrabjarg, you'll have an opportunity to witness their dance as they communicate with their flock. If you're lucky, you'll also hear their low growls and grunts.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2017
Date Uploaded: 04.2018
Photo Location: Látrabjarg , Iceland
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Copyright: © Patricia Lois Nuss Bambace