The Atlantic Puffin is one of three species of puffin in the world. They are a part of the Auk family of seabirds that also include razorbills and guillemots. They are known for their colourful beaks, giving them the nickname 'clowns of the sea'. They spend winter at sea, only to return to land in summer.

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Puffins are quite small, only 30 cm. in length, weighing 400 gr. with a wingspan of 55 cm. Despite their petite structure, they are great swimmers and can flap their wings over 400 times a minute! They feed on small fish such as sandeels, capelin and herring. Unfortunately they have been decreasing in numbers over the last few years due to the lack of food caused by increasing water temperatures. They are considered vulnerable on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) world status.

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Puffins nest in dirt burrows from May to mid July and lay only one egg which has to be incubated over 36-43 days. Puffins mate for life and meet their partner every summer at the same place. There are three puffin colonies situated on small islands close to Reykjavík with roughly 30,000 nesting pairs between them; Akurey, Lundey and Engey. 

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Around 60% the world’s population of puffins comes to Iceland to breed - that is more than 10 MILLION birds! Iceland also has the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in the world in the Westman islands which has about 700,000 pairs.