Webbed feet

If you are wondering how Puffins catch fish, they actually fly under water. They float on the surface of the water, sticking the front of their heads underneath from time to time, checking for fish. They duck, cup their wings and propel themselves downwards in pursuit. They use their webbed feet as paddles to help steer in air and in water as well as propelling themselves on the surface

Here’s one with its paddles down as a brake for landing.

Puffin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

This one has large parts of its web missing, either from development or from injury. It has to cope and land by overcompensating with use of its wings and tail.

Puffin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I’m pleased to see that its landing is just as comical as one with regular feet.

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