Snow bunting songster - Johan Gehrisch - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2008

2008 11-14 years old - Highly Commended

Johan Gehrisch Click to enlarge Snow bunting songster

Johan Gehrisch (Sweden)

Snow bunting songster

'As this male in Svalbard made its territorial rounds, I waited, knowing the bird would return to its song-perch rock. I waited for more than three hours on two different days, and the bunting returned several times to the rock, each time giving a flawless performance.' Male snow buntings put on a big show to attract mates. Their normally rusty brown plumage wears down to a smart black and white breeding dress. They also find a special perch to sing songs and defend their territories vigorously. The snow bunting is the most northerly breeding songbird in the world and nests across Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. To keep their eggs warm in the icy conditions, they line their nests with fur and feathers.

Canon EOS 20D + 400mm f5.6 lens; 1/1600 sec at f5.6; ISO 400.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.