Icelandic birdlife differs in many respects from neighbouring countries. This becomes evident when one looks at the number of species and to which groups they belong. The absence of small passerines and songbirds illustrates the lack of woodlands and the isolated position of Iceland but the number of waterfowl demonstrates favourable conditions for these. Most importantly the ocean provides abundant opportunities for huge numbers of seabirds, so what Iceland is lacking in the number of spices is more than made up by the number of individuals, The quality of birdwatching in Iceland is great because of the high density of birds and how easily observed they are. The seabirds colonies of the west are home to millions of Guillemots. Puffins, the most numerous spices of Iceland, are found in dense colonies all around the island. The most sought after species by birdwatchers visiting Iceland are the Icelandic Gyrfalcon, the largest falcon in the world, the Red-necked Phalarope and Puffin, can all be easily found with some experience or local guiding. All in all birdwatching in Iceland is not just for the advanced, but a pleasant experience for everyone who enjoys nature.
Wopper Swan
Barnacle Goose
Greylag Goose
Pink-footed Goose
White-fronted Goose
Common Scoter
Barrow's Goldeneye
Eider
Gadwall
Goosander
Harlequin
King Eider
Long-tailed Duck, Oldsquaw
Mallard
Pintail
Red-breasted Merganser
Scaup
Shelduck
Shoveler
Teal
Tufted Duck
Wigeon
Northern Diver, Common Loon
Red-throated Diver
Slavonian Grebe, Horned Grebe
Meadow Pipit
Raven
Redpoll
Redwing
Snow Bunting
Starling
Wheatear
White Wagtail
Wren
Ptarmigan
Gyr Falcon
Merlin, Pigeon Hawk
White-tailed Eagle, Gray Sea Eagle
Short-eared Owl
Snowy Owl
Black-tailed Godwit
Coot
Dunlin
Golden Plover
Grey Phalarope
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Purple Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Redshank
Ringed Plover
Snipe
Water Rail
Whimbrel
Black Guillemot
Brünnich's Guillimot
Great Auk
Guilemot, Atlantic Murre
Little Auk, Dovekie
Puffin
Razorbill
Cormorant
Shag
Gannet
Arctic Skua, Parastic Jaeger
Arctic Tern
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull, Mew Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Skua
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull
Kittiwake
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Fulmar
Leach's Petrel
Manx Shearwater
Storm Petrel
Paintings courtesy of
Jón Baldur Hlidberg