Bird Watching in Iceland

Bird Watching in Iceland

Any summer visitor to Iceland cannot help but notice the sheer abundance of bird life in the country. Starting in April, more and more species become visible and up to 388 species have been recorded to date. Iceland has only around 75 breeding species, so many of the others are vagrants. The country is particularly rich in seabirds, waders and wildfowl. There are vast bird colonies all over the country and witnessing these feathered friends is a delight.

One of the most famous and soughtafter is the Puffin, with it decorative beak and clumsy flying technique. By the middle of August there are an estimated 10 million puffins in Iceland with the world‘s largest puffin colony being in the Westman Islands.

Most of the species come from Europe, but there are also three North American species that reside in Iceland. The Great Northern Diver, Harlequin Duck and the Barrow‘s Goldeneye are known to only breed in Iceland and are highly sought after by European birdwatchers. The White-tailed Eagle, Gyrfalcon and the Grey Phalarope are protected species in Iceland, amongst many other species. Along the coastline of Iceland, there are colonies of Eider Ducks whose down has been harvested for centuries and their nesting areas highly protected by the locals.

A river in Iceland. Photo by Olga

A large number of species are migratory birds that come with the spring and leave in autumn. Some come to breed, others just to feed, on their way to and from the High Arctic, such as certain geese and waders. The Golden Plover is seen as the harbinger of spring with its arrival in April and by mid-May the countryside is alive with bird song as the calls of the Snipe, Whimbrel and Redwing, amongst others, create an avian choir that fills the air.

Viðey Island is the birdwatcher‘s paradise just a few minutes from Reykjavík. A large number of birds breed on this tiny island with focal points being on the isthmus and Þórsnes headland. While enjoying the company of a different species, please remember to practice conscious tourism by respecting nesting areas and throwing rubbish in a bin. Birds do not know the dangers of plastic until it is too late.

Source: Jóhann Óli Hilmarsson, Icelandic Bird Guide.