Birds

Divers and Grebes

Although waterfowls may be the most common birds on lakes, revers and in wetland areas, other species are also found, and some may even be regarded as characteristic species for certain habitats.

Himbrimi | Great northern diver | Gavia immer (Gaviidae)

North American species. Iceland is the only European country to support stable population. Highly specialized water bird that spends the life on lakes in the ice-free season but relocates to coastal areas in the winter. Aggressive and highly territorial, the Great northern diver attacks all other birds and usually only one pair is found on each lake. Feeds on arctic charr and sticklebacks in lakes, while at sea, most fish species of manageable size are on the menu, along with crabs and polychaeta worms.
Summer 300 pairs. Winter 100–1000 birds

Lómur | Red-throated diver | Gavia stellata (Gaviidae)

Partly migratory bird with winter grounds in W-Europe. Spends the time from spring to autumn on lakes and ponds, but local birds relocate to coastal areas in the winter. Feeds mostly on fish such as sticklebacks, arctic charr and sand eels.
Summer 1000–2000 pairs. Winter 100–1000 birds

Flórgoði | Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus (Podicipedidae)

Mostly migratory bird with small resident population. Highly specialized water bird, totally dependent on shallow lakes and ponds, where they build floating nests, anchored to rooted vegetation, from grass and water plants. The local population relocates to the seashore in the winter. Horned grebes mostly on small fish, insects and crustaceans. The population declined in the 20th century, due to draining of wetlands and the introduction of the American Mink into the Icelandic fauna.
Summer 700–1000 pairs. Winter 100–150 birds

Ducks and Swans

There are about 100 types of ducks in the world. In Iceland, an unusual number of species breed, 17 in total, and in addition 16 species have been seen. Male birds, stags, are mostly colorful, while female birds, perches, are mostly brown. Dabbling ducks reach for food at the water level or stand upside down and reach for food on the bottom. Divers and anglers dive for food.

Ducks (Anseriformes), duck family (Anatidae).
Antbird tribe. Ducks are medium and large wetland birds, herbivores and insectivores. They shed all their flight feathers at the same time as they molt and are then flightless. There are about 150 species in the world and 22 species breed in Iceland.

Dabbling ducks

Stokkönd | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos (Anatidae)

Mostly resident in Iceland. The second most common duck species in Iceland, with only the Eider duck more numerous. Common in lowland areas and prefers nesting sites in, or close to wetlands, often close to human settlement. Spends the winter on ice free lakes or in coastal areas. The Mallard doesn’t dive, thus reaching for small animals and vegetation from the surface. May also feed on terrestrial vegetation.
Summer 10,000 – 15,000 pairs. Winter 42,000 birds

Urtönd | Common Teal / Eurasian Teal | Anas crecca (Anatidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in The British Islands and at the V- European coastline. Common bird in lowland areas where it prefers wetlands with shallow ponds and slow flowing rivers as nesting sites. Local birds relocate to the coastline and ice-free lakes in the winter. This species does not dive so food, which consists of small animals and vegetation must be collected in shallow water.
Summer 3000–5000 pairs. Winter 100–500 birds

Diving ducks

Skúfönd | Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula (Anatidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in The British Islands. Common in lowland areas end prefers nesting sites close to fertile, shallow lakes and ponds. Local birds move to ice free lakes or coastal areas in the winter. First recorded in 1895, the Tufted duck is relatively new in the Icelandic fauna. Tufted ducks dive for food such as insects, crustaceans, molluscs, sticklebacks and vegetation.

Summer 8,000–12,000 pairs. Winter 100–200 birds

Duggönd | Scaup | Aythya marila (Anatidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in The British Islands and the V- European coastline. Common bird in both lowland and highland areas where it prefers nesting sites close to lakes and ponds. Local birds spend the winter at sea in shallow and sheltered areas. Dives for food such as insects, crustaceans, molluscs, sticklebacks and vegetation.
Summer 4000–6000 pairs. Winter 50–150 birds

Húsönd | Barrow’s Goldeneye| Bucephala islandica (Anatidae)

Resident in Iceland. Originally a North American species, Iceland is the only European country with a stable population. Nesting sites are mostly in the Mývatn/Laxá area, where the birds stay throughout the year. They dive for food such as insect larvae and crustaceans.
Summer 800 pairs. Winter 1700–1800 birds

Toppönd | Red-breasted merganser | Mergus serrator (Anatidae)

Specialized towards fishing, this duck dives for sticklebacks and small salmonids, sand eels and other small fish.
Summer 2000 – 4000 pairs. Winter 5000 – 15,000 birds

Straumönd | Harlequin Duck | Histrionicus histrionicus (Anatidae)

Resident in Iceland. Originally a North American species, Iceland is the only European country with a stable population. Common and prefers nesting sites along fast flowing rivers and at the outflows from lakes. Prefers rocky seashores in the winter. Very efficient swimmer and diver. Feeds on midge- and other insect larvae, crustaceans, worms and molluscs.
Summer 3000 – 5000 pairs. Winter 10,000 – 15,000 birds

Hávella | Long-tailed Duck / Oldsquaw | Clangula hyemalis (Anatidae)

Partly migratory bird, as a part of the Icelandic population overwinters at the East Greenland coast. Prefers nesting sites close to highland lakes and ponds but sometimes also in lowland areas. In the winter, the birds relocate to coastal areas. They feed on small crustaceans, midge larvae, worms and molluscs.
Summer 2000 – 2000 pairs. Winter 110.000 birds

Æðarfugl | Common Eider | Somateria mollissima (Anatidae)

Resident in Iceland. The common eider is by far the most numerous duck species in Iceland, and unlike the other species, most of the Eider ducks spend the whole year at sea. Nesting sites are along the coastline, but some birds go up to 20 km inland where they nest close to lakes and rivers.

They are effective divers feed on mussels and other molluscs, worms, echinoderms and crustaceans. Due to harvesting of the highly valued eider down from the birds’ nests, the Common eider was put under general protection in 1847, first of Icelandic birds.
Summer 300,000 pairs. Winter 850.000 birds

Álft | Whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus (Anatidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in The British Islands. Resident population has been increasing in recent years. Large bird that may weigh up to 12 kg and measure 132 cm in length. Swans prefer wetland areas and usually place the huge nests, made from moss and grass, close to lakes or ponds, where they feed on water plants. Non breeding- and moulting birds are often found on shallow fjords, feeding on sea grass and algae.
Summer 6000 pairs. Winter 1000–2000 birds

Lowland birds

Here are some of the most common birds in Icelandic vegetated lowland areas. Others, like the short-eared owl are not that common but specially prefer this habitat.

Hettumáfur | Black-headed gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Laridae)

Mostly migratory bird in Iceland, with winter grounds in V-Europe and N- America. Gaining foothold in Iceland in the 20th century, it Is now common in most lowland areas. In summer the Black headed gull prefers wetlands and coastal areas, while in the winter, harbours and densely populated areas are preferred. Opportunistic feeder with insects, worms, snails, berries, small fish and trash on the menu.
Summer 25,000–30,000 pairs. Winter 3,000–10,000 birds

Smyrill | Merlin | Falco columbarius (Falconidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in the British Islands and W-Europe. Common in lowland areas where it nests in rocks. Feeds on small birds and mice.
Summer 1000–1200 pairs. Winter 10–100 birds

Brandugla | Short-eared owl | Asio flammeus (Strigidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in W-Europe. Usually found in well vegetated, often damp lowland areas with shrubs. In the winter they prefer forests and gardens. They feed on mice and small birds.
Summer 100–100 pairs, Winter 200–500 birds

Þúfutittlingur| Meadow pipit | Anthus pratensis (Motacillidae)

Migratory bird in Iceland with winter grounds in N-Europe. Common and prefers open and vegetated lowland areas, where the nest is thoroughly hidden in a dense vegetation. Sometimes raises more than one clutch per summer. Feeds on bugs and seeds.
Summer 1,500,000 pairs

Spói | Eurasian whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus (Scolopacidae)

Migratory bird with winter grounds in NW-Africa. So common in Iceland that its song is regarded as the sound of the summer! Prefers rather damp nesting grounds, even wetlands. Around 40% of the world population of the Eurasian whimbrel nests in Iceland. Feeds on all kinds of bugs, also on berries.

Summer 250,000 pairs

Grágæs | Greylag goose | Anser anser (Anatidae)

Mostly migratory birds with winter grounds in The British Islands. Prefers lowland areas with nesting sites in wetlands, small islands, on riverbanks and in heathlands. Feeds on all kinds of vegetation, roots and berries.
Summer 10,000–30,000. Winter 5000–10,000 birds

Hrossagaukur | Common snipe |Gallinago gallinago (Scolopacidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in Ireland. Well known for the unique sound, formed by the outermost tail feathers as the bird dives in the air. Prefers wetland and feeds on earthworms and bugs.
Summer 300,000 pairs. Winter 10–100 birds

Stelkur | Redshank | Tringa totanus (Scolopacidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in The British Islands and W-Europe. Comon in grasslands and wetlands. Outside the nesting season, resident birds are mostly found at the seashore, feeding in the tidal zone. Food mostly consists of bugs and worms, crustaceans and molluscs.
Summer 50,000–100,000 pairs. Winter 500–1000 birds

Coots

Coots are large-bodied land birds, with short wings, fast-flying, but fly short at a time. There are over 300 species in the world, but only 12 species breed in Europe and 1 species lives in Iceland, the Ptarmigan.

Rjúpa | Rock ptarmigan | Lagopus muta (Phasianidae)

Resident in Iceland. In the summer the Ptarmigan is found in all sorts of terrain, both in lowland and highland areas. In the autumn and winter, it prefers the highlands. Feeds on roots, leaves, wigs and berries. The population fluctuates greatly and regularly with around 10 years between maximum numbers. The fluctuations are driven by interconnected factors such as food availability and predation.

The Ptarmigan moults three times per year, gradually changing colours from brown to white – and back, thus perfectly blending into every seasonal environment.

Summer 50,000 – 200,000 pairs. Winter up to 1,000,000 birds

Skua

Kjói | Arctic skua | Stercorarius parasiticus (Stercorariidae)

Migratory bird with South-African winter grounds. Common in Iceland both in coastal and inland areas. The arctic skua is notorious for attacking other birds and force them to drop food items such as fish. They also feed on all kinds of bugs, eggs and young birds.
Summer 11.000 pairs

Skúmur | Great skua | Catharacta skua (Stercorariidae)

Nesting grounds are mostly on the sandy plains in south Iceland. Outside nesting time this species is mostly out on the open North Atlantic Ocean. The food is mostly small fish such as Sand eel, eggs and other birds. The Great skua also often attacks other birds and force them to drop food.
Summer 2,000 – 3,000 pairs

Gulls

Gulls are from the gull family (Laridae) and the same tribe as cowbirds and terns. They belong to the shorebirds (Charadriiformes). These birds live mainly on fish, but also eat insects, baby birds, eggs and waste. Their beak is strong with a curved hook at the end. The male is usually larger than the female, but otherwise both sexes are identical in appearance.

The birds breed in settlements and the number of eggs is about 2-3 eggs. In Iceland, there are 7 species of seagulls of the seagull family that breed regularly, 2 that winter and 1 that comes annually all year round. The museum has 8 types of seagulls on display, but there are about 45 types of seagulls.

Hvítmáfur | Glaucous Gull | Larus hyperboreus (Laridae)

The Glaucous Gull lives in high latitudes around the Northern hemisphere. Icelandic birds are probably resident the whole year, while birds from Svalbard and Greenland probably overwinter here. Main nesting grounds are in steep mountainsides close to sea in the west part of Iceland. They commonly feed in coastal areas, relying on the tidal zone.

Summer 2,000–3,000 pairs

Svartbakur | Great black-backed gull | Larus marinus (Laridae)

The biggest of all gull species, mostly resident in Iceland. Common and prefers nesting sites both inland and in coastal areas. In winter, adults prefer coastal areas and shallow waters near the coast while younger birds often migrate to Faroe Islands and the British Islands. Omnivorous, but Sand eel is important in the diet. Predation on eider duck chicks has caused him widespread unpopularity in certain areas. Social birds and often seen with other gull species.
Summer 6,000–10,000 pairs. Winter 20,000–50.000 birds

Sílamáfur | Lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus (Laridae)

Migratory bird with winter grounds in coastal areas of Portugal and NV-Africa. Common in most Icelandic habitats after gaining foothold in 20th century. Opportunistic feeder with small fish, insects, worms, berries, eggs and chicks along with trash on the menu. Social bird that thrives well in urban areas.
Summer / 25,000 pairs

Rita | Black-legged kittiwake | Rissa tridactila (Laridae)

Outsite nesting season, most of Icelandic kittiwakes are found at sea between Greenland and Newfoundland, while some prefer to stay near the Icelandic coast. Nesting sites are in small islands, skerries and sea cliffs, commonly among other species of seabirds. Food is mostly small fish such as sand eel.
Summer 530,000 pairs. Winter 10,000 – 1,000,000 birds

Hettumáfur | Black-headed gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Laridae)

Silfurmáfur | Herring gull | Larus argentatus (Laridae)

This gull is among the newest settlers in Iceland, gaining foothold around 1925. Now divided into subspecies, the Icelandic population, along with other North European populations belong to L.a. argentatus. Islands and coastal zones are the primary habitats for this species where they feed on various fish and crustaceans. They also follow fishing vessels and may e common at dump sites.
Summer 5,000–10,000 pairs

Tubenoses

Small and medium sized seabirds, characterised by the nostrils that form a tube on top of the bill, therefore sometimes collectively referred to as “tubenoses”.

World: ~120 species. Iceland: 4 species of regular breeders.

Fýll | Northern fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis (Procellariidae)

One of the most abundant Icelandic bird. Young birds were harvested in the south part of Iceland through the ages. Adults spend most of their life on the open ocean and are a common sight around fishing vessels. Nesting sites are mostly in islands and cliffs near the shore but are also found tens of kilometres inland.
Summer 1,2 million pairs. Winter 1–5 million birds

Skrofa | Manx shearwater | Puffinus puffinus (Procellariidae)

The Icelandic Vestmannaeyjar islands are the northernmost nesting sites of Manx sherwater. They prefer islands as nesting sites where they dig deep burrows in the ground for the nest. Little is known about the whereabouts of Icelandic Manx sherwaters but probably they spend the winter off the coast of South America. Apart from the nesting time, they spend their life on the open ocean, probably feeding on Sand eels, Herring and squids.
Summer around 7,000 pairs.

Stormsvala | Storm petrel | Hydrobates pelagicus (Hydrobatidae)

The Storm petrel is the smallest seabird in Europe and most of the Icelandic population relies on the nesting grounds in Vestmannaeyjar islands, where they nest in burrows in the ground. Nesting season is in July-August, which is unusually late for Icelandic birds.

Little is known about the whereabouts of Icelandic Storm petrels but probably they spend the winter off the coast of West- and South Africa. A bird tagged in Iceland has been found in Algeria. Apart from the nesting time, they spend their life on the open ocean, probably feeding on small fish and crustaceans.
Summer 50,000–100,000 pairs

Sjósvala | Leach’s storm petrel | Oceanodroma leucorhoa (Hydrobatidae)

The Leach’s Storm petrel is common in Iceland compared to other European countries and most of the Icelandic population relies on the nesting grounds in Vestmannaeyjar islands. They prefer Islands where they dig deep burrows in the ground for the nest.

Little is known about the whereabouts of Icelandic Leach’s Storm petrels, but probably they spend the winter on the open ocean off the coasts of South America and South Africa, probably feeding on small fish and crustaceans.
Summer 180,000 pairs

Birds of prey

The main characteristics of birds of prey are a sharp and hooked nose, strong and sharp claws and very sharp vision. There are nearly 300 species of 5 families. In Iceland, 3 species from 2 families breed.

Haförn | White-tailed eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla (Accipitridae)

Resident í Iceland, sometimes referred to as the king of birds. Large eagle that prefers coastal areas, large lakes and rivers where fish is abundant. Territorial birds that pair for life. Feed on fish, carcasses and other birds such as ducks and fulmars. The White-tailed eagle was nearly driven to extinction in Iceland, but finally became protected in 1913. Despite the protection, numbers kept declining until 1960, when only 20 pairs remained. Since 1980 numbers have gradually increased and now there are around 250 birds in total in Iceland, with about 70 territorial pairs, all in the NW part of Iceland.

Fálki | Gyrfalcon | Falco rusticolus (Falconidae)

Resident in Iceland. Territorial bird with nesting sites in step rocks and canyons. The pair stays together as long as both birds live, and defend the territory throughout the year. Gyrfalcon relies heavily on Ptarmigan as food and the population sizes of the falcon follows the population size of the Ptarmigan. Mice and many other bird species are also on the menu.

Summer 250–350 pairs. Winter 1000–2000 birds

The falcon was protected in 1940 after it had been close to extinction for a long time. Towards the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century, the falcon was hit by an organized campaign against the so-called “wolf birds”, which also targeted sea eagles. Among other things, the establishment and activities of the Æðarræðarfélag at Breiðafjörður were dedicated to this campaign in the late 19th century (1885-1892). Falcons and eagles were shot where they could be reached and 20 krónur were paid for the bird, which was considered a lot of money back then. Around the same time, a campaign against foxes began and poisoned carcasses were spread out into the open. Sea eagles and falcons also picked at the carcasses and died.

Smyrill | Merlin | Falco columbarius (Falconidae)

Gannet and cormorant

Súla | Northern gannet | Morus bassanus (Sulidae)

The Northern gannet gathers in breeding colonies on small steep islands and skerries. One of the biggest colonies is found in Eldey, south of the Reykjanes peninsula. In the winter they are mostly found offshore Spain, Portugal and W-Africa. They feed on fish and may dive into the water from op to 60 m height. To decrease the impact and resistance, the wings are retracted backwards so the bird looks a bit like arrowhead when hitting the surface.

Summer 37,000 pairs

Dilaskarfur | Great cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo (Phalacrocoracidae)

Once common all-around Iceland, the Great cormorant has retreated to Breiðarjörður and Faxaflói, probably due to constant hunting through the ages. It feeds on various fish species such as Cod and Capelin.

Summer 5,100 pairs. Winter 10,000–20,000 birds

Waders

Waders belong to the shorebird family (Charadriiformes). In Iceland, 11-13 species of waders breed regularly and they belong to three families, the tern family, the loon family and the snípu family. Waders are usually long-nosed, high-legged and either have waders or flippers. There are four eggs at the top and young hatch from them.

Iceland is a very important nesting ground for wading birds in Europe. It is estimated that up to 20% of European waders live in Iceland during the summer. Iceland is also an important stopover in the spring and autumn for migratory birds on their way between Europe and North America and Greenland.

Tjaldur | Oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus (Haematopodidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in The British Islands. Common near the seaside, but also found close to lakes and rivers, where it prefers sandy plains and gravel as nesting sites. Feeds on, mussels, worms and other invertebrates. Summer 13,000 pairs. Winter 5000 – 10,000 birds

Spói | Eurasian whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus (Scolopacidae)

Jaðrakan | Black-tailed godwit | Limosa limosa (Scolopacidae)

Migratory bird with winter grounds in W-Europe. Common and strongly prefers lowland wetland areas for nesting sites. Feeds on all kinds of insects and bugs, but also on seeds and berries.
Summer 68.000 pairs

Stelkur | Redshank | Tringa totanus (Scolopacidae)

Mostly migratory bird with winter grounds in The British Islands and W-Europe. Comon in grasslands and wetlands. Outside the nesting season, resident birds are mostly found at the seashore, feeding in the tidal zone. Food mostly consists of bugs and worms, crustaceans and molluscs. Summer 50,000–100,000 pairs. Winter 500–1000 birds

Óðinshani | Red-necked phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus

Sendlingur | Purple sandpiper | Calidris maritima (Scolopacidae)

Highly arctic bird with mixed migratory patterns, as some Icelandic birds may spend the winter elsewhere while birds from more northerly areas spend the winter here. Prefers nesting sites on barren areas or sandy plains in the highlands. Outsite the nesting season the Purple sandpiper is a shorebird, feeding on bugs, molluscs and worms.
Summer 15,000–20,000 pairs. Winter 10,000–100,000 birds

Lóuþræll | Dunlin | Calidris alba (Scolopacidae)

Migratory bird with winter grounds in Portugal and NW-Africa. Prefers wetland areas for nesting sites but is otherwise found on beaches. Feeds on insects, molluscs and worms. Summer 275,000 birds

Vepja (Vanellus vanellus) Lóuætt (Charadriidae)
Vepjur eru flækingar á Íslandi og koma hingað ár hvert. Þær eru mjög algengar um alla Evrópu og austur eftir Asíu. Varp vepja hefur verið staðfest í 15 skipti á landinu, en líklega er hér fullkalt fyrir þær. Vetrarhörkur þóttu vísar ef sást til vepja og hafa fuglarnir einnig gegnt heitinu ísakrákur. Alfriðuð.

Sandlóa | Ringed plover | Charadrius hiaticula (Charadriidae)

Migratory bird with winter grounds in SW-Europe and NW-Africa. Common in the nesting season on sandy beaches and plains. Spends the rest of the year on beaches searching for molluscs and insect in the tidal zone.
Summer 23,000 pairs

Heiðlóa | Golden plower | Pluvialis apricaria (Charadriidae)

Migratory bird with winter grounds in W-Europe. Arrives in Iceland in the end of March and is regarded as the bringer of the spring! In August they start to group together and are often seen feeding at the shoreline. In November they leave for the winter. Common and prefers dry lowland areas for nesting sites. Feeds on bugs, worms and small molluscs. Summer 400,000 pairs

Icelandic websites with bird content:
Fuglar.is
The Icelandic Birding Pages

Main sources:
The encyclopaedia of birds. Ed. Christopher M. Perris and Alex L. A. Middleton. Ed. George Allen & Unwin, London 1985.
Birds in Iceland’s nature. Author: Guðmundur Páll Ólafsson. Ed. Language and Culture 1987
Icelandic birds. Höf: Ævar Petersen and Jón Baldur Hlíðberg. Ed. Vaka-Helgafell hf. 1998.