IcelandAbout 330 bird species have been recorded in Iceland. Of these, only about 85 breed or attempt to breed, and about 12 are regular migrants or winter residents. The rest are occasional visitors. The latter category consists primarily of passerines of European origin, the most common of which are chiffchaffs, willow warblers, blackcaps, garden warblers, finches, bramblings, redstarts, and robins. Quite a few occasional visitors come from America, such as parula warblers, American robins, hermit thrushes, indigo buntings, and others.
Few breeding species
Species recorded annually, but less than twenty times per year, include the bar-tailed godwit, ruff, grey plover, goldeneye, and American wigeon. Other regular visitors, recorded less than twenty times per year, include seabirds such as skuas, long-tailed skuas, and sooty and great shearwaters.
Compared to other European countries, the number of breeding species is small. However, the overall abundance of some species is so high that it more than compensates for the relatively low diversity. Some, such as puffins, fulmars, kittiwakes, as well as guillemots and thick-billed murres, congregate in the millions along the coast where suitable cliffs are available.
In the 20th century, the number of breeding bird species increased significantly, especially due to the expansion of forest cover. Since the early 20th century, the following breeding birds have established themselves here: shoveler, tufted duck, pochard, lesser spotted gull, herring gull, common gull, black-headed gull, short-eared owl, and starling. Coot, lapwing, swallow, fieldfare, and house sparrow have attempted to nest but have not yet established permanent colonies.
Common birds found in many places
Due to its isolation and other factors, Iceland is not fully populated zoologically. Since 1920, the climate has been gradually warming, and unless a reversal occurs, further expansion of the breeding bird population can be expected.
Many of the most common birds, such as mallard, golden plover, ringed plover, curlew, redshank, common snipe, great black-backed gull, black-headed gull, arctic tern, meadow pipit, wheatear and raven, are found almost everywhere in the country, except in the vast deserts of the interior.
The best time for bird watching
The best time for birdwatching in Iceland is the second half of May and the first three weeks of June. Several species of passerines can be seen in Reykjavik and other densely populated areas. A small population of redwings winters in Iceland, and redpolls are especially noticeable at this time of year.
Wrens are often seen along the coast and even in Reykjavik and other cities. Thousands of snow buntings flock to towns and villages during bad weather, followed occasionally by merlins. Gyrfalcons are often seen in winter along the coast and in cities, especially during periods of low willow grouse numbers. Among passerines, fieldfares and blackbirds are regular winter visitors, and crows are also very noticeable at this time.
Little black-backed gulls are the only gulls that are fully migratory. They depart in October and November, when Iceland gulls have already arrived from their nesting grounds in West Greenland. Winter waders are found primarily along the southwestern and southeastern coasts, with purple sandpipers being the most common.
In some areas, they can be seen in their thousands. Ruddy turnstones are also very common along the capital's coast, as are oystercatchers and redshank. Less frequently seen in winter are snipes, sandpipers, and sanderlings, the latter being very rare at this time of year. Among waders, curlews and bar-tailed godwits are regular winter visitors (though they don't make the top twenty). Grey plovers are seen almost every year. Both great northern and red-throated loons can be seen at sea, but mostly in the south.
Migratory ducks
Many ducks are migratory, but an increasing number are staying for the winter. For example, some teal populations are fairly consistent in winter, when ponds and streams freeze over. Eurasian wigeons are very common in the capital region during winter.
Ducks and tufted ducks are now sighted annually in the sea off the Reykjanes Peninsula. Barrow's goldeneyes are quite common near the mouth of Lake Thingvallavatn. Long-tailed ducks are common in the sea throughout the country, and harlequin ducks are also numerous, especially in rough seas. However, the most abundant duck is the eider.
IcelandAbout 330 bird species have been recorded in Iceland. Of these, only about 85 breed or attempt to breed, and about 12 are regular migrants or winter residents. The rest are occasional visitors. The latter category consists primarily of passerines of European origin, the most common of which are chiffchaffs, willow warblers, blackcaps, garden warblers, finches, bramblings, redstarts, and robins. Quite a few occasional visitors come from America, such as parula warblers, American robins, hermit thrushes, indigo buntings, and others.
Few breeding species
Species recorded annually, but less than twenty times per year, include the bar-tailed godwit, ruff, grey plover, goldeneye, and American wigeon. Other regular visitors, recorded less than twenty times per year, include seabirds such as skuas, long-tailed skuas, and sooty and great shearwaters.
Compared to other European countries, the number of breeding species is small. However, the overall abundance of some species is so high that it more than compensates for the relatively low diversity. Some, such as puffins, fulmars, kittiwakes, as well as guillemots and thick-billed murres, congregate in the millions along the coast where suitable cliffs are available.
In the 20th century, the number of breeding bird species increased significantly, especially due to the expansion of forest cover. Since the early 20th century, the following breeding birds have established themselves here: shoveler, tufted duck, pochard, lesser spotted gull, herring gull, common gull, black-headed gull, short-eared owl, and starling. Coot, lapwing, swallow, fieldfare, and house sparrow have attempted to nest but have not yet established permanent colonies.
Common birds found in many places
Due to its isolation and other factors, Iceland is not fully populated zoologically. Since 1920, the climate has been gradually warming, and unless a reversal occurs, further expansion of the breeding bird population can be expected.
Many of the most common birds, such as mallard, golden plover, ringed plover, curlew, redshank, common snipe, great black-backed gull, black-headed gull, arctic tern, meadow pipit, wheatear and raven, are found almost everywhere in the country, except in the vast deserts of the interior.
The best time for bird watching
The best time for birdwatching in Iceland is the second half of May and the first three weeks of June. Several species of passerines can be seen in Reykjavik and other densely populated areas. A small population of redwings winters in Iceland, and redpolls are especially noticeable at this time of year.
Wrens are often seen along the coast and even in Reykjavik and other cities. Thousands of snow buntings flock to towns and villages during bad weather, followed occasionally by merlins. Gyrfalcons are often seen in winter along the coast and in cities, especially during periods of low willow grouse numbers. Among passerines, fieldfares and blackbirds are regular winter visitors, and crows are also very noticeable at this time.
Little black-backed gulls are the only gulls that are fully migratory. They depart in October and November, when Iceland gulls have already arrived from their nesting grounds in West Greenland. Winter waders are found primarily along the southwestern and southeastern coasts, with purple sandpipers being the most common.
In some areas, they can be seen in their thousands. Ruddy turnstones are also very common along the capital's coast, as are oystercatchers and redshank. Less frequently seen in winter are snipes, sandpipers, and sanderlings, the latter being very rare at this time of year. Among waders, curlews and bar-tailed godwits are regular winter visitors (though they don't make the top twenty). Grey plovers are seen almost every year. Both great northern and red-throated loons can be seen at sea, but mostly in the south.
Migratory ducks
Many ducks are migratory, but an increasing number are staying for the winter. For example, some teal populations are fairly consistent in winter, when ponds and streams freeze over. Eurasian wigeons are very common in the capital region during winter.
Ducks and tufted ducks are now sighted annually in the sea off the Reykjanes Peninsula. Barrow's goldeneyes are quite common near the mouth of Lake Thingvallavatn. Long-tailed ducks are common in the sea throughout the country, and harlequin ducks are also numerous, especially in rough seas. However, the most abundant duck is the eider.