Birds of Iceland

Iceland is a meeting place for Arctic, North Atlantic and European birdlife. Roughly eighty species breed regularly, millions of seabirds gather around the coast, and geese and waders use the island as a vital staging point between Greenland, Canada and Europe. This guide covers the most characteristic species, the best seasons and regions, practical birdwatching advice and bookable wildlife trips that fit each part of the country.

Quick guide to birds in Iceland

Best overall season	Late April to August for breeding birds, seabird colonies and long daylight
Signature species	Atlantic puffin, gyrfalcon, harlequin duck, great northern diver, whooper swan, eider and Arctic tern
Leading regions	Mývatn and the north, Látrabjarg and the Westfjords, Vestmannaeyjar and the south, Borgarfjörður Eystri and Reykjavík's coast
Useful equipment	Binoculars, waterproof layers, a field guide and a telephoto lens rather than a close approach
Good to know	Remain on paths and outside barriers; never approach nests or fly a drone near breeding birds

Why Iceland is exceptional for birdwatching

Iceland has fewer breeding species than mainland Europe, but the number of individual birds can be extraordinary. The Icelandic Institute of Natural History estimates around ten million breeding pairs, about 7.5 million of them seabirds. The birds are spread across sea cliffs, offshore islands, lowland wetlands, glacial rivers, lava fields, heathland and highland lakes, so a varied road trip can produce very different communities within a few days.

The island also sits on a major migration route. Pink-footed geese, red knots, turnstones and other travellers connect Iceland with Greenland and Arctic Canada, while many Icelandic breeders winter in Britain, continental Europe, Africa or on the open Atlantic. The official migration overview classifies 47 breeding species as migratory; other birds remain all year or move from inland nesting grounds to milder coasts and open water.

International importance is not limited to famous puffin cliffs. Iceland has more than one hundred recognised Important Bird Areas, including seabird colonies, rocky coasts, shallow bays, marshes, lakes and rivers. This variety explains why the best birding itinerary is regional: Mývatn is fundamentally different from Látrabjarg, and a Reykjavík boat trip reveals a different habitat again.

Best time for birdwatching in Iceland

Spring: migration and courtship

From April into May, migrants return and coastal stopover sites become busy. Golden plovers announce spring in open country, geese gather in lowlands, waders feed on shores and wetlands, and seabirds reclaim cliffs and islands. Weather can still be wintry, especially in the north and at exposed headlands, but spring offers fresh plumage and intense activity.

Summer: breeding colonies and midnight light

June and July offer the widest range of breeding species and the longest observation window. Puffins, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars crowd coastal colonies; ducks and divers occupy lakes; and waders defend territories across heath and farmland. The bright nights are excellent for photography, but breeding birds are under pressure. Keep visits quiet and short, and never move closer when a bird calls repeatedly, circles you or leaves a nest.

Late summer and autumn: fledging and passage

From August, young birds disperse and many migrants gather before departure. Puffin timing varies by colony and season, so late-August visitors should not assume that adults will still be ashore. Estuaries, beaches and sheltered bays can be productive for passage waders and waterfowl, while stormy weather occasionally brings unusual oceanic birds close to land.

Winter: coasts, harbours and resident birds

Winter has fewer species and very short daylight, but it rewards a focused approach. Eiders, long-tailed ducks, mergansers, gulls and cormorants use coastal water; ptarmigan move through open country; ravens remain conspicuous; and gyrfalcon or white-tailed eagle sightings are possible with patience. Roads and weather determine access, so treat winter birding as part of a flexible regional itinerary.

Characteristic birds of Iceland

Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica)

The Atlantic puffin is Iceland's best-known seabird. It breeds in burrows on grassy islands and cliff tops, returning from the open ocean in spring and usually leaving again by late summer. Vestmannaeyjar, Látrabjarg, Borgarfjörður Eystri, Ingólfshöfði, Grímsey and the islands of Faxaflói are leading viewing areas. Puffins are wild and seasonal; read the dedicated Atlantic puffin guide before planning a colony visit.

Harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Iceland is the only European country with a regular breeding population of harlequin ducks. They favour fast, clear rivers in summer, where the boldly patterned males are unmistakable. The Laxá system between Lake Mývatn and the sea is the classic area. After breeding, many birds move to rocky coasts, where surf and distance can make them harder to identify.

Great northern diver (Gavia immer)

The great northern diver, or common loon, is another North American-associated species with an important Icelandic breeding presence. Its black-and-white summer plumage and powerful, haunting calls make it a memorable bird, but nesting pairs need space. Look across large, quiet lakes with binoculars and avoid walking the shoreline toward a calling or alert bird.

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)

Iceland's national bird of prey is a powerful Arctic falcon associated with open landscapes and ptarmigan. It occurs at low density and is never guaranteed. North Iceland is well known among birders, but breeding sites are sensitive and should not be sought through close approaches or publicly shared nest coordinates. A distant view is the responsible view.

White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

The white-tailed eagle is Iceland's largest bird of prey. Its stronghold is around Breiðafjörður and the western fjords, where adults patrol coasts, islands and shallow bays. The population recovered from a dangerously low level, and all nests remain highly sensitive. Scan from established roads, boats and viewpoints instead of trying to locate a nest.

Whooper swan and geese

Whooper swans breed on lakes and marshes and gather in larger flocks outside the nesting season. Pink-footed geese are characteristic breeders of interior river valleys and highland edges, while greylag geese are widespread in lowlands and increasingly visible through winter. Greenland white-fronted geese and brent geese use Iceland during migration, making spring and autumn especially interesting.

Waders of heath, wetland and shore

Golden plover, black-tailed godwit, common snipe, redshank, whimbrel, dunlin, ringed plover and oystercatcher shape the soundscape of the Icelandic summer. Many nest on open ground rather than in trees. Stay on paths where possible, keep dogs under close control and step back immediately if an adult bird gives alarm calls or distraction displays.

Seabirds and coastal specialists

Common and Brünnich's guillemots, razorbills, black guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars, gannets, shags, cormorants, Arctic terns and several gull species breed around Iceland. Each uses a different niche: sheer ledges, boulder slopes, flat islands, low cliffs or open ground. A boat trip can reveal feeding flocks and flight lines, while a land-based cliff gives time to study behaviour. Colony access rules always take priority over photography.

Where to see birds in Iceland by region

The strongest trip combines several habitats rather than chasing one checklist. The tours below are current FunIceland wildlife products matched to the regions discussed. Dedicated bird and puffin trips are prioritised; broader wildlife trips are included where they give practical access to seabird areas.

Reykjavík, Reykjanes and Faxaflói Bay

Reykjavík is an easy place to begin. The Old Harbour has gulls, eiders, cormorants and black guillemots, while the coast from Seltjarnarnes to Grótta can hold waders, divers and sea ducks. In summer, short boat trips approach the protected puffin islands Akurey and Lundey without landing. Farther south, Reykjanes adds lava coasts, tidal pools and the dramatic seabird cliffs near Krýsuvíkurberg, subject to safe access and local restrictions.

These four departures suit city stays and combine island seabirds with broader Faxaflói wildlife. Puffin sightings are seasonal even where a product is available on a wider date range.

Westfjords and Látrabjarg

Látrabjarg is one of Europe's largest bird cliffs and the strongest land-based stop for a dedicated Westfjords itinerary. Puffins nest in the grassy upper edge, while razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars occupy different ledges below. The turf can be hollowed by burrows and the cliff has no continuous barrier, so remain well back and lie down only in clearly safe, established viewing areas.

Breiðafjörður, Rauðasandur, Vatnsfjörður and the fjords around Ísafjörður add eagles, divers, ducks, geese and migratory waders. Distances are long and roads can be slow; plan at least several days and check local conditions before leaving the main route.

These four regional trips combine dedicated Látrabjarg access with broader Westfjords wildlife and a boat-based option from Ísafjörður.

North Iceland: Lake Mývatn, Tjörnes, Húsavík and Grímsey

Lake Mývatn and the Laxá river system form Iceland's richest inland birding area. Breeding ducks can include Barrow's goldeneye, harlequin duck, long-tailed duck, scaup, Eurasian wigeon, tufted duck, red-breasted merganser and gadwall. Red-necked phalaropes spin on shallow water, Slavonian grebes use vegetated bays, and gyrfalcons range through the wider district. Use marked viewpoints and avoid stopping on narrow roads.

Tjörnes adds accessible seabird cliffs near the Diamond Circle route, Húsavík provides boat-based wildlife trips across Skjálfandi Bay, and Grímsey offers a remote island experience with dense summer birdlife. The first three tours below explicitly include puffin-season seabirds; the fourth is a broader wildlife option on a traditional boat.

East Iceland: Borgarfjörður Eystri and the fjords

Borgarfjörður Eystri is one of Iceland's most visitor-friendly puffin sites. At Hafnarhólmi, boardwalks and viewing platforms allow close observation without walking through the colony. Puffins, kittiwakes and eiders are regular summer highlights, usually from mid-April into early August. The drive over the mountain pass can be weather-sensitive, so check conditions and allow time.

Farther south, the bays and wetlands around Hérað, Djúpivogur and Berufjörður can produce divers, ducks, geese, waders and coastal seabirds. The current Puffin Tour from Seyðisfjörður & Gufufoss is the dedicated bookable East Iceland option in the FunIceland catalogue, combining Hafnarhólmi with Borgarfjörður Eystri and Gufufoss.

West Iceland, Breiðafjörður and Snæfellsnes

Breiðafjörður's shallow sea, skerries and islands support rich coastal birdlife, including eiders, shags, cormorants, black guillemots and white-tailed eagles. Snæfellsnes offers accessible cliffs and lava coasts at Arnarstapi, Hellnar and Lóndrangar, while Stykkishólmur is a useful base for boat trips and shoreline scanning. Birding here works best as part of a broader West Iceland stay rather than a fast loop from Reykjavík.

Þingvellir, lowland wetlands and the Highlands

Þingvellir and southwest lowlands add birch scrub, rivers, lakes and farmland to a coastal itinerary. Redwings, meadow pipits, wheatears, snipes, godwits and golden plovers are widespread in summer. Highland travel brings pink-footed geese, divers, long-tailed ducks, snow buntings and ptarmigan, but access is seasonal and nesting birds are easily disturbed on sparse open ground. Remain on roads and marked trails.

South Iceland, Vestmannaeyjar and Ingólfshöfði

Vestmannaeyjar is the country's best-known puffin landscape, but its cliffs and offshore stacks also support guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes and other seabirds. On the mainland, Dyrhólaey fits naturally into a South Coast journey, while Ingólfshöfði provides a guided route into an isolated colony between black sands and glacial rivers. Access can change during nesting, so respect closures and never step beyond ropes for a photograph.

These trips combine dedicated colony visits with ways to experience Heimaey and the wider South Coast.

Bird photography in Iceland

Iceland's long summer light can be exceptional for photography, particularly early in the morning and late in the evening. A telephoto lens lets you stay outside a bird's comfort zone, while binoculars help you read behaviour before lifting the camera. Use a fast shutter speed for birds in flight, protect equipment from spray and rain, and secure straps at cliff edges or on boats.

Never improve a composition by moving toward a nest, blocking an adult's approach or flushing a flock repeatedly. Avoid playback of calls around breeding birds and do not publish sensitive nest locations. A hide, vehicle, viewing platform or natural cover can produce better images because birds resume normal behaviour when they do not feel pursued.

Responsible birdwatching and safety

• Stay on marked paths, boardwalks and the visitor side of barriers, especially at cliffs and wetlands.
• Keep well away from nests and chicks. If adults alarm-call, circle you or perform a distraction display, retreat calmly.
• Do not fly drones near bird cliffs, colonies, feeding flocks or nesting areas. Protected areas may have stricter seasonal or complete bans.
• Use binoculars or a telephoto lens instead of approaching wildlife, and keep group noise low.
• Keep dogs leashed wherever permitted and never allow them to chase birds.
• Do not step onto fragile cliff turf: puffin burrows can collapse and hidden edges can give way.
• Check road, weather, tide and local access information before remote visits; wind can make exposed cliffs unsafe.
• Choose guides and operators that follow wildlife codes, limit disturbance and accept that sightings are never guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions about birds in Iceland