Background information on bird life on Iceland

Iceland lies in the North Atlantic just under the arctic circle. It also lies between Europe and the American continent, Greenland being relatively nearby. This has implications on the composition of birds species on Iceland. However, there are two other characteristic element that plays a big role in bird life on Iceland. First, the Iceland lowlands have exceptionally mild winters given its northern latitude. This leads to hosting very unlikely winter visitors like the common European Grey Heron from Norway. Second, fact is that there are hardly any (real) trees on Iceland and summers are cool. These are unfavorable elements for many passerines. Obviously Iceland has - being an island - a long coastline. Both breeders of low coastal regions as well as cliff breeding birds have ample space for breeding. Especially the bird cliffs attract many visitors, both general tourists as well as keen bird watchers. A special feature is the lake Mývatn in northern Iceland where an exceptional amount of duck species and other waterfowl breed.

Birds of Sea Cliffs, Gulls & Related Sea Birds, Waterfowl, Birds of heathers & scrubs, Marsh birds, Passerines

Birds of Sea Cliffs
For most tourists these birds are especially interesting. They can be found in huge numbers on the cliffs and show little fear towards tourists who can come very close but never reach their nests on the cliffs. Even the egg-gathering by Icelanders through the centuries apparently has not made them very shy, nest protection is a very strong instinct!
A group of related birds which are common on the cliffs are the auks. The steep perpendicular cliffs are used mostly by the common guillemot's ( Uria aalge) and the closely related Brünnich's guillemot ( Uria lomvia) (a more northern close relative of the common guillemot, both breed on Iceland). On higher parts of the cliffs the razorbill ( Alca torda) is more common on higher parts of the cliffs. The popular puffin (Fratercula arctica) breeds in self dug hollows on the edge of the rocks and grass turfs (for photo's see main pages on birds in this site). Because the latter can be found so close to the edge and because it will stay near their holes tourists can approach them easily. The black guillemot ( Cepphus grylle), also common on Iceland (esp. in the Breiðafjörður), breeds in rock hollows of lower coast lines.
Other birds are also typical for the cliffs. These are the kittiwakes ( Rissa tridactylla) and the fulmar ( Fulmarus glacialis). Kittywakes breed only on cliffs at the sea shore while fulmars can also be found much further inland and also on high mountain slopes along the coast. Fulmars resemble gulls but are in fact member of the Petrel family. Shags ( Phalocrocorax aristotelis) and Gannets ( Morus bassanus) are also cliff breeding birds. Shags are more common in the western region (Snaefellssness and Breiðafjörður) while gannets frequent the south-western coasts of Iceland.
There are many places where one can visit these cliffs. Well known are the Vestmannaeyar (small islands south-east of Reykjavik), Arnarstapi on the Snæfellsnes peninsula (mainly kittywakes), the Breiðafjörður area (check in at Stykkisholmur, see black guillemots on Flatey island). The Breiðafjörður is also famous for the sea eagle also known as the white-tailed eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla). By far the most famous place to visit cliff breeding birds is the Latrabjarg, located on the westernmost tip of the Vestfjord district. Other places of interest are the Grimsey island north of mainland Iceland and in the south: Ingo and Dyrhólaey. This list is however, far from complete!

Birds of Sea Cliffs, Gulls & Related Sea Birds, Waterfowl, Birds of heathers & scrubs, Marsh birds, Passerines

Gulls and Related Sea Birds
Many different gull species frequent Iceland. The kittywake is the only cliff breeder. All others breed in colonies on lowland coastal regions and marshes. By far the most inland occurring gull is the Black-headed Gull ( Larus ridibundus). It is a species very common throughout Europe and is extremely adaptable. Thus it can also make use of wastes from human settlements. On Iceland one can see them also in highlands where tourists concentrate! Gulls generally are adaptable birds. On Iceland these are common: the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), the Glaucus Gull ( Larus hyperboreus), the Common Gull (Larus canus), the Great Black-backed Gull ( Larus marinus) and the Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus). There is one special feature about the gulls on Iceland. This concerns the hybridization of the Herring Gull and the Glaucous Gull. The Herring Gull only settled in the early part of the 20th century. Pure Glaucous Gulls are becoming rarer. Other gulls are non-breeders on Iceland but are winter guests. One of them is, strangely enough, is the Iceland Gull (Larus glaucides) (the English name is confusing!), another the high-arctic Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea).
Closely related are the terns and skuas. The Arctic Tern ( Sterna paradisaea) is very common, especially in grassy areas where they breed. Two common skuas are the Great Skua ( Stercorarius skua) and the Arctic Skua ( Stercorarius parasiticus). The Great Skua is most common along the south coast - their main breeding grounds are the barren sand plains along the south coast (Skeiðarársandur), while the Arctic Skua frequents many coastal regions.

Birds of Sea Cliffs, Gulls & Related Sea Birds, Waterfowl, Birds of heathers & scrubs, Marsh birds, Passerines

Waterfowl
On Iceland common waterfowl species belong either to the family of the ducks (including swans and geese) or to the grebe family and the closely related diver family (in America known as loons). Usually one associates them to fresh water birds. However the Eider Duck ( Somateria mollissima) is a bird of (shallow) seas that seek their nesting grounds along the coasts. Other ducks, like the Common Scoter ( Melanitta nigra), the Long-tailed Duck ( Clangula hyemalis) and the Harlequin Duck ( Histronicus histronicus) breed in/along fresh water environments but seek the seas and oceans outside the breeding season. The same is true for divers/loons.
Although one can observe many species of waterfowl all over Iceland Mývatn is by far the most interesting place for observing waterfowl. Along this lake and areas surrounding the lake more duck species breed than any other place in Europe. Common dabbling ducks are Wigeon ( Anas penelope), Gadwall ( Anas strepera) and Teal ( Anas crecca). Common diving ducks are the Tufted Duck ( Aythya fuligula), the Greater Scaup ( Aythya marila), the Long-tailed Duck ( Clangula hyemalis), the Barrow's Goldeneye ( Bucephala islandica) and the Common Scoter ( Melanitta nigra). Where the lake flows into the Laxá river the Harlequin Duck ( Histrionicus histrionicus) is very common. This list though is not complete! An extensive site about Lake Mývatn is maintained by the Biological Station of Mývatn.
In the lowlands both the Whooper Swan ( Cygnus cygnus) and the Greylag Goose ( Anser anser) are breeders, the latter much more common than the first. In the highlands the Pink-footed Goose ( Anser brachyrhynchus) breed in vegetated areas (often referred to highland oasis). Other geese species are passing migrants from Greenland.
Lake Mývatn also has quite a few breeding pairs of the Slavonian Grebe ( Podiceps auritus) which is rather rare in most other regions of Iceland. The two loon species though can be found breeding scattered all over Iceland. They are the Great Northern Diver ( Gavia immer), an American species and the Red-throated Diver ( Gavia stellata).

Birds of Sea Cliffs, Gulls & Related Sea Birds, Waterfowl, Birds of heathers & scrubs, Marsh birds, Passerines

Birds of heathers and scrubs
From an ecological point the Ptarmigan ( Lagopus mutus) is a vital element in the food chain of Iceland. It is the main source of birds of prey like the Gyrfalcon ( Falco rusticolus) and the Snowy Owl (the latter is mainly a winter visitor) as there are no lemmings on Iceland. Another predator that relies much on the ptarmigan and also on bird (chicks) is the polar fox. Unlike many popular beliefs this animal hardly - if not at all - preys on farm animals like sheelp (in fact the hard conclusion from an environmental perspective related to Iceland is that sheep do a lot of damage (soil The ptarmigans are a popular hunting bird and as a result quite shy in most regions. However, where the hunt is forbidden they become quite tame. This is the case on the island of Hrisey (near Akureyri) and the Skaftafell National Park. In heather areas of Iceland many stilts breed who could be called marsh birds (see below). Small but conspicuous is the Golden Plover ( Pluvialis apricaria). As there are many heather lands it is quite common. Also common are the larger stilts the Whimbrel ( Numenius phaeopus) and the Black-tailed Godwit ( Limosa limosa). These birds can be found in marshlands and wet grasslands too. For passerines in heathers and scrubs see section on Passerines.

Birds of Sea Cliffs, Gulls & Related Sea Birds, Waterfowl, Birds of heathers & scrubs, Marsh birds, Passerines

Marsh birds (stilts)
Next to the birds of sea cliffs and seabirds like gulls, the coasts of Iceland are frequented by many birds which can be found along the seaside. They are the waders of the coast marshes. As seen in previous paragraph, some waders can be found inland too, esp. in the lowland regions of Iceland. One of those is the Snipe ( Gallinago gallinago). It can be found in grasslands. The easiest characteristic to recognize the specie is when it displays its courtship flight. Then it makes a rhythmic sound with the pens of its (outer) tail feathers. On the ground it hides by pressing its body in the grass which is an excellent camouflage. The snipe is middle-sized wader as is the Oystercatcher ( Haematopus ostralegus). This black and white bird with red beaks, legs and eyes is a noisy bird with high pitched "peet'apeet "calls. Birds not yet mentioned are smaller waders. Common are the Ringed Plover ( Charadrius hiaticula), the Dunlin ( Calidris alpina), the Purple Sandpiper ( Calidris maritima), the Turnstone ( Arenaria interpres), and the Red-necked Phalarope ( Phaleropus lobatus). The turnstone is foremost a passing migrant but can nevertheless be seen during most part of the year on Iceland. The Red-necked Phalarope can be found on fresh waters, also far inland, although it heads for the ocean outside the breeding season. It is an interesting bird to watch, not in the least because it is not very shy. For specific information on these birds please see the main pages of the bird of Iceland.

Birds of Sea Cliffs, Gulls & Related Sea Birds, Waterfowl, Birds of heathers & scrubs, Marsh birds, Passerines

Passerines
When taking into account that Iceland lies far away from the mainland too, it becomes logical that both numbers of passerine species and numbers of passerine individual birds are low. Many specie-rich groups of the passerines in Europe, like the warblers and twits, do not occur on Iceland (except for rare sightings, but as any bird watcher can tell you have to bare in mind that one can spot any bird of the world almost anywhere on the world). Passerines The low number of passerine species make it quite easy to understand the passerines of Iceland!

The three most common insect-eating birds are the wheatear ( Oenanthe oenanthe) (typical for rough country), the white wagtail ( Motacilla alba) (both in urban areas and wilderness, often near water) and the meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) (in many different habitats). Because of their reliance on insects they (must) migrate in winter to southern Europe and Africa. Martins and swifts can be found occasionally on Iceland but there are no established populations to my knowledge.

Generalist passerines are birds that can make use of a wide variety of food sources. Common on Iceland are the starling (Sturnus vulgaris) (mostly around human settlements), the redwing ( Turdus iliacus) (likes trees, therefore often in gardens, but also in other habitats), and the wren ( Troglodytes troglodytes) (birch wood). Because these birds can switch to other food sources like berries, plant buds, etc. they may stay during the winter. Wrens are indeed full residents, while many individuals of the other two species do migrate but some sty. In case of the starling non-Iceland summer residents stay on Iceland during the winter. Redwings migrate only small distances (British Isles, Western Europe) where they also feed on non-insect sources. Other generalists are the blackbird and fieldfare (often winter visitors!).

Specialized seed-eating birdsalways feed their chickens first with insects as the very young birds cannot digest other food. One has to bear in mind this when seed-eaters are mentioned. Typical seed-eating birds of Iceland are the snow bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis) (in all wilderness regions of Iceland - prefers rocky country) and the redpoll ( Carduelis flammea) (typically a bird of woods, towns and forest plantations). Like the generalists there is no compelling need to migrate. However some migration takes place but in case of the redpoll the pattern is complex an not always regular. Also redpolls from other areas (Greenland) come in winter to Iceland. For both redpolls and the wren the size of the populations can be very much affected by cold winters, a typical characteristic of small residential birds in Northern Europe. Other less common seed eating birds on Iceland are the brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) and the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). Both are rare breeders and winter visitors .

A fourth group of the passerines are the corvids, the family of the crows. Although one could technically place them as generalist pur sang their much larger size sets them apart from other passerines. The only "real" Iceland corvid is the raven ( Corvus corax). They are common all over Iceland but are often found near human settlements where they can find food. Other corvids that can be seen occasionally on Iceland are the rook (Corvus frugilegus), the hooded crow (Corvus corone ssp. cornix) and the jackdaw (Corvus monedula).

Birds of Sea Cliffs

Gulls & Related Sea Birds

Waterfowl

Birds of heathers & scrubs

Marsh birds

Passerines

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