🦅 Wildlife Tool

Iceland Bird Watching Checklist

Track all 42 species you spot in Iceland — from iconic Puffins to the majestic Gyrfalcon, Iceland's national bird.

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Species Checklist

Seabirds & Coastal (12)

Atlantic PuffinLundiEasy

May – August

Northern GannetSúlaMedium

May – September

Arctic TernKríaEasy

May – August

Common GuillemotLangvíaEasy

May – August

RazorbillÁlkaEasy

May – August

Black GuillemotTeistaEasy

All year, most visible April – September

Black-legged KittiwakeRitaEasy

April – September

Great SkuaSkúmurMedium

May – August

Arctic SkuaKjóiMedium

May – August

Leach's Storm-petrelStormsvalaRare

May – September (nocturnal)

European Storm-petrelSjósvalaRare

May – September

Manx ShearwaterSkrofaRare

April – September

Waterfowl & Lakes (11)

Whooper SwanÁlftEasy

April – October in Iceland; winters in UK/Ireland

Greylag GooseGrágæsEasy

April – October (most); some year-round

Pink-footed GooseHeiðagæsEasy

April – May (spring migration), September – October (huge autumn flocks)

Barnacle GooseHelsingiMedium

September – October (migration staging)

Common EiderÆðurEasy

All year, most visible in breeding season (May – June)

Harlequin DuckStraumöndMedium

All year, best May – July for breeding males

Barrow's GoldeneyeHúsöndMedium

All year; breeding season April – June

Tufted DuckSkúföndEasy

All year; most at lakes April – September

Red-necked PhalaropeÓðinshaniMedium

May – August

Long-tailed DuckHávellaEasy

October – April

Red-breasted MerganserToppöndEasy

All year; breeds May – July

Waders & Shorebirds (7)

European Golden PloverHeiðlóaEasy

April – August

WhimbrelSpóiEasy

April – August

Eurasian OystercatcherTjaldurEasy

March – October

Black-tailed GodwitJaðrakanMedium

April – August

DunlinLóuþrællEasy

May – September

Purple SandpiperSendlingurMedium

September – April

Ringed PloverSandlóaEasy

April – September

Raptors (4)

White-tailed EagleHaförnRare

All year; easiest to see October – March

GyrfalconFálkiMedium

All year

MerlinSmyrillMedium

All year; breeds May – August on moorland

Short-eared OwlBranduglaMedium

All year; most active dawn and dusk

Passerines & Others (8)

Snow BuntingSnjótittlingurEasy

All year; spring males most visible April – May

RedwingSkógarþrösturEasy

April – October

Meadow PipitÞúfutittlingurEasy

April – September

Common RedpollAuðnutittlingurEasy

All year; most visible in winter at bird feeders

Common RavenHrafnEasy

All year

Eurasian WrenMúsarrindillMedium

All year

White-throated DipperStraumtítlingurMedium

All year

Rock PtarmiganRjúpaMedium

All year; easiest in winter (white) and early spring (moulting)

Top Birdwatching Hotspots in Iceland

These six locations represent the best birding destinations in Iceland, each offering unique species and habitats.

Birdwatching in Iceland — FAQ

Everything you need to know before your birdwatching trip to Iceland.

Your checklist progress is saved automatically in your browser. Conservation status data sourced from IUCN Red List.

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Seabirds & Coastal (12)

Atlantic PuffinLundiEasy

May – August

Northern GannetSúlaMedium

May – September

Arctic TernKríaEasy

May – August

Common GuillemotLangvíaEasy

May – August

RazorbillÁlkaEasy

May – August

Black GuillemotTeistaEasy

All year, most visible April – September

Black-legged KittiwakeRitaEasy

April – September

Great SkuaSkúmurMedium

May – August

Arctic SkuaKjóiMedium

May – August

Leach's Storm-petrelStormsvalaRare

May – September (nocturnal)

European Storm-petrelSjósvalaRare

May – September

Manx ShearwaterSkrofaRare

April – September

Waterfowl & Lakes (11)

Whooper SwanÁlftEasy

April – October in Iceland; winters in UK/Ireland

Greylag GooseGrágæsEasy

April – October (most); some year-round

Pink-footed GooseHeiðagæsEasy

April – May (spring migration), September – October (huge autumn flocks)

Barnacle GooseHelsingiMedium

September – October (migration staging)

Common EiderÆðurEasy

All year, most visible in breeding season (May – June)

Harlequin DuckStraumöndMedium

All year, best May – July for breeding males

Barrow's GoldeneyeHúsöndMedium

All year; breeding season April – June

Tufted DuckSkúföndEasy

All year; most at lakes April – September

Red-necked PhalaropeÓðinshaniMedium

May – August

Long-tailed DuckHávellaEasy

October – April

Red-breasted MerganserToppöndEasy

All year; breeds May – July

Waders & Shorebirds (7)

European Golden PloverHeiðlóaEasy

April – August

WhimbrelSpóiEasy

April – August

Eurasian OystercatcherTjaldurEasy

March – October

Black-tailed GodwitJaðrakanMedium

April – August

DunlinLóuþrællEasy

May – September

Purple SandpiperSendlingurMedium

September – April

Ringed PloverSandlóaEasy

April – September

Passerines & Others (8)

Snow BuntingSnjótittlingurEasy

All year; spring males most visible April – May

RedwingSkógarþrösturEasy

April – October

Meadow PipitÞúfutittlingurEasy

April – September

Common RedpollAuðnutittlingurEasy

All year; most visible in winter at bird feeders

Common RavenHrafnEasy

All year

Eurasian WrenMúsarrindillMedium

All year

White-throated DipperStraumtítlingurMedium

All year

Rock PtarmiganRjúpaMedium

All year; easiest in winter (white) and early spring (moulting)