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Start with the habitat, then the season
Iceland’s birds cluster by habitat. Seabirds nest on cliffs and islands, waterfowl gather on lakes and rivers, and some northern specialties are found on open ground and along northern routes. Visit Iceland’s birdwatching overview at visiticeland.com/article/birdwatching and the North Iceland tourism guide at northiceland.is both organise their birding advice this way, so it is the most useful way to plan a route. Choose the habitat you want to visit first, then check the species list for that area.
Coastal cliffs and islands
1. Atlantic puffin
The puffin is Iceland’s signature bird. Visit Iceland lists colonies at the Westman Islands, Dyrhólaey, Látrabjarg, Grímsey, Hafnarhólmi in Borgarfjörður Eystri, Breiðafjörður and Papey. The main viewing window it gives is May through mid-August, and early morning and late evening are the more active periods at nesting sites. Adults spend long stretches at sea fishing, so a visit inside that window still does not guarantee a sighting. The same page says about 60% of the world’s Atlantic puffins breed in Iceland, but it does not show a reference year for that estimate, so treat it as an approximate, undated figure.
2. Guillemot
The guillemot is a coastal seabird included in Visit Iceland’s birdwatching coverage. It is worth scanning cliff ledges on the same trips you make to puffin colonies, since the two share much of the same coastline.
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3. Arctic tern
The Arctic tern appears in Visit Iceland’s overview as a characteristic coastal species. Look for it along shorelines, lagoons and open coast rather than expecting it in the interior.
4. Northern gannet
The North Iceland tourism guide identifies Skoruvíkurbjarg as the only mainland Iceland breeding ground for northern gannets. The guide gives no publication date, so check current access and conditions locally before planning a visit there.
Mývatn and Laxá wetlands
The lake and river system around Mývatn and the Laxá river is the main reason many birders travel to the north. Both species below are described as northern waterfowl specialties that are especially associated with this area.
5. Harlequin duck
The harlequin duck is a northern waterfowl specialty, especially associated with Mývatn and nearby waters. It is one of the more distinctive ducks you can see on Iceland’s rivers and lakes.
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6. Barrow’s goldeneye
Barrow’s goldeneye is another northern duck specialty identified in official and regional tourism sources. It is usually found with other waterfowl around Mývatn and Laxá, so a single wetland stop can produce several duck species.
Northern birding routes and islands
Regional sources describe birding trails and hides in North Iceland, with distinct sites at Mývatn, Drangey, Gauksmýri and Grímsey. These routes add birds of prey and upland species to a trip that otherwise centres on coast and water.
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7. Gyrfalcon
The gyrfalcon is a notable bird of prey associated with northern birding areas in regional tourism material. It is a bird to watch for across open country on northern routes rather than at cliff colonies.
8. Rock ptarmigan
The rock ptarmigan is a northern Iceland birding specialty. Its ground-dwelling habits mean it is most often spotted by walking slowly over open ground on northern routes, not from a road.
Open water and other waterbirds
9. Great northern diver
The great northern diver fits a list that spans several habitats. Visit Iceland includes it in its birdwatching species coverage, and it is a good addition to any coastal or lake-based route.
10. Whooper swan
The whooper swan broadens the list beyond cliff-nesting seabirds. Its presence depends on the season and the water conditions, so treat it as a likely rather than guaranteed sighting. Check current local information on wetlands before you go.
Planning your route
Use these checks to compare destinations before you choose one:
- Target species: decide whether you want seabirds, waterfowl or northern specialties, and pick the area that offers most of them.
- Season: the puffin window of May through mid-August is the strongest seasonal constraint on this list, and it falls outside the months many visitors travel in autumn and winter.
- Access: note whether a site is reached on foot, from a marked trail, from a hide, or by boat.
- Viewing distance: seabird colonies and wetland hides both reward a lens or binoculars, so decide in advance how close you can comfortably watch from.
Facts worth knowing about Iceland’s birds
- The Nature Conservation Agency of Iceland states that 75 bird species regularly nest in Iceland. The webpage gives no publication year for this figure, which was viewed in 2026.
- The same agency reports around 400 confirmed bird species and 121 internationally significant Important Bird Areas. These figures are also undated on the webpage and should be read as the agency’s current published totals, not a dated census.
- The agency explains the position in its own words: “A total of 75 bird species regularly nest in Iceland, and a number of others occasionally choose to breed here, although they have been slow to establish themselves permanently.” The page at natt.is/en/fauna/birds shows no publication date.
- Iceland’s birds are notable because large seabird, wader and waterfowl populations use distinct habitats, even though the country’s total number of species is not exceptionally high by global standards.
Watching birds responsibly
Visit Iceland advises visitors not to disturb puffins at nesting grounds. Its guidance is practical and applies to most seabird colonies on this list:
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- Keep to marked trails and local signage. Cliff edges and burrowed ground can be unstable.
- Stay at least one metre from cliff edges near colonies.
- Move quietly, and never touch or feed puffins or other birds.
- Keep a respectful distance from birds seen from a boat.
- Respect the rules that protect nests from disturbance.
Compact birdwatching binoculars let you see birds at a distance without approaching a colony, which is the best way to watch these species. Binoculars do not guarantee a sighting, but they make the most of the birds you do find.
Quick Recap
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