Shortlist birds of Iceland:

The Gyrfalcon, Iceland's national bird, is a magnificent bird of prey. It’s not only the largest species of falcon in the world but also represents the country’s wild and stunning landscapes. With its robust build and impressive hunting skills, the Gyrfalcon has earned a special place in Icelandic culture and history. Apart from the puffin.

It's really big, with some females being more than 60 centimeters (24 inches) long, so you can't miss it when it's flying in the sky.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Gyrfalcon is its incredible hunting prowess. With speeds reaching up to 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour), it is one of the fastest birds of prey in the world. Its hunting repertoire includes a wide range of prey, from small birds such as rock ptarmigans and grouse to mammals like lemmings and Arctic hares.

The Gyrfalcon has really cool feathers that look different depending on where they live and how old they are. Grown-ups usually have white or light gray feathers with black stripes and spots. But the younger ones have darker feathers with spots to blend in better with their environment.

Even though the Gyrfalcon is known as a great hunter, it's still in danger in the wild because its habitat is getting smaller, there's pollution, and people are bothering it. People are working hard to save this amazing bird so that it can keep on living for future generations to enjoy.

Puffin is the most popular bird of Iceland, with the Atlantic puffin being a notable and beloved member of the Alcidae family. Iceland’s tourism business has the puffins to thank.

Here are a few interesting facts about puffins:

Colorful Beaks: Puffins are instantly recognizable by their strikingly colorful beaks. During the breeding season, these beaks develop vibrant hues of orange, yellow, and blue, which serve as a form of attraction and recognition among mates.

Exceptional Divers: Puffins are superb divers, capable of plunging underwater to depths of up to 60 meters (200 feet) in search of fish. Their wings are adapted for swimming, allowing them to "fly" underwater with remarkable agility.

Burrow Nesters: Puffins are burrow-nesting seabirds, often choosing coastal cliffs or offshore islands for their nesting sites. They excavate burrows using their beaks and feet, creating cozy underground chambers where they raise their chicks.

Birds nest in various locations across Iceland, with species like the Arctic Tern, puffins, and ravens showcasing unique nesting behaviors that attract birdwatchers.

Social Creatures: Puffins are social birds and often gather in large colonies, known as "puffinries" or "circuses," during the breeding season. These colonies can consist of thousands of individuals, creating a bustling and noisy environment.

Longevity: Puffins are known for their long lifespan, with some individuals living up to 20 or even 30 years in the wild. They typically return to the same breeding sites year after year, forming strong bonds with their mates.

Flying Skills: Despite their somewhat clumsy appearance on land, puffins are skilled flyers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 88 kilometers per hour (55 miles per hour). They use their wings to "flap" underwater and "fly" through the air with grace and precision.

Global Distribution: Puffins are found in various parts of the northern hemisphere, including the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. They breed on coastal cliffs and islands in regions such as Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.

Seasonal Visitors: While puffins spend much of their lives at sea, they return to land only during the breeding season. After raising their chicks, they migrate back out to sea, where they spend the rest of the year feeding and traveling vast distances across the ocean.

Another bird of Iceland worth mentioning is the Arctic Tern. This small, graceful seabird is famous for its incredible migration journey, as it travels from its breeding grounds in Iceland to its wintering bases in Antarctica and back each year. This round trip covers a staggering distance of up to 44,000 miles, making the Arctic Tern the champion of long-distance migration.

Note: Please stay away from Arctic Terns. They are very aggressive as they hatch chicks. Please don't disturb them.

The Red-throated Loon is another notable bird species found in Iceland. This elegant waterbird is known for its striking appearance: its dark grey plumage, contrasting white underparts, and a distinctive red patch on its throat. The Red-throated Loon breeds in the Arctic tundra and can be spotted in Iceland during summer.

Red Throat Patch: The most distinctive feature of the Red-throated Loon is its red throat patch, particularly prominent during the breeding season. This patch stands out vividly against the bird's otherwise monochromatic plumage, adding a splash of vibrant color to its appearance.

Long, Dagger-like Bill: The Red-throated Loon has a long, slender bill, ideal for capturing its aquatic prey with precision.

Slender, Pointed Wings: Its wings are relatively narrow and pointed, aiding in agile flight and underwater maneuverability.

The Great Skua is a large seabird found in Iceland during the breeding season. These powerful birds are known for their aggressive behavior and fearlessness, often attacking other birds and even humans to defend their nesting sites. The Great Skua is an essential part of the Icelandic avian ecosystem, as it helps maintain the balance of the local bird populations.

Iceland has many kinds of ducks, like the Harlequin and Common Eider. Harlequin ducks have beautiful feathers and like rivers with fast water. You can often see them near the coast or on rivers in Iceland. Common eiders are big ducks that live in the sea. They're important to Iceland's economy because their soft feathers are used to make good insulation.

The Greylag and Pink-footed goose are two prominent goose species found in Iceland. Greylag geese are the country's most significant and common geese, with distinctive orange beaks and pink legs. They breed in wetlands and marshes across the island. Pink-footed geese are migratory birds that breed in Iceland and spend their winters in the British Isles. These geese are known for their remarkable long-distance flights during migration.

The Whooper swan is the national bird of Iceland and a symbol of elegance and grace. These large, white swans are known for their long, straight necks and striking yellow and black bills. They breed in Iceland during summer, nesting in shallow waters and wetlands. Whooper swans are also known for their loud, trumpet-like calls, which can be heard during their courtship rituals and territorial displays.

Some swans stay over the winter in Iceland.

The Corvus corone is commonly known as the Carrion Crow, but it is not the only bird with cultural significance in Iceland.

Measuring around 48 cm in length, these birds are characterized by their solid beaks and impressive wingspans.

Corvus corone is a generalist species that can adapt to various environments and food sources. They have a diverse diet, feeding on insects, fruits, seeds, and carrion. Their intelligence allows them to exploit human-made resources, such as garbage and leftover food.

Carrion Crows live in the southern and western parts of the country. Corvus corone are masters in the Westfjords.

These birds are majestic, brilliant, and can chat with each other. When they find food, they call the rest of the flock and do not eat alone, unlike seagulls.

Carrion Crows are known for their problem-solving skills and social behavior. They exhibit complex communication and cooperation within their groups, making them a fascinating subject for researchers and bird enthusiasts.

Seagulls have a special place in the hearts of both locals and visitors. These adaptable birds have made Iceland their home, thriving in urban and rural settings.

The European Herring Gull and the Black-legged Kittiwake are two common seagulls in Iceland. They are known for their distinctive calls and aerial acrobatics. Seagulls are feasting on fish and human food waste.

Seagulls play a significant role in Iceland's ecosystem, controlling insect and rodent populations. However, they can be a nuisance in urban areas, where their scavenging behavior may lead to conflicts with humans. Despite this, they remain an iconic symbol of Icelandic wildlife.

The inconvenience means that if the seagulls see the remnants of food, they will fly in a huge flock, scream loudly, and create absolute chaos. Then they stay where they find food for a long time.

Visitors to Iceland can see seagulls soaring over the coastal cliffs, nesting on rocky ledges, and diving into the sea for food.