List of birds of Iceland

This list of birds of Iceland has 370 bird species as listed below. Iceland is an island and country in the north Atlantic. Its birds are typical of northwestern Europe, but there are few breeding landbirds because the hard winters make it difficult for resident species, and the remoteness limits the range of summer migrants. However, the island has recorded an impressive array of American vagrants due to its location. This list includes one extinct species, one globally threatened species, and one introduced species.

Anatidae

Mute swan, Cygnus olor (rare/accidental)
Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (rare/accidental)
Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus
Bean goose, Anser fabalis (rare/accidental)
Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
Greylag goose, Anser anser
Snow goose, Chen caerulescens (rare/accidental)
Canada goose, Branta canadensis (rare/accidental)
Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (rare/accidental)
Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
Brent goose, Branta bernicla
Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (rare/accidental)
Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (rare/accidental)
Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (rare/accidental)
Wood duck, Aix sponsa (rare/accidental)
Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (rare/accidental)
Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope
American wigeon, Anas americana (rare/accidental)
Gadwall, Anas strepera
Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
Green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis (rare/accidental)
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
American black duck, Anas rubripes (rare/accidental)
Northern pintail, Anas acuta
Garganey, Anas querquedula (rare/accidental)
Blue-winged teal, Anas discors (rare/accidental)
Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata (rare/accidental)
Common pochard, Aythya ferina (rare/accidental)
Redhead, Aythya americana (rare/accidental)
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (rare/accidental)
Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (rare/accidental)
Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Greater scaup, Aythya marila
Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (rare/accidental)
Common eider, Somateria mollissima
King eider, Somateria spectabilis (rare/accidental)
Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (rare/accidental) (vulnerable)
Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus
Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis
Common scoter, Melanitta nigra
Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (rare/accidental)
Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca (rare/accidental)
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (rare/accidental)
Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica
Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (rare/accidental)
Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (rare/accidental)
Smew, Mergellus albellus (rare/accidental)
Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
Goosander, Mergus merganser
Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (rare/accidental)

Tetraonidae

Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta

Phasianidae

Common quail, Coturnix coturnix (rare/accidental)

Gaviidae

Red-throated diver, Gavia stellata
Great northern diver, Gavia immer

Podicipedidae

Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (rare/accidental)
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis (rare/accidental)
Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus (rare/accidental)
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (rare/accidental)
Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus

Diomedeidae

Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (rare/accidental)

Procellariidae

Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
Greater shearwater, Puffinus gravis (rare/accidental)
Sooty shearwater, Puffinus griseus (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)
Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus

Hydrobatidae

Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (rare/accidental)
European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
Leach's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa

Sulidae

Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Phalacrocoracidae

Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
European shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Ardeidae

Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris (rare/accidental)
American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (rare/accidental)
Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis (rare/accidental)
Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus (rare/accidental)
Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (rare/accidental)
Green heron, Butorides virescens (rare/accidental)
Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides (rare/accidental)
Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (rare/accidental)
Snowy egret, Egretta thula (rare/accidental)
Little egret, Egretta garzetta (rare/accidental)
Great white egret, Ardea alba (rare/accidental)
Grey heron, Ardea cinerea (rare/accidental)
Purple heron, Ardea purpurea (rare/accidental)

Ciconiidae

Black stork, Ciconia nigra (rare/accidental)
White stork, Ciconia ciconia (rare/accidental)

Threskiornithidae

Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus (rare/accidental)
Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia (rare/accidental)

Accipitridae

European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus (rare/accidental)
Black kite, Milvus migrans (rare/accidental)
Red kite, Milvus milvus (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)
White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
Eurasian marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus (rare/accidental)
Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus (rare/accidental)
Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus (rare/accidental)
Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus (rare/accidental)
Eurasian buzzard, Buteo buteo (rare/accidental)
Rough-legged buzzard, Buteo lagopus (rare/accidental)
Booted eagle, Aquila pennatus (rare/accidental)

Pandionidae

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (rare/accidental)

Falconidae

Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus (rare/accidental)
Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)
Merlin, Falco columbarius
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo (rare/accidental)
Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (rare/accidental)

Rallidae

Water rail, Rallus aquaticus (rare/accidental)
Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (rare/accidental)
Corn crake, Crex crex (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)
Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (rare/accidental)
Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (rare/accidental)
Common coot, Fulica atra (rare/accidental)
American coot, Fulica americana (rare/accidental)

Gruidae

Common crane, Grus grus (rare/accidental)

Haematopodidae

Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Recurvirostridae

Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta (rare/accidental)

Burhinidae

Stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus (rare/accidental)

Glareolidae

Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola (rare/accidental)
Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)

Charadriidae

Ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (rare/accidental)
Greater sand plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (rare/accidental)
Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (rare/accidental)
American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica (rare/accidental)
Eurasian golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria
Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola (rare/accidental)
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (rare/accidental)

Scolopacidae

Red knot, Calidris canutus
Sanderling, Calidris alba
Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (rare/accidental)
Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (rare/accidental)
Little stint, Calidris minuta (rare/accidental)
Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (rare/accidental)
White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (rare/accidental)
Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (rare/accidental)
Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (rare/accidental)
Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (rare/accidental)
Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (rare/accidental)
Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima
Dunlin, Calidris alpina
Broad-billed sandpiper, Limicola falcinellus (rare/accidental)
Buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)
Ruff, Philomachus pugnax (rare/accidental)
Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (rare/accidental)
Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (rare/accidental)
Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola (rare/accidental)
Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (near-threatened)
Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (rare/accidental)
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (rare/accidental)
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (rare/accidental)
Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (rare/accidental)
Common redshank, Tringa totanus
Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia (rare/accidental)
Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (rare/accidental)
Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (rare/accidental)
Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (rare/accidental)
Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus (rare/accidental)
Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (rare/accidental)
Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos (rare/accidental)
Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (rare/accidental)
Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (rare/accidental)
Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
Grey phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius

Stercorariidae

Pomarine skua, Stercorarius pomarinus (rare/accidental)
Arctic skua, Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed skua, Stercorarius longicaudus (rare/accidental)
Great skua, Stercorarius skua

Laridae

Laughing gull, Larus atricilla (rare/accidental)
Franklin's gull, Larus pipixcan (rare/accidental)
Little gull, Larus minutus (rare/accidental)
Sabine's gull, Larus sabini (rare/accidental)
Bonaparte's gull, Larus philadelphia (rare/accidental)
Black-headed gull, Larus ridibundus
Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (rare/accidental)
Common gull, Larus canus
Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
Herring gull, Larus argentatus
Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans (rare/accidental)
Thayer's gull, Larus thayeri (rare/accidental)
Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides
Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus
Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea (rare/accidental)
Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)

Sternidae

Gull-billed tern, Sterna nilotica (rare/accidental)
Sandwich tern, Sterna sandvicensis (rare/accidental)
Common tern, Sterna hirundo (rare/accidental)
Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri (rare/accidental)
Sooty tern, Sterna fuscata (rare/accidental)
Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybridus (rare/accidental)
Black tern, Chlidonias niger (rare/accidental)
White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus (rare/accidental)

Alcidae

Common guillemot, Uria aalge
Brunnich's guillemot, Uria lomvia
Razorbill, Alca torda
Great auk, Pinguinus impennis (extinct)
Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle
Little auk, Alle alle
Crested auklet, Aethia cristatella (rare/accidental)
Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica

Columbidae

Rock pigeon, Columba livia
Stock pigeon, Columba oenas (rare/accidental)
Wood pigeon, Columba palumbus (rare/accidental)
Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto (rare/accidental)
Turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur (rare/accidental)
Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (rare/accidental)

Cuculidae

Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (rare/accidental)
Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (rare/accidental)
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (rare/accidental)

Strigidae

European scops owl, Otus scops (rare/accidental)
Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (rare/accidental)
Long-eared owl, Asio otus (rare/accidental)
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

Caprimulgidae

Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (rare/accidental)
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (rare/accidental)

Apodidae

Common swift, Apus apus (rare/accidental)
Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba (rare/accidental)

Cerylidae

Belted kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon (rare/accidental)

Meropidae

European bee-eater, Merops apiaster (rare/accidental)

Coraciidae

European roller, Coracias garrulus (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)

Upupidae

Hoopoe, Upupa epops (rare/accidental)

Picidae

Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla (rare/accidental)
Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (rare/accidental)
Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major (rare/accidental)

Tyrannidae

Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens (rare/accidental)
Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus (rare/accidental)
Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum (rare/accidental)

Alaudidae

Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (rare/accidental)
Sky lark, Alauda arvensis (rare/accidental)
Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris (rare/accidental)

Hirundinidae

Sand martin, Riparia riparia (rare/accidental)
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (rare/accidental)
Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica (rare/accidental)
American cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (rare/accidental)
Common house martin, Delichon urbicum (rare/accidental)

Motacillidae

Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris (rare/accidental)
Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni (rare/accidental)
Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis (rare/accidental)
Pechora pipit, Anthus gustavi (rare/accidental)
Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
Rock pipit, Anthus petrosus (rare/accidental)
Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta (rare/accidental)
American pipit, Anthus rubescens (rare/accidental)
Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava (rare/accidental)
Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (rare/accidental)
Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (rare/accidental)
White wagtail, Motacilla alba

Bombycillidae

Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (rare/accidental)
Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (rare/accidental)

Troglodytidae

Winter wren, Troglodytes troglodytes

Prunellidae

Dunnock, Prunella modularis (rare/accidental)

Turdidae

European robin, Erithacus rubecula (rare/accidental)
Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia (rare/accidental)
Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos (rare/accidental)
Siberian rubythroat, Luscinia calliope (rare/accidental)
Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica (rare/accidental)
Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros (rare/accidental)
Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus (rare/accidental)
Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra (rare/accidental)
European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola (rare/accidental)
Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
White's thrush, Zoothera dauma (rare/accidental)
Varied thrush, Zoothera naevia (rare/accidental)
Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina (rare/accidental)
Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus (rare/accidental)
Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus (rare/accidental)
Grey-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus (rare/accidental)
Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus (rare/accidental)
Blackbird, Turdus merula
Black-throated thrush, Turdus ruficollis (rare/accidental)
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
Song thrush, Turdus philomelos (rare/accidental)
Redwing, Turdus iliacus
Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus (rare/accidental)
American robin, Turdus migratorius (rare/accidental)

Sylviidae

Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (rare/accidental)
Grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia (rare/accidental)
River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis (rare/accidental)
Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (rare/accidental)
Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola (rare/accidental)
Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus (rare/accidental)
Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris (rare/accidental)
Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum (rare/accidental)
Sykes's warbler, Hippolais rama (rare/accidental)
Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (rare/accidental)
Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta (rare/accidental)
Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla (rare/accidental)
Garden warbler, Sylvia borin (rare/accidental)
Barred warbler, Sylvia nisoria (rare/accidental)
Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca (rare/accidental)
Common whitethroat, Sylvia communis (rare/accidental)
Subalpine warbler, Sylvia cantillans (rare/accidental)
Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis (rare/accidental)
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (rare/accidental)
Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (rare/accidental)
Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita (rare/accidental)
Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus (rare/accidental)

Regulidae

Ruby-crowned kinglet, Regulus calendula (rare/accidental)
Goldcrest, Regulus regulus (rare/accidental)

Muscicapidae

Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata (rare/accidental)
Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva (rare/accidental)
Pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca (rare/accidental)

Paridae

Great tit, Parus major (rare/accidental)

Sittidae

Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis (rare/accidental)

Oriolidae

Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus (rare/accidental)

Laniidae

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio (rare/accidental)
Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor (rare/accidental)
Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator (rare/accidental)

Corvidae

Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula (rare/accidental)
Rook, Corvus frugilegus (rare/accidental)
Hooded crow, Corvus cornix (rare/accidental)
Common raven, Corvus corax

Sturnidae

Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Rosy starling, Pastor roseus (rare/accidental)

Passeridae

House sparrow, Passer domesticus (rare/accidental)
Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (rare/accidental)

Vireonidae

Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (rare/accidental)

Fringillidae

Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs (rare/accidental)
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (rare/accidental)
European greenfinch, Carduelis chloris (rare/accidental)
European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis (rare/accidental)
Eurasian siskin, Carduelis spinus (rare/accidental)
Linnet, Carduelis cannabina (rare/accidental)
Common redpoll, Carduelis flammea
Arctic redpoll, Carduelis hornemanni (rare/accidental)
Common crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (rare/accidental)
Parrot crossbill, Loxia pytyopsittacus (rare/accidental)
Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus (rare/accidental)
Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula (rare/accidental)
Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes (rare/accidental)

Parulidae

Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia (rare/accidental)
Tennessee warbler, Vermivora peregrina (rare/accidental)
Northern parula, Parula americana (rare/accidental)
Yellow warbler, Dendroica petechia (rare/accidental)
Cerulean warbler, Dendroica cerulea (rare/accidental) (vulnerable)
Black-throated blue warbler, Dendroica caerulescens (rare/accidental)
Black-throated green warbler, Dendroica virens
Blackburnian warbler, Dendroica fusca (rare/accidental)
Magnolia warbler, Dendroica magnolia (rare/accidental)
Yellow-rumped warbler, Dendroica coronata (rare/accidental)
Palm warbler, Dendroica palmarum (rare/accidental)
Blackpoll warbler, Dendroica striata (rare/accidental)
American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (rare/accidental)
Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas (rare/accidental)
Canada warbler, Wilsonia canadensis (rare/accidental)

Thraupidae

Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea (rare/accidental)

Emberizidae

Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca (rare/accidental)
White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys (rare/accidental)
White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis (rare/accidental)
Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis (rare/accidental)
Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus (rare/accidental)
Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos (rare/accidental)
Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella (rare/accidental)
Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana (rare/accidental)
Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (rare/accidental)
Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (rare/accidental)
Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (rare/accidental) (near-threatened)
Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus (rare/accidental)
Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala (rare/accidental)