Discovering Iceland’s Wildlife
While Iceland is beautifully rugged country, its harsh climate does not lend itself to giving many species of animal a comfortable habitat. Iceland has no snakes, frogs, squirrels and mosquitoes, but the small variety of wildlife it does sustain are hardy and well adapted to the weather extremes. Here is a list of few animals in Iceland you can hope to see:
Arctic Puffin
Iceland is a perfect place to these cute airborne creatures. Puffins choose to nest in Iceland during the spring months and can be seen there between early April and September. Pay a visit to the Westman Islands off the south coast of Iceland which is a popular breeding ground for Icelandic puffins during summer. If you are based in Reykjavik, there are plenty of puffin tours you can do.
Mink
Mink were introduced to the country in order to start a fur industry during the twelfth century. However, after a few escapees managed to successfully establish themselves in the harsh climate and soon became pests. They cause a lot of disruption to the native bird colonies and farms and are now considered a pest.
Arctic Fox
As the only land animal that came and stayed in the country, the arctic fox is the top predator of the country’s cute and mighty birds. This creature is truly remarkable because it changes its colour, being white during the winter months and brown during the summer.
Icelandic Horses
The Icelandic horses aren’t technically wildlife, but you are sure to see them during your trip! Considered to be an essential servant, it is a breed of horse is unique for having a friendly temperament. They are particularly resilient and play a key role in Icelandic life. They are used widely in farming, particularly for rounding up sheep. They are also frequently raced, even on bodies of frozen water during the winter months. Icelandic horses are also particularly special because they can perform two extra gaits on top of the usual four that most horses achieve.
Wild Reindeer
The beautiful reindeer found in eastern Iceland were introduced from Norway during the late 18th century. They were intended for farming, but in the end, were never domesticated. If you wish to go searching for them, they prefer the more elevated regions in the summer months and tend to move lower and closer to the coast during the winter.
Seals
Seals can be found in a variety of places around Iceland, and a number of different breeds can be seen. They are often found playing amongst the icebergs in Jokulsarlon, a beautiful lagoon where glacial freshwater meets salty sea water. They can also be found around the west fjords, Snaefellsness Peninsula and Vatnsnes Peninsula. There are many seal watching tours, so keep an eye out for bearded, harp, hooded and ringed seals.
Whales
Just like with seals, there are many different breeds of whale that can be found in Iceland, but this time you’ll usually have to venture out a bit further from the shore and take a trip on a whale watching tour. The best months to see whales are during the summer – from April to September, with over 20 species in the seas around the country. Orca, humpback, blue and minke whales frolic in the cold Icelandic waters. There are many excursions you can take from all around the country. You may even see dolphins, porpoises and sharks on the tours too!
Golden Plover
Known in Iceland as the heidloa or loa, the arrival of the golden plover signals the beginning of spring to Icelanders. The first sighting of the loa is usually in March, although the main arrival is often in April. They spend the winter months in the more temperate climate of Great Britain and as far south as Gibraltar, but over half the population goes to Iceland. It is one of the less well-known birds in Iceland, but worth keeping an eye out for on bird watching tours.
White Tailed Sea Eagle
White tailed eagles are a more elusive species of bird in Iceland, with only 35-40 breeding pairs, and their breeding sites are not known publicly. However, they seek refuge in the western part of the region to escape extinction.
Sleek Black Raven
It is a prominent bird in the country’s nature – this bird is common during the winter. They may be sneaky, but they are intelligent and found a way to survive the country’s harsh environment
Finding Animals in Iceland
There are plenty of wildlife tours and excursions you can take in Iceland to increase your chances of spotting both the more common and more elusive species, but it is never guaranteed. As with all nature, spotting the Iceland wildlife will require patience.