Birds to See in Iceland in August
92 bird species on our list for Iceland are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Redwing, Black-headed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Fulmar and Meadow Pipit. New this month: Brent Goose, Curlew, Willow Warbler and Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
Pied WagtailBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
KittiwakeBusiest month of the year · Feb–Nov
Northern GannetBusiest month of the year · Dec–Oct
Sooty ShearwaterBusiest month of the year · Jul–Oct
Manx ShearwaterBusiest month of the year · Apr–Sep
From Iceland’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 92 birds in August
92 birds
RedwingTurdus iliacusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 4.28% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 4.22% in Aug- Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 3.97% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 3.78% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.75% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 3.65% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Aug- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 3.47% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Aug
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Aug
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusResidentCommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Aug
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Aug- KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.01% in Aug
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.83% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.77% in Aug
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusResidentCommon62–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.62% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.59% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.57% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaWinter visitorCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeResidentCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Aug- Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 1.30% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.24% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.12% in Aug
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.09% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.95% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Aug
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.72% in Aug
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaResidentCommon20–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Aug
Greater ScaupAythya marilaSummer visitorCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Aug
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorCommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.53% in Aug
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaResidentCommon34–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorCommon58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Aug
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.30% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.29% in Aug
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug- Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.26% in Aug
- Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in Aug
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusSummer visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.25% in Aug
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraSummer visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaResidentUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
CootFulica atraSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.06% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantCommon55–66 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorUncommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jun–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorRare76–110 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Aug
PochardAythya ferinaSummer visitorRare42–49 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaSummer visitorRare51–58 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made