Birds to See in Iceland in July
94 bird species on our list for Iceland are recorded regularly in July
Of these, the most often recorded are Arctic Tern, Black-headed Gull, Redwing, Redshank and Eider. New this month: Sooty Shearwater, Bonaparte's Gull and White-rumped Sandpiper.
On the move in July
GBIF · JulArriving
At their peak
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 94 birds in July
94 birds
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 6.05% in Jul
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 4.36% in Jul
RedwingTurdus iliacusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 4.23% in Jul
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 3.88% in Jul
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 3.55% in Jul
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 3.46% in Jul
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Jul
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 3.35% in Jul
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.30% in Jul
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Jul
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 3.01% in Jul
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.72% in Jul
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Jul
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.36% in Jul
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusResidentCommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Jul
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Jul
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Jul
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 2.02% in Jul
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.95% in Jul
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.94% in Jul
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.82% in Jul
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Jul
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorCommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.71% in Jul
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.70% in Jul
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Jul
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Jul
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Jul
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Jul
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.38% in Jul
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Jul
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Jul
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusResidentCommon62–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Jul
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Jul
BlackbirdTurdus merulaWinter visitorCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Jul
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Jul
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeResidentCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Jul
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Jul
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.76% in Jul
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.74% in Jul
Greater ScaupAythya marilaSummer visitorCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jul
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.63% in Jul
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Jul
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jul
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jul
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jul
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jul
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in Jul
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaResidentCommon34–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jul
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaResidentCommon20–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jul
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jul
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jul
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jul
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jul
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jul
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorCommon58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Jul
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraSummer visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jul
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusSummer visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.23% in Jul
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jul
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jul
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.21% in Jul
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jul
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Jul
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in Jul
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jul
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jul
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jul
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.10% in Jul
Northern PintailAnas acutaResidentUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jul
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.10% in Jul
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jul
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Jul
CootFulica atraSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Jul
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.04% in Jul
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.04% in Jul
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorUncommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Jul
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Jul
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Jul
PochardAythya ferinaSummer visitorRare42–49 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Jul
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Jul
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousPassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jun–Aug · 0.01% in Jul
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly Jul · 0.01% in Jul
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorRare76–110 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.01% in Jul
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataSummer visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaSummer visitorRare51–58 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Jul · 0.01% in Jul
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaSummer visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Jul
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Common SwiftApus apusPassage migrantRare16–17 cmRegularly Jun–Jul · 0.01% in Jul
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