Birds to See in Iceland in September
107 bird species on our list for Iceland are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Redwing, Black-headed Gull, Eider, Mallard and Greylag Goose. New this month: Common Merganser, Chiffchaff, Grey Heron and European Robin and 17 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
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 107 birds in September
107 birds
RedwingTurdus iliacusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 6.83% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 4.70% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 4.07% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.89% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 3.80% in Sep
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 3.79% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 3.77% in Sep
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusResidentCommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 3.57% in Sep
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Sep
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in Sep
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusResidentCommon62–68 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Sep
BlackbirdTurdus merulaWinter visitorCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.18% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.94% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeResidentCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.74% in Sep
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Sep
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.61% in Sep
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Sep
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.09% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 1.00% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.95% in Sep
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Sep
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaResidentCommon20–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.88% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Sep
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Sep
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusSummer visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.63% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Sep
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorCommon58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.46% in Sep
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaResidentCommon34–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Sep
Greater ScaupAythya marilaSummer visitorCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantCommon55–66 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.27% in Sep
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.24% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaWinter visitorUncommon90–98 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.21% in Sep
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraSummer visitorUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Sep
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaResidentUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.09% in Sep
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorUncommon27–33 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaPassage migrantUncommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Sep
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
CootFulica atraSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Sep
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Sep
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorUncommon46–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorUncommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Little EgretEgretta garzettaPassage migrantRare55–65 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantRare16–20 cmRegularly Sep · 0.02% in Sep
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaSummer visitorUncommon58–77 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorRare76–110 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataSummer visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaSummer visitorRare51–58 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
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