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national bird of iceland
The Iceland national bird is the Gyrfalcon although many often assume it is the Puffin. The Gyrfalcon is actually the largest of the falcon species and is a bird of prey. The abbreviation “gyr” is also used and locals might refer to the bird as such.
Some of the most distinguishing features of the Gyrfalcon include;
The largest of falcons, this bird can grow to 65 cm and have a wingspan up to 160 cm.
The bird generally has silver or brown colouration to its feathers.
It has also been known to have a fully white plumage or a darker black plumage too.
The Gyrfalcon most commonly nests on cliff faces so this is a good place to spot them.
The national bird of Iceland is gyrfalcon. It is the largest of the falcon species, it is found in few parts of the world including the Arctic region and mostly in Iceland. Gyrfalcons belong to order Falconiformes of family Falconidae and genus Falco. Their binomial name is Falcorusticolus. They are specifically found from Arctic coasts to North America and Europe to asia. Gyrfalcons have the unique ability to change characteristics on a minuscule range, they have many colors and varieties in their species. The main part is plumage that varies regularly from country to country.
Historically, gyrfalcons are the rarest of the species and are found in ancient English literature. They have large bodies and a thick coating of fuzz and feathers to protect them from extreme cold. Male gyrfalcon is usually between 48-60 cm in length, females are larger than males and show reverse sexual dimorphism. Their length range between 51-65 cm. The wingspan is large for long flights, the wings may extend up to 160 cm. The average weight of male gyrfalcon is 800-1400 grams. For a female, it is 1200-2100 grams. The tail is 19-25 cm in length for males and around 20-30 cm for females.
Cool truth this iceland’s national bird
Gyrfalcon is pronounced as”JER-falcon.” The name probably evolved from Old Norse, but linguists don’t completely agree upon the specific source of this word.
The Gyrfalcon hunts mostly ptarmigan, and its breeding supply is strikingly similar to that of the Rock Ptarmigan.
Nonetheless, it preys on several other bird species, including sage grouse, jaegers, gulls, terns, fulmars, auks, pheasants, hawks, owls, ravens, and songbirds.
Also, it can search for creatures as big as hares. If their girls are too small to eat the entire prey item in one meal, female Gyrfalcons store leftovers supporting rats within a couple of hundred feet of their nest, and retrieve the exact food later for their chicks.
Little is understood of food-caching outside the breeding season; at one case, a Gyrfalcon was seen regaining a frozen ptarmigan and stripping off pieces of beef to eat, in mid-winter from the Aleutian Islands. Through the mating season, a group of Gyrfalcons needs an estimated two –3 pounds of food each day.
They probably seek small prey only when it can be had fast since larger prey provides a bigger payoff for his or her efforts. Adult males are much smaller than females: males less than 3 pounds while females average up to 4 pounds.
Both females and males possess highly variable plumage coloration, ranging from almost pure white to dark gray-brown. In North America, most are an intermediate gray color.
The earliest Gyrfalcon listed was a man and 15 years, 9 months after he was identified with his group at 20-16 at Wisconsin. He was banded in precisely the same condition in 2003.
national bird of iceland
Puffin Birds in Iceland
Iceland has the largest puffin population in the Atlantic and is rightfully considered the puffin capital of the world. There are about 10 million adorable puffins in Iceland and they are often seen casually walking around when in season. Bird enthusiasts and scientists alike, all travel to Iceland specifically to see this intriguing species in person. Puffin watching has also become a general tourist attraction because the birds are beautiful and friendly.
It’s easy to personify them with their expressive eyes, clumsy walk, and bright beaks. As a result of their funny demeanor, they have been often nicknamed “clowns of the sea.” They also mirror some human social bonds by raising their baby chicks as a couple and nesting as lifelong partners.
Most of the year, puffins live on the surface of the ocean. Puffins only come to shore when they need to reproduce and raise their chicks. You can easily spot the popular Atlantic puffins in very large groups during the summer season. Therefore, prime puffin watching season is from May to early September. In summer, they nest in the exact location they were born and only nest with other puffins nearby.
The female puffins produce a single egg and it takes up to 45 days for the chick to hatch. During this time the parents take turns nesting the egg. After six weeks the chick will mature quickly and can function on its own. Puffins have long lifespans for birds and average between 20 to 25 years of life.
Golden Plover in Iceland
There is a saying in Iceland that the Golden Plover brings with it the springtime. Every year a picture appears in the national newspapers of the first sighting of this colourful species, which normally happens between the 20th and 30th of March.
Considering the challenges of Iceland’s winters, its arrival is always a signal of better times ahead.
This charming species of wading bird usually stays until late September, but individuals have been known to linger as long as the beginning of November. They can be found all around Iceland’s freshwater bodies, such as in Lake Þingvallavatn in the south and Lake Mývatn in the north. Considering Iceland’s extensive network of river systems, however, they are by no means bound to these locations.
Golden Plovers are heard as often as they are seen, and can be identified by a single chirp that they repeat. The reason they only reside in Iceland throughout the summer months is that their diet is largely worms, which they cannot reach when the ground is frozen in winter.
national bird of iceland
Icelandic Raven
There are so many myths about the raven. Odinn, the leader of the ancient pagan gods had his two ravens, Huginn and Muninn. Their names refer to either the mind (Huginn) and memory (Muninn). Odin’s raven’s served him well. They flew all over the realm of men, Midgard, and gathered wisdom and all the latest tidings for the god. No wonder Odinn was considered the wisest of the gods, he did have great help from his illustrious ravens.
Ravens also play a part in the myths and sagas surrounding the settlement of Iceland. Hrafna-Flóki is said to be the first man to sail to Iceland intentionally. In the Faroe Islands, he got himself three ravens to help to him find Iceland. According to legend, when Flóki had been sailing for a while after he departed from the Faroe Islands, he set the three ravens free. One raven returned home, the second raven landed back on the ship, but the third one flew away to the North-West and disappeared. Flóki now knew that land was not far off.
Icelandic Raven
Icelandic folklore states that if a raven jumps around on a roof, changes his tune or caws into the air and shakes his wings, it means that somebody is drowning. A raven flying over you either means good or bad luck, depending on the direction of the flight.
It is an overstatement to call the raven ‘Icelandic.’ Fortunately, ‘Corvus corax‘ is found in many countries around the world. But still, there is something Icelandic about this tough bird. I find it amazing that the raven chicks are hatched in May when it is often freezing, especially at night. A notable enemy of raves are falcons which sometimes steal their nests. However, it is humanity that is the worst enemy of ravens. Sadly, humans kill thousands of ravens every year here in Iceland. But still, the raven soldiers on, hunted by falcons or humans, in blizzard or sunshine.
What is the best season to go bird watching?
Summer: The optimum time to go birdwatching is between May and June. Iceland during the summer months hosts a large variety of migrant birds. Many species become visible as they mate and mark or defend their territories.
Winter: You may get lucky in the West and South coastal areas in Iceland. Speciality species, such as Harlequin Ducks, and small rafts of Eiders, Scaups and Mergansers have been sighted by keen birdwatchers. White-winged gulls are common during this time. The Selfoss/Pingvallen area is a great place for winter birdwatching.
national bird of iceland
Iceland’s National Bird
The popularity of the Atlantic puffins may have you believe they are the national bird of Iceland. However, Iceland’s national bird is, in fact, the Gyrfalcon. The Gyrfalcons are the top predators in the sky known for their lethal precision hunting skills. They mainly eat seabirds, waterfowl, and sometimes rabbits. The Gyrfalcon skills made them a valuable falconry export from the medieval era. These are powerful birds that entice bird watchers from all over the world to come study in person.
Gyrfalcons are the largest falcons in the species. Male gyrfalcons have a wingspan of 48 to 61cm (19 to 24 inches. However, the female gyrfalcons are interestingly larger with a wingspan of 51 to 65cm (20 to 24 inches). They are found throughout the Arctic region but mainly in Iceland. Their plumage is different per location and can be brown, black, white, dark grey or silver. Gyrfalcons are unique because they lay their eggs inside cliff faces and rocky holes. Then they produce 3 to 5 eggs per breeding season.
Since Gyrfalcons nest inside cliffs, in Iceland they are mostly located in the Highlands, and the East Fjords and West Fjords. Gyrfalcons are also found in the North, like at the picturesque Vatnajökull National Park, which has the famous Dettifoss waterfall. Dettifoss waterfall is said to be the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. Visiting these gorgeous sites to witness the majestic Gyrfalcon take flight is a memory of a lifetime.