Where to see puffins in Iceland ?
When we talk about Iceland, the puffins come first to mind. Everyone wants to see and photograph this small North Atlantic seabird.
The popularity of these birds extends beyond naturalists and photographers. Seeing puffins in Iceland is at the top of everyone’s list when traveling to Iceland in summer. Their flamboyant colors, shape, comical behavior, and docility have made them popular with adults and children alike.
But the question is: where to see puffins in Iceland?
And by extension, how to approach them, what precautions to take, and, for some, how to photograph puffins in Iceland? That’s what we’re going to cover in this complete guide to puffins in Iceland.
Iceland is one of the best places in the world for wildlife watching, as the population density is so low, and the tundra so rich in biodiversity, especially as far as birds are concerned.
10 things to know about puffins in Iceland
The puffin, or sea parrot, is a seabird that lives exclusively in the North Atlantic. Before we tell you where to find them, it’s important to learn more about the species. Here are 10 important things to know about puffins in Iceland:
1 – The puffins’ diet
Puffins feed exclusively on fish. The species they catch most are herring and capelin. To catch their prey, they dive underwater. They use their wings to move forward and their webbed feet to steer.
Puffins can stay underwater for more than a minute. During a single dive, they can catch several fish, which they keep in their beaks thanks to their serrated structure. This adaptation enables the puffins to optimize their hunting and feed their young more efficiently.
2 – The puffin, an Atlantic bird
The Atlantic puffin is one of three species of puffin. It lives exclusively in the North Atlantic. Iceland is the largest nesting site, with two to three million breeding pairs, or 60% of the world’s population. That’s why Iceland is the best place to see puffins. Other populations can be found in the British Isles, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and eastern Canada. In continental Europe, puffins can be seen on the Norwegian coast.
Puffin populations used to be much larger. However, the colonization of northern Europe, Greenland, and Canada by humans, who had long predated on them, led to a drastic reduction in their populations.
3 – Puffins breeding in Iceland
The puffin breeds in Iceland in summer. They come inland in May and spend the summer months on dry land. The best months to see puffins in Iceland are June, July, and August (at least the first part of the month).
During the breeding season, puffins use their beaks and feet to dig burrows on the edge of cliffs. This is when their beaks become colored. The rest of the year, the puffin loses its color.
Puffins form monogamous pairs. Courtship is well known, as it’s during this period that puffin pairs can be seen touching beaks. They then mate, and the female lays a single egg, which she incubates for around forty days. Finally, the parents take turns feeding their young. During this period, they hardly feed at all, giving priority to their young’s survival.
At the end of the season, the parents stop feeding their young, who, starving, jump from the top of the cliff to the ocean to find their own food. Thus begins the fabulous life of Iceland’s puffins!
4 – Puffin protection status in Iceland
Puffins have been classified as a “vulnerable species” since 2015 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Previously, its status was “minor concern”. This change in status is due to the decline in the population over recent decades. There are many reasons for this decline:
- Fishing accidents (drowning in nets)
- Overfishing of puffin prey (herring and capelin)
- Introduction of predators on certain islands (rats, foxes, dogs, etc.).
- Predation by jaegers, polar foxes, and gulls
- Global warming
In Iceland, the status of the puffin is more ambiguous. Whereas in the past, hunting was authorized on an unrestricted basis, today the authorities allow Icelanders to hunt puffins and harvest their eggs in a “sustainable” way. Iceland and the Faroe Islands are the only countries to allow this type of hunting. In the future, the only way to protect puffins in Iceland is to ban hunting altogether.
5 – Puffins’ winter in the Atlantic Ocean
Puffins are definitely not land birds! It’s impossible to see puffins in winter in Iceland. In fact, from August and the end of the breeding season, puffins take to the open seas to spend the winter in the water, on the edge of the North Atlantic. They are therefore migratory birds, but not in the usual sense. They don’t migrate from one land to another, but from one land to the ocean.
6 – Puffins can live up to 20 years in the wild
The lifespan of puffins is a feat of nature, given their small size. While many individuals don’t survive their first year, mainly due to predation, some can break records and live for over 20 years. This longevity explains why females lay only one egg a year.
Puffins usually avoid nesting sites accessible to predators like the Arctic fox. Instead, they choose islands where this predator is absent. In this way, they optimize their offspring’s chances of survival. On the other hand, when they winter on the high seas, they are exposed to marine predators.
7 – Icelandic puffin population in decline
The Icelandic puffin population has been declining in recent years, despite its protected status. Reasons for the decline include overfishing in Iceland’s fjords and bays, climate change, and an increasing shortage of fish.
The situation is extremely worrying. Puffins only lay one egg per year. It will therefore take time to rebuild the population.
8 – One of the main tourist attractions in Iceland
Over the years, the puffin has become one of Iceland’s main tourist attractions, along with the Northern Lights, natural sites, and Icelandic horses. Every year, millions of people come to Iceland to see puffins. This success is due not only to the beauty of these birds but also to their docility and comical side.
Today, you can’t go into a souvenir store in Reykjavik or anywhere else in Iceland without finding dozens of related products, from puffin cuddly toys to teacups and fridge magnets.
It’s also Iceland’s most photographed bird. Thousands of new puffin photos are posted on Instagram every day. Around nesting sites, there are always dozens of people photographing puffins in Iceland.
9 – Puffins are very small birds
You might not realize how big they are when you see photos of puffins in Iceland. But these birds are tiny and light. They measure between 26 cm and 29 cm and weigh an average of 400g. Because they nest on the edge of cliffs, they are easy prey for all predators, including smaller ones like rats.
10 – Puffin’s camouflage is perfect!
When you see puffins on a cliff in Iceland, it’s hard to imagine that the birds’ camouflage is effective, so visible are they on the green grass. But the puffin’s camouflage essentially protects them when they’re in the water, which is practically all year round.
Puffins have two main body colours: black on the back and head, and white on the chest and belly. The black color makes them less visible to birds such as gulls and jaegers. The white underneath makes them more camouflaged for marine predators.
This is how puffins protect themselves from both air and sea predators. From above, they blend into the dark North Atlantic. From below, they blend in with the light, waves, and foam.
When can you see puffins in Iceland?
As we’ve already mentioned, puffins arrive in Iceland in spring, in May. They occupy the cliffs and new pairs are formed. After raising their young, they leave Iceland for the Atlantic in the second half of August.
Some puffin nesting sites, such as Vik, are closed to the public in June. This restriction is a good thing, as it gives the puffins more peace, given the tourist crowds in southern Iceland. Other nesting sites, such as those in the Westfjords, remain open, however, as tourist numbers remain low all year round.
The best time to see puffins in Iceland is from July to early August. This allows you to see and photograph puffins without disturbing their nesting period.
Where to see puffins in Iceland?
60% of the puffin population breeds in Iceland. It’s the most important country in the world for this species. Iceland is therefore the best place to see puffins. Once on the island, you have a wide choice of spots to choose from. Puffins can be found all over Iceland. Sometimes nesting sites are accessible by car. Sometimes you have to take a ferry to the islands to see them. Here are all the places where you can see puffins in Iceland:
See puffins in Vik and Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey, near the village of Vik in the south of Iceland, is an important nesting spot for Icelandic puffins. The birds nest on the impressive promontory overlooking the ocean, with its arch visible from Vik’s blackest sand.
The site is closed in June to protect the puffins. But from July onwards, it’s possible to observe Vik’s puffins again.
To get to Vik from Reykjavik, the only option is to rent a car and make the 3-hour drive south. But the adventure is well worth it! Vik’s beach, its black sand, and its cave surrounded by basalt columns are certainly among the top 3 places to visit in Iceland.
Finally, the Reykjavik-Vik route allows you to visit many other exceptional natural sites, such as the waterfalls of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
Photographing puffins at Latrabjarg
Latrabjarg (or Látrabjarg) is a cliff in the southwest of Iceland’s Westfjords. For puffin lovers, it’s THE place to be!
The cliffs of Latrabjarg are home to a large colony of puffins. But that’s not all: this exceptional natural site is also home to 40% of the world’s population of razorbills. Both species are very easy to observe as they nest on the cliffs.
However, the isolation of the cliffs at Latrabjarg makes them difficult to access. You’ll need to hire a car to get there. The drive from Reykjavík to Latrabjarg takes between 6 and 7 hours. The last part of the road is a track in bad condition. This puffin spot in Iceland is therefore reserved for good drivers who aren’t afraid of many hours on the road.
Watching puffins on the island of Vigur
The island of Vigur is located on the edge of the Westfjords, close to the town of Isafjordur, the capital of the region. To get there, you have two options:
- Fly from Reykjavik to Isafjordur: Once in Isafjordur, take a ferry to the island of Vigur to see the puffins.
- Rent a car in Reykjavik: Isafjordur can be reached by road. It takes between 6 and 7 hours. This trip is an opportunity to visit other natural sites in the region, such as the Dynjandi waterfall and the Hornstrandir nature reserve.
The island of Vigur is famous for its large puffin colony, one of the largest in Iceland. But also for its colony of common guillemots and Arctic terns. Finally, the island’s owners practice traditional eider feather harvesting: 3500 pairs of eiders nest on Vigur every summer.
A visit to Vigur also includes one of Iceland’s oldest houses, a farmhouse built in 1860. But the most impressive is the windmill built in 1840. It’s certainly the most northerly windmill on the planet.
The puffins of Grimsey
Grimsey is one of Iceland’s northernmost islands. It lies on the Arctic Circle at 66° north, 41 km from the Icelandic coast. The island has been declared an Important Bird Area, due to its large colonies of puffins, gulls, Arctic terns, and other North Atlantic bird species.
Puffins are easily spotted on Grimsey Island. But other species, such as the razorbill, are well worth a visit. This is truly a naturalist’s paradise. It can be reached by ferry three times a week from the village of Dalvik.
Visitors who like comfort can book a room in one of the two hotels on Grimsey Island, while the more adventurous can use the campsite in Sandvik Village.
Going to see the puffins on Grimsey Island seems disproportionate, given the distance involved and the time it takes to get there. But those traveling north of Iceland can take the opportunity to discover this fabulous island in the Arctic Circle.
The puffins of the Vestmann Islands
The Vestmann Islands are located in the south of Iceland. The archipelago comprises 18 islands, the last of which was formed by a volcanic eruption in 1963.
The cliffs bordering the island of Heimaey, the main island of the Vestmanns, are a jewel of biodiversity. This is the best place to see puffins on the Vestmann Islands.
Elliðaey Island, known for its unique cliff-top house, is another curiosity of the region.
The Vestmann Islands are also impressive for their volcanic formations. Boat excursions allow you to visit sea caves and watch birds from the ocean. If you’re visiting the archipelago, you should allow at least 3 days to see everything.
Puffins on Flatey Island
Flatey Island is wedged between the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords. You can get there by ferry from Stykkisholmur, before continuing to the Westfjords. It’s a great place to see puffins in Iceland, but not the only one! Flatey Island is also known for its seal and cetacean watching, including humpback and killer whales.
Some companies also offer kayak tours around Flatey Island. These tours allow you to observe puffins on the water. This is different from seeing them on the cliffs. When the puffins are on the water, you can see them chasing small fish – what a privilege!
Where to see puffins in iceland near Reykjavik?
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland. It’s a large, urbanized city with little wildlife. However, there are a number of locations near Reykjavik where you can see puffins during your trip to the Icelandic capital.
Lundey Island
Just a ten-minute ferry ride from Reykjavik’s harbor, this small island is a great place to see puffins.
Lundey lives up to its name. This island, just 400 m long and 150 m wide, literally means “puffin island”. You can see puffins near Reykjavik, as well as black guillemots, Arctic terns, and other seabirds.
The cliffs of Akranes
There are puffin nesting areas on the cliffs of Akranes, near Reykjavik. The whole of Faxaflói Bay is an interesting place to watch seabirds. But they remain marginal compared with other spots such as Vestmann islands or Latrabjarg.
You can rent a car in Reykjavik to get to Akranes. For those who don’t want to drive in Iceland, there are boats from Reykjavik to Faxaflói Bay for puffin-watching.
The peninsula of Snaefellsnes
If you decide to rent a car to see the puffins near Reykjavik, then the best option is the peninsula of Snaefellsnes. Two places are particularly suitable:
- Arnarstapi: This small village at the end of the peninsula is the perfect place to take a puffin-watching stroll. A short hiking trail also allows you to visit the basalt columns and the famous Gatklettur Arch in just a few minutes’ walk.
- Lóndrangar cliffs: This natural site is renowned for its scenic beauty, its two rocky peaks, and its easily accessible puffin colony. For those who want to travel to Iceland in winter, the Lóndrangar cliffs are also perfect for photographing the northern lights!
The best way to see puffins near Reykjavik is either to rent a car and drive to the Snaefellsnes peninsula or to book a puffin-watching boat trip.
Tips for photographing puffins in Iceland
We’ve published a full guide to photography in Iceland. In it you’ll find invaluable advice on equipment, the most beautiful natural sites, and the wildlife that can be photographed in Iceland.
Photographing puffins in Iceland is pretty easy. But the first thing you need to know is that you must respect the privacy of these birds. For this reason, it’s best to use a telephoto lens to be able to photograph them from a reasonable distance. In general, you should never approach their nests, get close to the individuals (e.g. at less than one meter with a wide-angle lens), or attempt to interact with them in any way. They are wild animals and may feel stressed and threatened, even if this is not apparent in their behavior.
To photograph puffins in Iceland, it’s best to get to the right spots early in the morning or late at night, to take advantage of the low light. In fact, if you travel to Iceland in summer, you can photograph puffins under the midnight sun. With the golden colors and soft light, all the ingredients are there for successful puffin photos.
The easiest way to photograph puffins is when they’re sitting on the edge of a cliff. But you can also photograph them in flight. To do this, set your focus to tracking and targeting puffins returning from hunting with fish in their beaks.
Finally, we recommend a 500mm or 600mm telephoto lens to capture the details of these incredible birds. Every part of their bodies is interesting.
