List of birds of Iceland
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.
These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Apodidae Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying.
Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back.
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae The thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia.
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings.
Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head.
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae Loons are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and Northern Europe.
They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble in shape when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.
In particular, loons' legs are set very far back which assists swimming underwater but makes walking on land extremely difficult.
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills.
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants and shags are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of colored skin on the face.
Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey.
Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Upupidae Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers.
All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters.
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America.
Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights.
They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape.
They mainly occur as breeding species, as another common name (Old World warblers) implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae Old World flycatchers are a large group of birds which are mainly small arboreal insectivores.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers.
