Wildlife Tours Iceland
There are many tour operators that cater for wildlife tours, including boat trips to some of the amazing islands dotted around the cost of Iceland.
HolidaysIceland.com is here to provide the very best possible information on holidays to Iceland.
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Wildlife
Iceland is a superb country for watching wildlife, and it’s no surprise that many tourists make it the prime objection for their visit. Tours dedicated to viewing certain species can be found all over, so you can be sure that there’s an excursion to match your requirements.
Birds
Over 350 species have been recorded on Iceland, although the majority of these are visitors, either for part of the year or just passing through. Around 70 species breed on the island, and many are viewable at close range. Over 3,000,000 Atlantic puffins nest on Iceland’s coasts, making it the most numerous bird on the island.
The Westman Island boasts the largest population of breeding puffins worldwide, and the skua colony on Iceland’s south sands is also the biggest of its kind. The red-necked phalarope, a wader, is rarely seen much further south, the white-tailed eagle (or sea eagle) is an unmistakable sight, and if you happen to see a rock ptarmigan, keep a lookout for Iceland’s national bird, the gyrfalcon – there’s a good chance one is watching too!
Mammals
The arctic fox is the only mammal on Iceland that predates the arrival of humans.
Sheep, cattle, ponies and reindeer were probably brought in by the Vikings, and a more recent arrival is the American mink, most likely an escapee from fur farms, which has thrived in the wild ever since. It’s not impossible to see a polar bear in Iceland, but pretty unlikely – they only reach the island after a long swim or on the back of an iceberg, with the last one to make the trip in 2008. On the coasts, harbour and grey seals can be found, and off-shore whale-watching is a major part of Iceland’s economy. Humpback, sperm, minke, blue, northern bottlenose, sei, fin, and long-finned pilot whales are all high in number, as are several species of dolphin, including orcas (or killer whales).
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