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This page lists books about birds and birdwatching in Iceland.

The books are listed by publication date with the most recent at the top.

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Iceland

Dirk Hilbers

KNNV Consignment Books

2015

"Iceland is famous for its stunning landscapes, unique geology, and rich birdlife. There are few places on Earth where volcanism has resulted in such a multitude of different landscapes, and where such vast numbers of birds are easy to watch and photograph. The Crossbill Guide: Iceland shows everything Iceland's nature has to offer, and contains 16 detailed itineraries for the best places to go. The guide also describes close to 50 sites with tips for visitors interested in geology, birds, marine mammals, flora, and history of the landscape."

Icelandic Bird Guide

Johann Oli Hilmarsson

2nd edition

2011

"This new edition of the popular Icelandic Bird Guide has been completely revised and expanded. It covers all Icelandic breeding birds and regular visitors in detail and also describes numerous annual vagrants – more than 160 species in total. This book is an ideal identification guide when travelling around Iceland for experienced birdwatchers and beginners alike. The clear and concise text describes the birds' appearance and behaviour, as well their diet and habitat. Maps and diagrams clearly show distribution, movements and population sizes. It includes: more than 700 stunning photos; breeding range and winter distribution maps; diagrams showing information on breeding and migration; and photographs of eggs shown in actual size. An indispensible aid to birdwatching in Iceland."

Iceland

Andrew Evans

2nd edition

2011

"Not just for those looking to glimpse glaciers or wallow in hot springs, Bradt's new edition of this award-winning guide to Iceland caters to the outdoor enthusiast as well as those who share Andrew Evans' passion for the country's rich Viking traditions and history. Learn when to use each one of the eight Icelandic words for sheep, how to avoid injury from dive-bombing Arctic terns, or the connections between present-day sites and Iceland's rich literary tradition of sagas. Biking, trekking, deep-sea and river fishing, horse-riding, glacier exploration, Reykjavík's wild nightlife - it's all covered."

Wildlife of the North Atlantic: A Cruising Guide

Tony SOper

Bradt

2008

"The latest edition to Tony Soper's successful wildlife series, North Atlantic: A Guide to the Wildlife, is beautifully illustrated throughout with watercolour paintings by renowned wildlife artist Dan Powell. This full-colour guide covers the surface wildlife that inhabits the waters of the North Atlantic. As a practical guide, it's an ideal companion for anyone at sea or exploring the coast between Brittany and the British Isles, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and Maine. Sail the region and experience the company of gannets, fulmars, pigeons, leaping dolphins and sociable seals."

Plants and Animals of Iceland

Benny Génsbol and Jon Feilberg

2003

"The first handbook with descriptions and illustrations of all Iceland's main bird, mammal and plant species. An ideal traveller's companion, it provides information on both nesting birds and visitors, a total of 119 species. In addition to descriptions of all Icelandic sea and land mammals, there are 220 plant species - making it possible to identify practically all Icelandic plants. All species are shown with drawings for quick and simple identification of whatever bird, animal or plant may cross the traveller's path. Maps show the distribution of nesting birds, mammals and plants, along with their Icelandic names."

Icelandic Wilderness: A Photographic Journey

David Bergmann

2003

"A photographic record of the birds and wildlife of Iceland, along with views of sunsets and scenery."

Icelandic Bird Guide

Johann Oli Hilmarsson

2000

"An identification guide to Icelandic birds that can make your birdwatching in Iceland more interesting. It has over 500 photographs and diagrams and describes order, family habits and identifying features of Icelandic birds as well as locating the habitat, breeding areas, population, clutch size, incubation period of all species found in Island. It explains variations in plumage by season and age, bill, feet, eyes. To help you identify birds it describes ways of flight, wingspan, length and weight, behavior and calls. It also indicates durations of stay, breeding season and fledging period in diagrammatic form. Each bird has a map of breeding distribution, winter distribution, and areas visited. You can also find information on how to recognise eggs of Icelandic breeding birds, passage migrants, winter visitors, summer visitors and annual vagrants."

Iceland Nature Guides: Birdwatching

Helgi Guðmundsson and Jón Baldur Hlíðberg

1997

"A concise guide to the areas of Iceland of particular interest to thebirdwatcher, with details of each region, its birdlife, and access to it. Brief description of all Icelandic breeding birds, as well as many vagrants andpassage migrants. The guide includes a chapter on Icelandic nature and the conditions for birdlifeat different seasons of the year. The book is illustrated with many pen-and ink drawings. The authors, Jón Baldur Hlíðberg and Helgi Guðmundsson, are both keen birdwatchers, who have been tourist guides for many years, informing visitors to Iceland about the birdlife and nature of the country."

Where to Watch Birds in Scandinavia

Gustaf Aulen and Johan M. Stenlund

Hamlyn

1996

"A guide to 200 bird-watching sites in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with lists of expected species. General introductions give site instructions and specify the best times."

Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit project 1993

G.J. Gerritsen & N.M. Groen

Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

1995

Guide To The Birds Of Iceland: A Practical Handbook For Identification

Porsteinn Einarsson

1991

A photographic guide to over 100 species.

Birds Of Iceland

Hjalmar R. Bardarson

336 pages.

Iceland: Nature's Meeting Place

Mark Carwardine

1986

"A wildlife guide to Iceland lavishly illustrated in full colour and packed with accessible information on Iceland's flora, fauna and geology."

Iceland Summer: Adventures of a Bird Painter

George Miksch Sutton

1961

"Wherever George Miksch Sutton goes, adventure goes also, whether to the mountains and jungles of Mexico or to the Arctic Circle. But the northern regions seem to be his special love, and he has made many expeditions to them, always finding new birds, new people, and new experiences. Iceland Summer is his delightful, informal, highly personal account of his adventures in search of birdlife - a summer's quest for Icelandic birds. With ornithologist Olin Sewall Pettingill, Jr., and his wife, Mr. Sutton traveled over the craggy mountains, through lush meadowland, and along rocky coasts in search of the major species of Icelandic birds. He recorded, by pen and brush, the natal plumage pattern of as man' newborn chicks as lie could. That he was highly successful the paintings in this book attest, not least of all his majestic color portrait of the Icelandic gyrfalcon, which was used by the Iceland government in making a new postage stamp."

1961 edition


1974 edition

A Thousand Geese

Peter Scott and James Fisher

1953

The story of an expedition to the Icelandic breeding grounds of Pink-footed Geese.

The Land Of The Loon

George Kirby Yeates

1951

An account of the experiences of a bird-photographer on two visits to Iceland in search of the Great Northern Diver. Includes many black and white photographs.

A Handbook of the Birds of Iceland

Masa U. Hachisuka

1927