Puffins in Iceland and where to find them

Few birds are as iconic in Iceland as the puffin, instantly recognisable by its colourful beak and comical waddle. But what makes this little bird so special? This guide covers where puffins in Iceland live, when to see them, and the best spots for watching them safely, along with conservation status and fun facts. 

Meet the Peculiar Puffins in Iceland 

The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) is the signature bird of Iceland. About 60% of the world's Atlantic puffins breed in Iceland, making the country one of the species' most important nesting grounds. Sometimes nicknamed the "sea parrot," these stocky little birds with a parrot- or penguin-like posture and large colourful beaks are simply irresistible.

The puffins' breeding habits allow visitors to watch them from a short distance at their nesting sites. It is important, though, not to disturb the birds by going too close

What Is the Best Time of Year to See Puffins in Iceland?

The best time to see puffins in Iceland is from May through mid-August. This is when the birds gather on their nesting cliffs before heading back to the ocean. The Atlantic puffin is a migrating bird. It spends about eight months a year out at sea, only coming to Iceland's coast once spring begins.

Puffins usually arrive on Iceland's cliffs and islands in late April or early May. Once the young birds, called pufflings, grow strong enough, the group heads back out to sea, usually by mid to late August.

If you're visiting Iceland in August, aim for the earlier weeks, since most puffins have left the coast by September. Parent puffins spend long hours out at sea hunting during the day, so a sighting is never fully guaranteed on a short visit.

What Is the Best Time of Day to See Puffins in Iceland?

Timing your visit by the hour matters just as much as timing it by the month. Puffins are most active at their nesting sites in the early morning and late evening. For the best chance of a sighting, plan your visit before 9 am or after 6 pm. A short visit at the wrong hour can easily miss this activity.

Puffins nesting habits: Inside the Two-Bedroom Burrow

The puffin is a social bird that nests in large colonies. It burrows into the soil on grassy islands and slopes atop bird cliffs, rather than laying eggs on open sills like most other seabirds.

The burrow is curved, about 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) long, and has two chambers: one for the nest and one used as a toilet. The puffin lays only one egg each year, and both parents share responsibility for incubating and feeding the chick.

What Should I Know Before Visiting Puffin Colonies in Iceland?

Puffin burrows are shallow, and the ground above them can collapse without warning. Stay at least 1 meter (3.3 feet) back from any cliff edge near a colony.

Follow these steps to watch safely:

• Move slowly and quietly, and avoid sudden noise or movement near burrows.
• Never touch a puffin, even if it seems calm. Their feathers have a natural water-repelling layer that human contact can damage.
• Do not feed puffins. They are skilled hunters, and human food can affect their health.
• If watching from a boat, keep a respectful distance and avoid loud engines near nesting cliffs.
• Respect Iceland's wildlife protection laws, since disturbing a nest is strictly forbidden. 
• Many puffin nesting sites sit atop sea cliffs where the edges can be unstable, with a risk of rockslides.

Where Are the Best Puffin Bird-Watching Spots in Iceland?

Puffins can be seen on coastal waters from spring to fall. A boat ride offers one of the best chances of a sighting. For travellers interested in birdwatching in Iceland, visiting their nesting sites offers a closer look. These spots are the most reliable and accessible. 

• Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands), South Iceland: Home to Iceland's largest puffin colony, spread across several islands.
• Dyrhólaey, South Iceland: A small, accessible colony close to a car park.
• Látrabjarg, Westfjords: This cliff stands as Iceland's westernmost point and is one of Europe's westernmost accessible sea cliffs. 
• Grímsey Island, North Iceland: The only Icelandic territory that sits on the Arctic Circle, with a dense summer colony.
• Hafnarhólmi, Borgarfjörður Eystri, East Iceland: A land-connected island with boardwalks and viewing platforms.
• Breiðafjörður, West Iceland: A fjord dotted with small islands, reached by boat tours from Stykkishólmur.
• Papey Island, East Iceland: A small, uninhabited island reachable by daily boat tours from Djúpivogur.

Are There Any Conservation Efforts to Protect Puffins in Iceland?

Globally, the IUCN Red List classifies the Atlantic puffin as Vulnerable. In Europe, BirdLife International rates the species as Endangered.

On Iceland's own national Red List of Birds, the puffin is classified as Critically Endangered. This reflects a sharp population decline tracked since 2000.

Warming seas are the main driver behind this decline. Rising ocean temperatures push sandeel, the puffin's main food source, farther from the cliffs where chicks are raised. With fewer food sources nearby, many colonies now raise only a fraction of the chicks they once did. Human activity has added further pressure.

Puffin hunting was once common in Iceland, and eggs and meat were an everyday food source. That tradition is fading now. In July 2025, Iceland's Nature Conservation Agency urged restaurants to stop serving puffin meat, and many have already complied. 

Several efforts are underway to help. Fuglavernd BirdLife Iceland runs the Protect Puffins project, which tracks colony health and raises public awareness. Iceland also protects nesting sites by law, making it illegal to disturb burrows during the breeding season.

Every August, the Westman Islands run a community tradition called the Puffling Patrol. Residents rescue baby puffins that get disoriented by town lights and release them safely back to the sea. The SEA LIFE Trust Puffin Rescue Centre also provides care for injured chicks.

How Do Puffins Contribute to the Icelandic Ecosystem?

Puffins play an important role in Iceland's coastal food chain. As predators, they help keep sandeel and capelin populations in balance along the shoreline.

Their burrowing also shapes the land itself. Years of digging loosen the soil on nesting cliffs, which helps other plants and ground-nesting birds settle nearby.

Puffin colonies attract other seabirds, like kittiwakes and guillemots, which often nest close to established puffin sites. This creates a wider, more diverse bird community in a single area.

Beyond their ecological role, puffins support local economies through tourism. Many coastal communities, including Vestmannaeyjar and Borgarfjörður Eystri, rely on puffin watching as part of their summer visitor season. 

Interesting Facts About Atlantic Puffins 

• Name origin: In Icelandic, the puffin is called lundi. It also carries the traditional nickname prófastur (meaning "preacher") due to its formal-looking black and white feathers. 
• Colour change: The puffin's beak turns bright orange during the breeding season, likely to help attract a mate. In winter, it sheds this colourful outer layer for a smaller, duller grey beak. 
• Biofluorescence: Two parts of the puffin's beak soak up ultraviolet light and glow back out in a visible colour. Researcher Jamie Dunning found this in 2018. Scientists think the glow helps puffins choose a mate, since puffins can likely see this light in a way humans cannot. 
• Billing: Mated pairs often rub their beaks together in a behaviour known as billing, which helps reinforce their pair bond. 
• Population: The Atlantic puffin is Iceland's most common bird. Estimates vary by study, but Iceland supports millions of Atlantic puffins and one of the world's largest breeding populations.
• Size: Length 26 to 29 cm (10.2 to 11.4 in), wingspan 45 to 65 cm (17.7 to 25.6 in), weight about 500 g (1.1 lb). 
• Diving skill: Puffins can dive to 60 m (197 ft) and stay underwater for 1.5 minutes. 
• Flight speed: Puffins flap their wings up to 400 times per minute and can fly at speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph). 
• Love life: The Atlantic puffin is monogamous and mates for life. 
• Housing: The male digs a two-room burrow using his feet and beak, one room for the nest and one for waste. He finishes this work before his mate arrives each spring.
• Life expectancy: The average lifespan is 20 to 25 years. The oldest known puffin on record lived to 41, though ages vary by study and region. 
• Diet: Puffins mainly eat small fish like sandeel and capelin, along with juvenile fish and krill. 
• No direct relation to penguins: Despite a similar look and posture, puffins belong to the auk family (Alcidae), not the penguin family (Spheniscidae). Their similarities come from evolving in similar ocean environments, not shared ancestry.

Bring Your Puffin-Watching Plans to Life 

Puffins in Iceland offer some of the best birdwatching in the world, from easy roadside colonies to remote island cliffs. A little planning around timing and location makes a sighting far more likely.

With care and a respectful distance, watching these small, colourful seabirds can be one of the most memorable parts of an Icelandic summer.