Wildlife in West Iceland
One of the region's greatest wildlife success stories is the White-tailed Eagle, Iceland's largest bird of prey, with a wingspan of more than two metres. Once on the brink of extinction, the species has made a remarkable recovery since receiving full protection in 1914. Today, around 75% of Iceland's breeding population nests around Breiðafjörður, making West Iceland the country's most important stronghold for this magnificent raptor. Visitors may be lucky enough to spot these impressive birds soaring above the coastline or perched on rocky islets overlooking the bay.
Along the coast and throughout Breiðafjörður Bay, visitors can often see harbour seals and, occasionally, grey seals resting on rocky skerries or swimming close to shore. Ytri Tunga, on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, is one of Iceland's best locations for seal watching and offers excellent viewing opportunities throughout the year.
West Iceland is also a paradise for birdwatchers. During the summer months, thousands of seabirds nest on coastal cliffs and offshore islands, including Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns, northern fulmars, kittiwakes, razorbills and common guillemots. Inland wetlands such as Hvanneyri and Grunnafjörður, together with the region's rivers and lakes, provide important habitats for both migratory and resident bird species. Visitors may encounter brent geese, red knots, sanderlings, eider ducks, barnacle geese, purple sandpipers, dunlins, Eurasian oystercatchers, whooper swans, pink-footed geese, golden plovers, red-throated divers, and a wide variety of protected duck species.
The waters surrounding West Iceland are among the richest marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic. Whale watching tours departing from Ólafsvík offer exceptional opportunities to encounter orcas (killer whales), humpback whales, sperm whales, minke whales, blue whales, fin whales, sei whales, long-finned pilot whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. The nutrient-rich waters around Breiðafjörður and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula provide ideal feeding grounds for these magnificent marine mammals, making the area one of Iceland's premier whale-watching destinations.
On land, visitors may be fortunate enough to spot the Arctic fox, Iceland's only native land mammal. Although naturally shy, Arctic foxes are occasionally seen in remote coastal and mountainous areas. The countryside is also home to Iceland's iconic domestic animals, including the Icelandic horse, Icelandic sheep and Icelandic cattle, which graze freely across the landscape during the summer months and form an unmistakable part of West Iceland's rural character.
Whether you're exploring the coastline, hiking through lava fields, driving scenic mountain roads or sailing across Breiðafjörður, West Iceland offers unforgettable opportunities to experience Iceland's remarkable wildlife while helping to protect the fragile ecosystems these species call home.