Charm of the Cliffs: Puffins in their Natural Habitat

Key Information About The Puffin

Puffins are some of Iceland’s favorite birds, known for their colorful beaks and charming look. People often call them "the clowns of the sea" because of their playful, quirky behavior. These seabirds are fun to watch as they shuffle around on land or dive into the water to catch fish. Puffins are part of the auk family, and in Iceland, you’ll see them between May and early September when they come ashore to nest.

Iceland hosts some of the largest puffin colonies in the world, with around 8–10 million visiting each summer. Although there are four different types of puffins (the Tufted Puffin, the Horned Puffin, the Atlantic Puffin, and the Rhinoceros Auklet), the most common species here is the Atlantic puffin, easy to recognize by its black-and-white feathers and bright orange legs and beak. Puffins spend most of their lives out at sea, only coming to land to raise their chicks. They dig burrows in grassy cliffs or coastal areas for their nests. Their favorite food is small fish like sand eels, which they catch with their unique, multi-hold beaks.

Atlantic puffins in Iceland are not just adorable; they’re also remarkable in their habits. These birds are known for their loyalty, often returning to the same nesting burrow and mate year after year.

When can you see puffins in Iceland?

During the summer months, you will have a greater chance of seeing puffins. They lay their nests in April and then usually stay until early September. It is known that they are more commonly spotted between May to the middle of August, as this is the main puffin season in Iceland. They lay their nests on the cliffs and then return to the ocean after breeding.

Spring

Spring is when puffins return to Iceland after spending the winter out at sea. They usually arrive in late April and begin settling into their nesting spots along cliffs. You’ll see them preparing their burrows, but their numbers are still growing, so they’re not as active yet. If you’re visiting in spring, you might catch some early arrivals at places like Dyrhólaey or the Westman Islands.

Summer

Summer is prime puffin time in Iceland. From May to mid-August, they’re everywhere! This is when they’re busy nesting, feeding their chicks, and flying back and forth with fish in their colorful beaks. It’s the perfect season to visit spots like Látrabjarg Cliffs, the Westman Islands, or Borgarfjörður Eystri, where you can see them in big colonies. By late August, though, they start heading back to the ocean, so don’t wait too long if puffins are on your list.

Autumn

By autumn, most puffins are gone. A few might stick around in early September, but by mid-month, they’ve pretty much all left for the sea. The cliffs that were full of activity during the summer are now quiet, so autumn isn’t the best time to see puffins.

Winter

In winter, puffins are out in the North Atlantic, far from Iceland. They spend these months on their own, diving for fish and living life at sea. If you’re hoping to see puffins, winter’s not the time—you’ll need to plan a summer trip to catch them in action.

Where to find Puffins in Iceland

Now, let’s talk about the top places in Iceland where you can spot these precious birds.

Látrabjarg cliffs

Located in the Westfjords of Iceland is the Látrabjarg bird cliff. Látrabjarg is known to be one of the westernmost points in Europe. It is also the most extensive seabird cliff in all of Iceland. The cliffs are 1443 feet high and 44 feet long, making it quite a spectacular place.

The cliffs are a bird lover’s paradise, attracting more than a million birds. Among them is the puffin. Other birds that gather here are the razorbill, guillemots, kittiwakes, and fulmar. The area is so popular because of how close the puffins get to people. They are not afraid of humans and are known to even like us. This means you can get that bucket list up close and the personal photograph you always wanted. Do not get too close, though, and respect their boundaries since they are technically still wild birds.

If a puffin comes up to you, be sure not to touch them. To protect their feathers, they have oil glands at the root of their tail. If you touch them, they could lose this oil, which would mean their feathers could fall out.

Westman Islands

Vestmannaeyjar, also known as the Westman Islands, is a hot spot for Puffins! It is the most well-known and famous spot in Iceland to spot these cute puffy birds. Mainly because the Westman Islands are made up of fifteen different islands, attracting the birds right from the sea. The islands are exquisite and were all created from volcanic eruptions that took place below the sea. The largest of the islands in Iceland is Heimaey, and it is the only inhabited island of the bunch. Six of the other islands do have remote hunting cabins, but that is it.

So why these islands? Well, they are considered to be the biggest puffin breeding colony in the world. This means your chances of spotting a puffin during peak season are more than great. You can catch a glimpse of them by just walking around. They can also be seen along the cliffs, cliff tops, and by boat.

Breiðafjörður Bay

Next up is the Breiðafjörður nature reserve and bay between the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Westfjords in West Iceland. The location is exactly why the area attracts so many puffins. Luckily, you can explore the bay firsthand with Guide Of Iceland’s boat tour on one of their well-equipped sightseeing boats. These are Icelandic fishing boats, perfect for bird watching since the boats are smaller.

Their Puffin tour starts in Stykkishólmur where you will sail to the island of Elliðaey, which is s the main settlement for puffins on the bay. The island is packed with puffins, and during high puffin season around the middle of July, about 2000 couples are nesting on the island.

Elliðaey is a lovely island that was inhabited until the year 1950. Marvel at the buildings, which include a house, barn, and lighthouse. The trip is perfect for photographers and those who want to snag a picture of the puffins. Luckily the boat can get extremely close to the island's cliffs without disturbing them. You may even spot dolphins, eagles, and seals on your trip back too.

Tjörnes Peninsula

Located on the 196-foot cliffs of the Tjörnes peninsula in Northern Iceland is a big settlement of puffins. You can view them by taking a quick fifteen-minute hike to the outermost tip of Tjörnes called Voladalstorfa. These cliffs are famous in general for their remarkable features. They are multi-colored and layered, and the surrounding area is rich in two-million-year-old fossils.

You can then head over to the east side of the peninsula, where another puffin colony lives. This is near Hringsbjar,g and there is an observation platform where you can hang out and view the puffins. The Tjörnes Peninsula is a 5-hour and 45-minute drive from Reykjavik, but it is truly so worth it.

Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey, formerly known by sailors as Cape Portland, is a small peninsula located on çthe south coast of Iceland. Relatively close to the village of Vik. It was once an island of volcanic origin, which is also known by the Icelandic word “eyja” meaning island. It is about a 2-hour and 30-minute drive south of Reykjavik.

This area is fantastic for seeing puffins due to the rock arch and its surrounding stony areas. The birds enjoy relaxing and even nesting on these rocks, providing you with fantastic viewing options. You are also a short drive away from the famous black sand beach of Reynisfjara Beach.

Ingólfshöfði

Explore the isolated area of Cape Ingolfshofdi. It is a headland on the coast of Iceland, about halfway between Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. This area is a nature reserve home to thousands of different birds. This includes the puffin of course and great skuas.

To see the puffin first hand you can take the Ingólfshöfði Puffin Tour. To get to Ingólfshöfði, the tour will bring you through waters, marshes, and sands in a tractor-drawn hay cart. Your guide will tell stories and explain the birdlife to you while leading you safely through the nesting grounds on the cape. The drive takes about 30 minutes each way. You will then spend around an hour and a half hiking around the cape.

The hike is relatively challenging taking on a steep sand slope and rocky terrain. But after the first part, it gets easier. The total distance is about 1.8 miles. The hike will allow you to see the puffins along your journey, so we think the extra effort is completely worth it!

Lundey Island

Get ready to visit “Puffin Island,” also known as Lundey Island. This is a great option for those staying in Reyajvik who want to stay close to the city. Lundey Island can be accessed via a quick boat right from the harbor.

The boat ride to Lundy usually takes less than two hours. The ship's departure time will be posted on The Marisco Tavern noticeboard at least 24 hours before the sailing. Some sailings return you to a different port from that which you departed so please speak with Ferry Services before taking your trip. You can only take the ferry during the summer months, from the end of March until the end of October.

The island is uninhabited, except for a few workers, and it is rumored to be run by the Puffins, hence the name. It is a fun day trip when you are staying in Reykjavik, and we highly recommend adding it to your Iceland itinerary.

Iceland’s Unusual Puffin Dish

Yes, it is true. You can sometimes find Puffin on the Iceland menu. It is a bizarre Traditional Icelandic dish and has become one of the most controversial meals in Iceland.

There is a history behind eating puffing that goes back to the settlement days. The birds needed to be hunted due to a lack of food supply in the country. But don’t worry; today the birds are protected in many countries, Iceland not being one of them. However, it is illegal to hunt birds in most of the country, not including the northern part. The hunting ban is in South, West, and East Iceland.

Most Icelanders do not eat puffin. Besides the fight to protect the birds, they are known to be too gamey and tough to eat. If you do find it on a restaurant menu, it is normally smoked for taste. This makes it similar to pastrami, or it can be broiled and resemble the liver. It was mainly just eaten to survive in the olden days.

The Future Of Puffins

While Puffins are not yet endangered, they are in the process of it, unfortunately. The main threat they are facing is the distribution and number of smaller fish. This can be caused by smaller animals eating fish; it is also driven by the pollution in the water.

A sad example is the oil leak that happened in 1967 from the Torrey Canyon. The leak killed 85% of French Puffins. Due to this situation, puffins have become extinct in certain areas over time. Luckily, Iceland is still providing a great home to the birds, and we hope they will continue to nest here in the foreseeable future.

Frequently Asked Questions About Puffins