Thingvellir National Park

🇮🇸 Iceland

🦆 Where Harlequin Ducks Ride Glacial Currents
🌍 #284 Global · 2.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #22 in Europe #62 in Temperate Forest
Iceland, Iceland 104 spp. recorded

Thingvellir National Park is a protected boreal landscape in southwestern Iceland defined by birch woodlands, moss-covered lava fields, and glacial streams. Visitors walk along dirt trails winding through low scrub and open wetlands carved between massive tectonic rifts.

64.282° N   21.102° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Redwing ★
LC

Redwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus iliacus

90–100% · Very likely
Black-headed Gull ★

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

90–100% · Very likely
Harlequin Duck ★
LC

Harlequin Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Histrionicus histrionicus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Greylag Goose
LC

Greylag Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anser anser

90–100% · Very likely
Meadow Pipit
LC

Meadow Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus pratensis

70–80% · Very likely
White Wagtail
LC

White Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla alba

70–80% · Very likely
Common Snipe
LC

Common Snipe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinago gallinago

60–70% · Likely
Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

60–70% · Likely
Arctic Tern
LC

Arctic Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna paradisaea

60–70% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Red-breasted Merganser
LC

Red-breasted Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus serrator

60–70% · Likely
Red-throated Loon
LC

Red-throated Loon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gavia stellata

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Black-backed Gull
LC

Lesser Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus fuscus

50–60% · Likely
European Golden Plover
LC

European Golden Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvialis apricaria

50–60% · Likely
European Oystercatcher
NT

European Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus ostralegus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

European Wood Mouse
LC

European Wood Mouse

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Apodemus sylvaticus

Insufficient data
Arctic Fox
LC

Arctic Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes lagopus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Redwing ★
LC

Redwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus iliacus

90–100% · Very likely
Black-headed Gull ★

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

90–100% · Very likely
Harlequin Duck ★
LC

Harlequin Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Histrionicus histrionicus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Greylag Goose
LC

Greylag Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anser anser

90–100% · Very likely
Meadow Pipit
LC

Meadow Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus pratensis

70–80% · Very likely
White Wagtail
LC

White Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla alba

70–80% · Very likely
Common Snipe
LC

Common Snipe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinago gallinago

60–70% · Likely
Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

60–70% · Likely
Arctic Tern
LC

Arctic Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna paradisaea

60–70% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Red-breasted Merganser
LC

Red-breasted Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus serrator

60–70% · Likely
Red-throated Loon
LC

Red-throated Loon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gavia stellata

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Black-backed Gull
LC

Lesser Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus fuscus

50–60% · Likely
European Golden Plover
LC

European Golden Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvialis apricaria

50–60% · Likely
European Oystercatcher
NT

European Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus ostralegus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

📊 Most Spotted

Animal Events

🐦

Spring Breeding Arrival

Apr

As the snow recedes, migratory waders like the Common Snipe return to the marshy grounds, displaying their distinctive aerial drumming courtship flights over the valley.

Common Snipe
LC

Common Snipe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinago gallinago

60–70% · Likely
🐦

Midsummer Wetland Activity

Jun

The endless daylight of June brings peak breeding activity, where Whimbrel forage intensively in the dwarf birch scrub and damp meadows.

Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

60–70% · Likely
🐦

Late Summer Shoreline Foraging

Aug

Late summer sees adult gulls and ravens congregating near the lake margins and highlands, taking advantage of abundant seasonal food supplies before autumn sets in.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
LC

Lesser Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus fuscus

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Redwing
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Black-headed Gull
90–100
90–100
90–100
70–80
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Harlequin Duck
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
70–80
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Greylag Goose
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Meadow Pipit
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
White Wagtail
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Common Snipe
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Whimbrel
60–70
60–70
60–70
30–40
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Arctic Tern
60–70
60–70
60–70
30–40
40–50
70–80
80–90
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Mallard
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Red-breasted Merganser
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Red-throated Loon
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Lesser Black-backed Gull
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
European Golden Plover
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
European Oystercatcher
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🐦 Spring Breeding Arrival
🐦 Midsummer Wetland Activity
🐦 Late Summer Shoreline Foraging

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Moderate
🦆 Where Harlequin Ducks Ride Glacial Currents

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
95
🐒 Mammals
9
🦎 Reptiles
0
🐸 Amphibians
0
104 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
5 Threatened 10 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
71%
📊
Coverage (42 species at ≥5% of 104 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
40%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
46% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
35
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
0
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
18

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Thingvellir National Park?

The most likely sightings are Greylag Goose (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Redwing (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Black-headed Gull (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Meadow Pipit (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), White Wagtail (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 104 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Thingvellir National Park for wildlife?

June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Redwing in Thingvellir National Park?

Yes — about 92% of wildlife watchers report a Redwing sighting in Thingvellir National Park, based on 220 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Black-headed Gull in Thingvellir National Park?

Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Gull sighting in Thingvellir National Park, based on 213 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Harlequin Duck in Thingvellir National Park?

Yes — about 55% of wildlife watchers report a Harlequin Duck sighting in Thingvellir National Park, based on 132 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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