Copyright: monacoeye • France • Mar-Jun 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Tufted Duck
Latin: Aythya fuligula
Other: Fuligule morillon (Fr) • Porrón moñudo(Es) • Reiherente (De) • Moretta (It)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range: Widespread Eurasia - Africa, N Asia
Similar: Greater Scaup

Wild Tufted Ducks winter in the Camargue, but I’ve also seen them in a park in Nice in the summer, perhaps feral.

The male Tufted Duck (above) has a round purple head and bright yellow iris, with long tuft at back of head, bluish bill and white flanks.

The female Tufted Duck (directly below) and juveniles have dark plumage. Males in eclipse plumage also have dark flanks (see “more photos”).

Directly below, female Tufted Duck, Iceland, May, 2011


Directly below, male and female, Iceland, May.
More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Madeira, October 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ruddy Turnstone
Latin: Arenaria interpres
Other: Turnstone • Rola-do-mar, vira-pedras (Pt) • Tournepierre à collier (Fr) • Steinwälzer (De) • Vuelvepiedras común (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Sandpipers
Range: Breeds near northern coastlines, eg Scandinavia, Iceland, Alaska, migrating southwards worldwide eg Washington, Massachussets, Brazil, China, Japan

Many thanks to Alexia for sending in these photos of Turnstones. Above in non-breeding plumage, in Madeira, October. Directly below, coming into breeding plumage in Iceland, April.

The Turnstone is identifiable by orange legs and dark chest pattern and its behaviour of flipping over stones when looking for insects or crustaceans.

Directly below, Ruddy Turnstone in Iceland, April, breeding plumage
More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, May 2011

Bird name: European Golden Plover
Latin: Pluvialis apricaria
Other: Pluvier doré (Fr) • Goldregenpfeifer (De) • Chorlito dorado común (Es) • Piviere dorato (It) • Goudplevier (Nl) • Ljungpipare (Sv) • Tarambola-dourada (Pt)
Family: Charadriidae • Plovers & Lapwing, Waders
Range: Breeds Iceland, UK, Scandinavia, Russia etc, winters further south.
Similar: Pacific Golden Plover, American Golden Plover

A lovely shot above of a European Golden Plover in breeding plumage in Iceland, early May.More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2011

Bird name: Gadwall
Latin: Anas strepera
Other: Canard Chipeau (Fr) • Schnatterente (De) • Anade friso (Es) • Canapiglia (It) • Krakeend (Nl) • Snatterand (Sv) • Frisada (Pt)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range:
Similar: Mallard (female)

A couple of very nice shots of Gadwalls in Iceland near Reykjavik in May, sent in by Alexia.

Pictured above, a male Gadwall, fine lines on side and white speculum. In flight (see “more photos”) a chestnut patch is visible on the wing. The female, directly below, is similar to a female Mallard, but with more orange on the bill.

Below, a female Gadwall near Reykjavik, Iceland, in May.
More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2011

Bird name: Common Redshank
Latin: Tringa totanus
Other: Redshank (UK) • Chevalier gambette (Fr) • Rotschenkel (De) • Archibebe común (Es) • Pettegola (It) • Tureluur (Nl) • Rödbena (Sv) • Cacongo (Pt)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders

Range: West and Central Eurasia to SW Europe, Africa, Asia
Similar:

The Common Redshank is readily identifiable by its red legs and bill base. Appears to step on the water while feeding.

A wonderful shot from Iceland above, and below on the Cote d’Azur in May.More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2011

Bird name: Eurasian Oystercatcher
Latin: Haematopus ostralegus
Other: Oystercatcher (UK) • Huitrier Pie (Fr) • Austernfischer (De) • Ostrero común euroasiático (Es) • Beccaccia di mare (It) • Scholekster (Nl) • Strandskata (Sv) • Ostraceiro-europeu (Pt)
Family: Haematopodidae • Oystercatchers
Range: Eurasian and African coasts, central Asia
Similar:

A nice shot of a Eurasian Oystercatcher on the Reykjanes Peninsular in Iceland from Alexia. In more photos one flying by the Black Sea, on the Romania and Ukraine border.More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2011

Bird name: Black Legged Kittiwake
Latin: Rissa tridactyla
Other: Kittiwake (UK) • Mouette tridactyle (Fr) • Dreizehenmöwe (De) • Drieteenmeeuw (Nl) • Gaviota tridáctila (Es) • Tretåig mås (Sv)
Family: Laridae • Gulls
Range: Iceland, UK, North Pacific, North Atlantic.
Similar:

A colony of Kittiwakes perched on cliffs in Iceland. Kittiwakes are small gulls with yellowish-green bills.

More photos...

Photos copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2010

Bird name: Northern Gannet
Latin: Morus bassanus
Other: Gannet • Fou de Bassan (Fr) • Basstölpel (De) • Alcatraz común (Es) • Sula bassana (It) • Jan-van-gent (Nl) • Havssula (Sv) • Ganso-patola (Pt)
Family: Sulidae • Boobies, Gannets
Range: Breeds in Iceland, UK, Ireland, Canada, Norway, range North Atlantic mostly.
Similar:

Superb flight shots of Gannets in Iceland, May 2010, near Reykjanes Peninsular, sent in by Alexia.More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Iceland, May 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Brant Goose
Latin: Branta bernicla
Other: Brent Goose • Bernache cravant (Fr) • Ringelgans (De) • Rotgans (Nl) • Prutgås (Sv)
Family: Anatidae • Geese
Range: Widespread North America, Eurasia, Iceland
Similar:

The Brant Goose, or Brent Goose, is a small dark goose found mostly in northern climes.

Below, a group of Brant Geese with a Common Eider behind.
More photos...

Photos copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2010

Bird name: Great Black Backed Gull
Latin: Larus marinus
Other: GBBG • Goéland marin (Fr) • Mantelmöwe (De) • Gavión atlántico (Es) • Grote mantelmeeuw (Nl) • Havstrut (Sv) • Alcatraz-comum (Pt)
Family: Laridae • Gulls
Range: Iceland, Northern Europe, Canada, north Atlantic coasts.
Similar: Lesser Black-backed Gull

This Great Black-Backed Gull was also seen in Reykjavik in May. Pale pinkish legs, darker wings, heavier bill, larger size than Lesser Black-backed Gull. The GBBG is the largest of all gulls, with a 1.6 m wingspan.

See “more photos” for comparisons with other gulls.More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Iceland, May 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Iceland Gull
Latin: Larus glaucoides
Other: Kumlien’s Gull ? (US) • Polarmöwe (De) • Kleine burgemeester (Nl) • Vitvingad trut (Sv)
Family: Laridae • Gulls
Range: N Atlantic Ocean coast, Greenland, Iceland, UK, Scandinavia
Similar: Glaucous Gull

In Iceland, in May, the Iceland Gull is far more common than the rare Glaucous Gull, apparently. A large gull, taking four years to maturity. In most plumages it is a very light-coloured gull.

See “more photos”, for comparison with Great-black Backed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls.

Below, from left to right, Iceland Gull, juvenile Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Iceland, May 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Parasitic Jaeger
Latin: Stercorarius parasiticus
Other: Arctic Skua • Labbe parasite (Fr) • Schmarotzerraubmöwe (De) • págalo parásito (Es) • labbo (It) • kleine jager (Nl) • Kustlabb (Sv) • Moleiro-parasítico (Pt)
Family: Stercorariidae • Skuas, Jaegers
Range: Iceland, N North America, Eurasia - Southern oceans
Similar: Long-tailed Skua

The Parasitic Jaeger, or Actic Skua, seen here over land in Iceland, and identified by the long tail feathers.

Copyright: monacoeye • Zaandvoort, Holland, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: European Herring Gull
Latin: Larus argentatus
Other: Goéland argenté (Fr) • Gaviota argéntea (Es) • Gabbiano reale nordico (It) • Silbermöwe (De) • Gaivota-prateada, gaivota-argêntea (Pt) • Zilvermeeuw (Nl) • Gråtrut (Sv)
Family: Laridae • Gulls
Range: NW Europe coast: Iceland, GB, Eire, Scandinavia, Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium
Similar: Yellow-legged Gull

These European Herring Gulls were seen as the winter sun was setting on the seaside town of Zaandvoort in Holland, during a stopover between flights. The Herring Gull is the most common gull in this area and in the UK.

Herring Gulls reach adult plumage (pictured above) after four years - white head and body, grey wings with black near tip and white at very tip, yellow bill with red spot, light yellow irises, pinkish legs. Juveniles have mottled dark brown plumage, with black bills and eyes. The lighter and yellower the bill, the closer the bird is to adulthood.

Below, sub-adult European Herring Gulls, February, Holland.

More photos...

Bird name: Common Teal
Latin: Anas crecca
Other: Sarcelle d’Hiver
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
More photos...