June 22, 2014 - Iceland - Whimbrel and Oystercatcher

Whimbrels migrate to Iceland in summer to nest and raise their young. These birds spend the winter in western Africa. At 17 inches, they are a rather large shorebird. They are usually not found on the sea shore, however. This one was in a grassy field on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a habitat in which it would be very comfortable building its nest.

WhimbrelSnæfellsnesPeninsulaIceland20140527

This Whimbrel was in a marshy area near the town of Vik, also a place where it might build a nest. One distinguishing feature of a Whimbrel is its long, downward-curving bill.

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We also see Whimbrels in the United States. Currently, the birds we see and the ones seen in Iceland are considered the same species. By stretching its wings, this Icelandic bird shows one field mark that separates it from the Whimbrels that we see. Notice the white rump and underparts; the birds we see are mottled brown all over. Who knows, some day they might be declared as separate species and I will have added another life bird without having to return to Iceland.

WhimbrelflappingVikIceland20140525

The Eurasian Oystercatcher looks very similar to our American Oystercatcher, but they are considered separate species. It was on the rocky shoreline near the town of Krossavik.

OystercatcherEurasianKrossavikIceland20140526

American Oystercatchers are almost always along the sea coast but I saw many more Eurasian Oystercatchers inland than I did along the coast. This photo was taken on Heimaey Island off the southern coast of Iceland.

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Here’s another Oystercatcher on Heimaey Island. I included this photo to show that dandelions are as common a sight in Iceland as they are here in the United States.

OystercatcherEurasianWestmanIslandsIceland20140523

The Eurasian and American Oystercatchers display a similar wing pattern in flight. The American Oystercatcher also has a black head, but its back and wings are brown, not black.

OystercatcherEurasianflightWestmanIslandsIceland20140523