Imagine thousands of puffins circling overhead, black sea cliffs turning white with nesting birds, and the mighty roar of kittiwakes echoing all around. Watch gannets dive like torpedoes into the sea in search of fish, and you’ll understand the raw power of Faroese birdlife. These are just some unforgettable sights and sounds that await you.

Here, you can find birds people elsewhere travel miles and miles to see!

When you visit the Faroe Islands in summer, one of the first things you’ll notice is the birdlife. Thousands of seabirds return to breed on the cliffs and coastlines every year. Around 50 species nest here regularly, while many more stop by on migration. From puffins and guillemots to rare visitors spotted by keen birdwatchers, the islands are alive with wings and calls throughout the season.

Find out how the 18 islands attract birds migrating over the North Atlantic and learn about spring and autumn migration here.

Puffins in the Faroe Islands

If there is one bird that captures the spirit of these islands, it is the puffin. Every summer, hundreds of thousands of Atlantic puffins return from the open ocean to nest in burrows along our grassy sea cliffs, and watching them is one of the most magical wildlife experiences the Faroe Islands have to offer. Seeing puffins in the Faroe Islands is easier than you might think, but it helps to know where to go and when.

Where to see puffins in the Faroe Islands

The single best place to see puffins is Mykines, the westernmost island in the archipelago and home to our largest puffin colony. In summer the island has more puffins than people, and the path from the village leads you right past their burrows.
If you would rather watch from the water, several other spots reward the effort:

• Mykines: the largest and most reliable colony, best experienced on foot with a guide.
• The Vestmanna bird cliffs: towering cliffs best seen on a boat tour that sails beneath the seabird colonies.
• Nólsoy: the small island just off Tórshavn, with puffins on its quieter northern cliffs, often best in the evening.
• Skúvoy: a historic island with several seabird colonies, puffins among them.

Wherever you go, a pair of binoculars will bring you closer to the action, though on Mykines you will often need nothing more than your own eyes.

When is puffin season in the Faroe Islands?

Puffins are present in the Faroe Islands from roughly late April to late August, and they head back out to sea in early September. The most reliable time to see them is from June to July, when the adults are busy ferrying fish to their chicks and the cliffs are alive with activity.
For the best views, head out early in the morning or in the evening, when puffins are most active around their burrows. And remember: this is the North Atlantic, where a foggy morning can give way to a bright afternoon in the space of an hour.
 

Watching puffins responsibly

Puffins nest in burrows in the ground, often right beside the path, which means it is easy to disturb them without meaning to. Please enter nature with care: stick to marked paths, keep your distance from the burrows, and never block a puffin's route to and from the sea. On Mykines, going with a local guide is not only required, it is the most respectful way to share these cliffs with the birds that call them home.

Seabirds

Landbirds

Birds dominate the heathlands and mountains during summer. The Oystercatcher is the Faroe Islands' national bird, fiercely protecting its nest and young. 

Other species found are Whimbrels, Common Snipes, Northern Wheatears, Rock- and Meadow Pipits, and Merlin. The heathlands also have colonies of Arctic Terns, Arctic and Great Skua, and several gull species. However, it's crucial not to disturb the breeding birds, as it might endanger the eggs and chicks. Great Skuas can be aggressive if you get too close to their nests.

The island of Skúvoy is named after Skúgvur, the Faroese name for Great Skua – some even say that the bird is named after the island.

RAMSAR areas

The Faroe Islands have a rich birdlife, but it is not taken for granted that it will stay this way. Therefore, the government has appointed three Ramsar areas. Ramsar is an international treaty in which governments promise to protect areas particularly significant for birdlife and biological diversity from a national and global perspective.
The areas that have been appointed as Ramsar areas are the islands of Mykines, Skúvoy and Nólsoy.

EQUIPMENT

Birdwatching in the Faroe Islands does not necessarily require a lot of equipment. In places like Mykines, you can get close to birds like puffins, gannets and kittiwakes, and birdwatching can be done easily with the naked eye. However, most birds do not allow such close observations, and to get satisfactory views of most birds, we recommend using binoculars. Seven to ten times magnification is good and will allow you to enjoy the birds differently than without binoculars.

A telescope is recommended for seawatching or watching birds at greater distances. It is also possible to study breeding birds from a distance for longer periods without disturbing them.

There are no watch towers dedicated to birdwatching in the Faroe Islands. As such, birding is mostly done by walking around in nature or by finding natural hills from where an area can be overlooked.