Attention all avid birdwatchers! Norway is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Over 516 bird species can be found here (roughly 300 are permanent residents, and 200+ are migratory), one more spectacular than the next.
In this article, we look at some of our most-loved and searched-for Norwegian birds and which famous migrations you can catch here in the country. So, without any further ado, let’s take flight on this birdwatcher’s guide to the birds in Norway!
Some of the Most Popular Birds in Norway
Norway has hundreds of bird species, so click here for a comprehensive birders list of birds in Norway. The following is more info on just a few of the birds that are usually high up on any birdwatcher’s list when coming to Norway:
White-throated Dipper
This is Norway’s national bird, and, as the name suggests, it’s characterized by its white throat, brown head, and black and grey body. They are usually spotted near running water (some can even be found nesting behind waterfalls!). But they have an exceptional ability to survive in a barren landscape.
Sea Eagle
The Sea Eagle is also known as the White-tailed Eagle (the latter being very descriptive of this brown eagle with its white tail), and it is the largest bird of prey in Norway. It is also one of the largest birds of prey worldwide, with a spectacular wingspan of up to 2.65 meters and a weight that can go up to 7 kilograms.
As the name suggests, the Sea Eagle’s primary source of food is fish found in the ocean. Norway boasts 2000 breeding couples, which is quite an accomplishment when it comes to this protected species.
European Bee-eater
The European Bee-eater is probably one of the most colorful birds you’ll ever see. Although a bit misleading, the name is a good indicator of its dietary requirements. It’s an insect eater (not just restricted to bees), hence its long bill to poke and prod into small crevasses and spaces to get to them. It’s not an exceptionally large bird, although it can reach up to 29 centimeters.
Atlantic Puffin
This odd-looking, penguin-like bird with its colorful beak is a definite favorite among birdwatchers. Because of their funny aesthetic, the Puffins in Norway have earned the nicknames “clowns of the sea” and “sea parrot.”
These cuties can only be seen during the breeding season when they call Norway home. The rest of the year, they are just floating out at sea. They are also perceived as a vulnerable species, especially when one realizes that a breeding pair can only lay one egg during a breeding season.
Ivory Gull
To the untrained eye, the Ivory Gull may appear to be just a regular gull. But to avid birdwatchers, it’s the sighting of a lifetime. Because they live in such remote regions, they are one of the birds that we know very little about. The Ivory Gull is entirely white but a bit smaller than regular gulls. They can be very difficult to spot as they almost completely disappear against a white backdrop of ice and snow.
Common Eider
The Common Elder is the largest diving duck in the Northern Hemisphere. It reaches a size of about 58 centimeters and can weigh up to 2.8 kilograms. This black and white bird in Norway is not your average duck and is incredibly beautiful, with a touch of green on the nape of its neck.
Steller’s Eider
This is one of the migrating duck species that is an incredibly rare and special sighting to any avid birdwatcher. It is a record-setting Eider, being the smallest, fastest, and rarest species of them all. The Steller’s Eider is an incredibly beautiful duck with white and black patterns and stripes and a dusty brown chest as if someone had lightly brushed it.
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron is a large bird that cannot be missed. This long-legged wading bird is grey with a distinct yellowish bill and a tuft of dark grey, almost black, feathers on its head. It grows up to 100 centimeters tall and can weigh up to 1.8 kilograms. The number of Grey Herons has actually steadily increased over the past decades in Norway, so you’re almost guaranteed to spot one if you visit the right place at the right time.
Mute Swans
Mute Swans are actually what most envision when they think about a swan: a big white bird gracefully floating on the water with its characteristic black and orange bill. Just like with the Heron, the Mute Swans have increased in number in Norway, but instead of moving around too much, they tend to stick to the same area and prefer short-distance movements, whereas other Mute Swans found around the world have a reputation for their long-distance mass movements.
Oystercatchers
Oystercatchers are also some of our migratory visitors to Norway. Currently, we have roughly 100 000 pairs of Oystercatchers heading to our shores when it’s their breeding season during the summertime. These black and white birds in Norway sport bright red legs and bills and can be very funny to watch as they run across the rocks looking for food.
Snowy Owl
If you love Harry Potter’s owl, you’ll be pleased to know that you can come and get a closer look at him here in Norway! The Snowy Owl is a big, beautiful bird that clocks in at 64 centimeters with a wingspan of up to 1.5 meters. Only a few lucky ones get to spot this snow-white owl with its brown flecks all over its body. An interesting fact about these owls is that you can actually guess their age by their color since they tend to get whiter with age!
The Best Places to Go Birdwatching in Norway
If you’re planning a birdwatching trip to Norway, the following places need to be on your trip itinerary:
Runde Island outside Alesund (famous for seabird colonies, especially the Atlantic Puffins during breeding season).
Rost Island in Lofoten (famous for seabird colonies, especially the Atlantic Puffins during breeding season).
Lovund Island on the Helgeland Coast (famous for seabird colonies, especially the Atlantic Puffins during breeding season).
Varanger Peninsula in Finnmark (this area is a favorite amongst birders interested in spotting Norwegian birds such as Steller’s Eider, the Red-throated Pipit, the Three-toed Woodpecker, the Great Grey Owl, and other interesting Arctic and Scandinavian bird species).
Islands of Smola in Fjord Norway (a popular spot to see sea eagles).
Orlandet on the coast outside Trondheim (a go-to spot for wetland and migratory bird species).
The Island of Tautra into the Trondheimfjord (this area has been credited with over 269 bird species!).
Ostensjovannet Lake Southeast of Oslo City Centre (the perfect birdwatching option if you have limited time in Norway or will mostly be confined to the borders of the capital city).
Fornebu Nature Reserve and Bird Observatory West of Oslo City Centre (the perfect birdwatching option if you have limited time in Norway or will mostly be confined to the borders of the capital city).
Bergen (this is the second-largest city in Norway, and you’ll find plenty of interesting bird species in the mountains and forests surrounding the city).
Some of the Most Famous Migration Patterns of Norway’s Migratory Birds
As we already touched on, Norway boasts 200+ immigrating bird species that call the country home for certain periods of the year. Here are a few of the migrations you can catch here in Norway:
Long-distance Migrants Start Arriving (Swallows, Sand Martins, Whinchat, Willow Warbler, etc.) in the South of Norway: Second Half of April to July.
Eider Ducks (King Eiders, Common Eiders, Steller’s Eider, etc.) in Varanger & Pasvik Valley: March to early April.
Seabirds (Pomarine Skua, White-billed Diver, etc.) in Varanger & Pasvik Valley: May to August.
What You’ll Need for Birdwatching in Norway
You’ll obviously need a good pair of binoculars to watch the birds from a safe and respectable distance (you’re not there to harass the birds, after all). For photos, you can use a camera or your mobile phone.
You no longer need to lug around big bird books to look up what you’ve found. You can now download the digital versions of Collins Bird Guide and Birds of Northern Europe. These will not only provide you with detailed descriptions and illustrations but also with sound recordings. If you want to start joining in on the birding fun, you can visit the Artsobserbasjoner.no website to report your latest findings.
Not Enough Days for All the Birds of Norway
With the country boasting over 500 bird species, there literally are not enough days in the year to view them all. And with so many being seasonal, you better have your calendar on standby to ensure you catch our special visitors before they leave again.
If you rent a motorhome in Norway, you can use this article as a guide to plan out the ultimate birdwatching road trip to all the must-visit birder spots. We’re sure you’ll be adding plenty of new sightings to your birding life list.
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