CARSTEN EGEVANG
About the Author
Carsten Egevang is a researcher of biology and an award-winning nature photographer, as well as the author of several books about Greenland. During the past 25 years, Carsten has traveled all over Greenland – even to the most remote areas – and always with binoculars and a camera around his neck. As a researcher at the Greenland Nature Institute in Nuuk, he has been responsible for the scientific work with seabirds in Greenland. Carsten’s Master’s degree (MSc) dealt with his favourite species of Greenlandic birds: the little auk. During his education as a researcher (PhD), he was the leader of a research group that was the first in the world to map the world’s longest bird migration: the Arctic tern’s incredible annual round trip from Greenland to Antarctica.
Today, Carsten works mainly as a photographer, where he combines his scientific background with visual communication. The unique relationship between prey animals and traditional Greenlandic hunting culture is the particular focus of his professional work. Most recently, he has worked with the Greenlandic sled dog, and its significance in Greenland today.
Birdwatching
There are a number of common features that characterise bird life in Greenland:
Few different species
– many migratory birds
Very Few
sparrow species
Many species
of seabirds
Useful Information
There is a lot of useful information you can find to plan your trip to Greenland.
Time of year
The best time to visit Greenland for bird watching is without a doubt the summertime. Almost all Greenlandic breeding birds leave Greenland outside the breeding season, and only a few species, such as the Rock Ptarmigan, the raven and the great cormorant, stay through the winter. Most species arrive around April/May and disappear again in September, which is why the most interesting months for birds are June and July. This is when the diversity and number of birds is the greatest, and the birds are found on their breeding grounds (such as colonies), making their presence predictable so you know where to find them.
However, this doesn’t mean that it is only interesting to go birdwatching in June/July! August/September in particular is a really nice time of year in Greenland, where the landscape changes to autumn colors and the mosquito season is at its end. At this time there are still birds, but they appear more scattered as they are not attached to breeding sites. Wintertime is also interesting, as at this time it is possible to see some of the species (such as the King Common Eider and Little Auk), which usually occur only in the high north.
Bird book
Get your hands on a bird book or a good nature guide some time before leaving for Greenland, and start by learning which bird species are relevant. By getting to know in advance which bird species occur in Greenland, at what time and in which parts of the country, you will already be well-prepared and ready to watch birds as soon as you arrive. It is also a good idea to learn the voices of the most common species, such as the Snow Bunting, the Lapland Bunting and the Common Redpoll, before arriving in Greenland. There are plenty of places on the Internet where you can listen to these birds’ voices.
Birdwatching while sailing
If you are going on a cruise or another kind of sailing trip, it is a good idea to install yourself on the deck with your binoculars. When sailing you typically get to cover larger distances, with the possibility of encountering bird species that are otherwise difficult to see. For example, in the summer months, you may encounter species such as the Long-tailed Skua and the Pomarine Skua in West Greenland (especially in the Disko Bay area), and in August/September the Great Shearwater (a breeding bird from the southern hemisphere) visits the waters between South Greenland and Sisimiut.
Bird sites
Greenland is a huge country with breathtaking landscapes, of which the birds are a natural part. To list all the exciting places for birdwatching is not possible, but below is a suggestion of bird sites distributed across all of the regions of Greenland. Note that traffic restrictions apply to several of these sites in the birds’ breeding season (see the section “Bird protection in Greenland”).
Greenland is a country where subsistence hunting is of great importance, and some of the seabird species, in particular, especially Brünnich’s guillemot and Common Eiders are popular foods. Common to all of the bird species, however, is the rule that they may not be hunted during the breeding season when they need peace in order to secure their next generations.
It is important that the birds are guaranteed calm during the breeding season, and that you show consideration and do not create unnecessary disturbance during a visit to a bird colony. In Greenlandic law, there is general protection of bird colonies. Therefore, it is not permitted to create a disturbance (which includes sailing over 3 knots) within 1,000 meters from a nesting cliff, or within 200 metres from an island with breeding seabirds such as Common Eiders, Arctic Terns, Puffins and Black Guillemots.
Greenland is also a member of the international Ramsar Convention, in which countries commit to protecting important wetlands of international significance. In this context, 12 areas in both East and West Greenland have been designated, because of the presence of waterfowl – especially geese. At the Ramsar sites, there is limited access, regulation of traffic, and regulation of the use of the area. Finally, the world’s largest national park is located in Greenland. The whole of North and Northeast Greenland is designated as an almost 1 million km 2 national park, where wildlife can thrive. In the national park there are no settlements, but only research, weather and military stations.
Tips for bird photography
Bird photography is an activity that often goes hand in hand with birdwatching. Here are a few tips for bird photography in Greenland:
Clothing
The first and most important tips do not relate to technique or equipment, but rather to attire. Bird photography almost always requires a great deal of patience, as one must wait for the perfect motif. It is surprisingly cold to sit still for a long time in Greenland – even in the summer! The same goes for sailing – where it very quickly gets cold when outside the cabin. Here it is necessary to have proper attire, because: “If you’re not warm – you can’t perform”.
It is always a good idea to bring more clothes than you think you will need on your photo trip. Remember a hat and gloves, and use several layers of clothing, so you can continuously regulate heat, by taking one layer off or on. The best materials are nature’s own – wool and down are unsurpassed – and it is necessary to have windproof material on your outer layer, to protect against the cold wind.
Mosquitoes
Another piece of advice is to always have a mosquito net and mosquito repellent with you in the field. The mosquito season in Greenland’s summer can be an annoyance that disturbs the nature experience if you are not prepared. But be careful with mosquito repellent! Certain brands contain chemicals that can damage the “coating” on the glass of binoculars and camera lenses!
Batteries
All camera batteries are sensitive to cold and can discharge in cold weather so that they stop working. In general, the smaller the battery, the more sensitive it is to the cold. However, this is only a problem in the winter, when temperatures in Greenland can be extreme! In the summer it does not get so cold that it causes problems with batteries. If you visit Greenland in the winter, it’s a good idea to bring extra camera batteries, and to keep them warm by having them close to your body inside your clothes.
Equipment
Cameras are available in all types and price ranges – and today, even mobile phones are equipped with surprisingly good built-in cameras. If you are more serious about (bird) photography, then a camera with interchangeable lenses is a necessity. For landscape photos in which birds feature, it is fine to use lenses ranging from wide angle to about 200 mm. If you are interested in getting actual bird pictures, where the animal is the central subject in the picture, you will be dependent on focal lengths of over 300 mm. It is an advantage if your camera shoots at a high “frame rate” – that is, that it is able to take pictures at many frames per second.
Know your camera
It is not a good idea to go to Greenland with a brand new and untested camera. A good tip is to practice with your new camera before departure, so you are familiar with the camera’s functions. Modern cameras often offer so many features that they can seem completely overwhelming. Learn at home how the most basic settings work – such as how to select high shutter speed. Greenland offers so many motifs that are “once in a lifetime”, and it would be a shame to miss the photo of your life because of lacking technique.
Shoot morning and evening
The good thing about summer in Greenland is that there is plenty of light available – it is often possible to take photographs around the clock. In the middle of the day, however, the light is so “harsh” that the photographic results will not be very good. Rather, it is better to plan your trip in the morning or the evening hours, when the light is more “soft”.
Get at eye level
A good tip is to always remember to get at eye level with your subject! Photos taken at an angle from below (such as a gull or a raven sitting on a lamppost), or from above (such as birds on the water taken from a tall boat), distort the proportions of the birds and usually do not end up being particularly good. If you want a good bird photo, it is often necessary to crawl around a bit on the rocks or to get down on your stomach and crawl around.
The list of bird species. Click on the name in order to jump to the chosen bird.
Brünnich’s Guillemot
Brünnich’s guillemot
Distribution: All of West Greenland, on the East Coast only at Scoresbysund
Weight: 800-1100 grams / Length: 39-43 cm / Wingspan: 65-73 cm
Food: Fish (such as polar cod, arctic cod, capelin) and crustaceans
The Brünnich’s guillemot breeds in large, dense colonies on steep cliff sides. It lays only one egg per year, which has a conical shape, so that the risk of the egg rolling over the narrow rock shelf is diminished. There are a total of 18 Brünnich’s guillemot colonies in Greenland, and the most and largest are located in the Thule and Upernavik area. The Brünnich’s guillemot is the most sought-after huntable bird species in Greenland, and for people in Southwest Greenland, guillemots hold a status as a winter food that is almost on a par with what turkey on Christmas Day has for the English. There is another species of guillemot that also breeds in Greenland, namely Atlantic guillemots. These, however, are few in number and only occur southwards from Nuuk.
Little Auk
Little Auk
Distribution: Main distribution in the Thule and Scoresbysund areas, scattered, smaller colonies in West Greenland
Weight: 140-190 grams / Length: 17-21 cm / Wingspan: 34-48 cm
Food: Crustaceans (water fleas)
The little auk is a true specialist when it comes to its food! While the other auks are fish-eaters, the little auk exploits another niche, namely the small water fleas that in the summer months appear in huge numbers in the Arctic sea. The little auk gets his food from the sea, but through its excrement it adds nourishment to the land around the colony. This means that the vegetation around a little auk colony is particularly rich and appears glaringly green compared to its surroundings, which are typically brown or grey. The little auk has a very scattered distribution in Greenland. The large colonies with millions of birds exist only in the Thule and Scoresbysund areas, while a few small colonies with a few hundred birds can be found in the Upernavik and Disko Bay areas.
Black Guillemot
Black Guillemot
Distribution: Along the coast throughout Greenland
Weight: 330-550 grams / Length: 30-38 cm / Wingspan: 49-58 cm
Food: Bottom-dwelling fish (especially Rock Gunnel) and to a lesser extent crustaceans
The black guillemot finds its food in relatively shallow water, and the small, eel-like, bottom-dwelling fish Rock Gunnel is an especially important food source. The black guillemot has completely black plumage with large, oval white patches on the wings. When the black guillemot dives underwater, it becomes almost invisible, but in clear water you can clearly see the white patches flash below the surface while it “flies” underwater. If you get close to the species, you see clearly its red legs, and the inside of the black guillemot’s beak and mouth are also completely red. The nest, usually with 1-2 eggs, is placed between large rocks close to shore.
Puffin
Puffin
Distribution: Breeds scattered in colonies on the West Coast, a few breeding birds at Scoresbysund
Weight: 380-550 grams / Length: 26-36 cm / Wingspan: 47-63 cm
Food: Small fish, such as sand-eel and capelin
However, it is not so easy to see a puffin in Greenland. The species breeds in small numbers, and the total Greenlandic population is less than 5000 birds. The puffin breeds on small islands close to Nuuk, in the Disko Bay area, in the Thule area and then there are a few individual breeding pairs at Scoresbysund. This occurrence is in sharp contrast to, for example, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, where puffins are found in their millions. The Greenlandic climate is in all probability a little too harsh for the puffin, which is better adapted to a slightly milder climate. The large, colourful beak of the puffin plays an important behavioural role during the breeding season when the beak is used to communicate with potential mates. Outside the breeding season, the puffin loses the colour on its beak and looks different. The beak is also used to transport fish back to the young in the colony, and the puffin is a world record holder in carrying fish in its beak – up to 62 small fish have been recorded inside one beak!
Black-legged Kittiwake
Black-legged Kittiwake
Distribution: Breeds in colonies in both West and East Greenland
Weight: 300-500 grams / Length: 37-42 cm / Wingspan: 91-120 cm
Food: Marine invertebrates (crustaceans, brushworms, etc) and small fish (capelin, sand-eel)
The Black-legged Kittiwake breeds on steep cliff sides, where the 1-3 eggs are laid in a nest built with moss, or directly on a rock shelf. It’s impressive to see how little space the Black-legged Kittiwake needs to establish his nest: just one small protrusion or a crack in the rock is enough for the Black-legged Kittiwake to have room to build his nest. The Black-legged Kittiwake often breeds in the same places as the Brünnich’s guillemot, and usually the two species of seabirds occur in mixed colonies. Here there is a lot of competition to get the best nesting places – a competition that the Black-legged Kittiwake, however, always loses to the much larger and stronger Brünnich’s guillemot. The Black-legged Kittiwake is very vocal on the breeding ground. With a loud, “meowing” cat-like sound, large Black-legged Kittiwake colonies create a chorus that can be heard far away.
Arctic tern
Arctic tern
Distribution: Breeders scattered on small islands throughout Greenland
Weight: 90-125 grams / Length: 33-39 cm / Wingspan: 66-85 cm
Food: Especially small fish (such as capelin), fish larvae and to a lesser extent crustaceans
The arctic tern is in every way created for a life in the air, and not live on land. In the air, it is incredibly elegant, manoeuvrable, and equipped with long wings and tail feathers. On land, however, it’s another story: its short, small legs mean that it is barely able to walk, giving the bird a clumsy impression. The arctic tern breeds in colonies on small islands, where the nest, with its 1-3 eggs, is placed directly on the ground. The many birds gathered in one place are an extremely effective defence against predators. If a seagull or raven ventures near the colony, they will immediately be received with airstrikes from the many screaming birds. The same is true if humans go ashore in arctic tern colonies. In this case, the birds will come flying from behind, and with great precision place their pointed beaks in the scalps of the intruders – a surprisingly painful nature experience!
Northern Fulmar
Northern Fulmar
Distribution: Breeds throughout Greenland – largest colonies are found in West Greenland – From Disko Bay and northwards to Thule
Weight: 600-850 g / Length: 43-52 cm / Wingspan: 100-115 cm
Food: Fish, squid and crustaceans found on the water’s surface. Can also eat carrion.
The northern fulmar is very common in Greenlandic waters, especially in Disko Bay and around Uummannaq. The species breeds in large colonies, where the nest is placed at the top of the steep cliffside. If an unwelcome guest comes too close to the nest, the northern fulmar has an effective defence: it can spit a long stream of a smelly, sticky substance that hits the target with great precision. The northern fulmar scans large areas to find its main food, which is carrion, and it is not uncommon for it to fly several hundred kilometres from its nest site in search of food. The northern fulmar has made great progress in Greenland, as it has learned to exploit the waste created by the fishing industry. Typically, everything from large trawlers to small dinghies is surrounded by large flocks of northern fulmar, waiting for what the fishermen leave behind.
Iceland Gull
Iceland Gull
Distribution: Breeds in colonies along the entire West Coast, to a lesser extent in East Greenland
Weight: 1000-1500 grams / Length: 52-62 cm / Wingspan: 123-150 cm
Food: Mostly fish, crustaceans and molluscs – also eggs and chicks
The Iceland gull, together with the Glaucous Gull and the Great Black-backed Gull, is one of the “great gulls” that occur in Greenland, and that visiting birdwatchers will most likely encounter during their stay. The great black-backed gull is the world’s largest gull species and is easily recognisable in the field due to its completely dark back and the upper surface of the wings. The Glaucous Gull and the Iceland Gull, on the other hand, are not so easy to distinguish from each other – even for experienced birdwatchers. The Iceland gull, however, is somewhat smaller in size than the Glaucous Gull, and the head of the Iceland Seagull is smaller and narrower – with a more “friendly” expression.
Ivory Gull
Ivory Gull
Distribution: Breeds in colonies in East Greenland, and to a lesser extent in the Thule area
Weight: 500-700 grams / Length: 40-48 cm / Wingspan: 100-120 cm
Food: Mostly carrion, but also insects, crustaceans, molluscs and small fish
The Ivory Gull is an extreme bird in every way! Not only is its distribution limited to the coldest. and harshest areas in the High Arctic, but its nesting sites are found in some of the most inhospitable places on earth. The Ivory gull is, like so many other seabirds, colony-breeding, and the colonies are established either directly on the ground on small, rocky islands or on nunataks – rocks that protrude from the mighty inland ice. Ivory gull colonies have even been found on a small pile of gravel on top of a glacier. Outside the breeding season, the Ivory Gull lives on the pack ice, where it primarily survives by eating carrion. It is a faithful companion to the polar bear and can find the bear across great distances to enjoy the remains of the polar bear’s catch. The ice gull can cross the inland ice during its migration, and satellite marking has shown that it can catch high-speed winds, and travel from West Greenland to East Greenland with record speeds.
Ross’ Gull
RARE: Ross’ Gull
Distribution: Very rare in Greenland – few breeding birds in both West and East Greenland
Weight: 120-250 grams / Length: 29-32 cm / Wingspan: 73-100 cm
Food: During the breeding season mostly insects, in winter crustaceans, zooplankton and small fish
The small, elegant gull is easy to recognise in the field, with its characteristic neck ring and wedge-shaped tail. In Greenland, it always appears during the breeding season together with arctic tern colonies, where it benefits from the protection against predators that life among arctic terns offers. Although there are very few breeding birds, the Ross’ Gull seems to be concentrated in two areas in Greenland: namely Disko Bay and Northeast Greenland. The Ross’ Gull is much sought after among birdwatchers and is considered one of the best experiences for arctic birdwatchers.
Sabine’s Gull
Sabine’s Gull
Distribution: Primarily Northeast Greenland, as well as smaller colonies in West Greenland from Uummannaq to Thule
Weight: Crustaceans and small fish – during the breeding season also insects
Food: Bottom-dwelling fish (especially Rock Gunnel) and to a lesser extent crustaceans
The Sabine’s Gull is one of only two bird species that was “discovered” in Greenland, and was described to the scientific world for the first time in 1818. After the breeding season, the Sabine’s Gull makes a long-distance migration which is unparalleled among the world’s other gull species. The birds fly from their Greenlandic breeding grounds southwards, fast. After a stop in the waters off of Portugal in the autumn, the Sabine’s Gull crosses the Equator, in order to spend the winter in the sea off of southern Africa. In the spring, the birds return to Greenland, after a round trip of 30-40,000 km.
Common Eider
Common Eider
Distribution: Breeds on small islands in most of the country, especially northern West Greenland
Weight: 1800-2800 grams / Length: 50-70 cm / Wingspan: 85-110 cm
Food: Especially benthic invertebrates such as mussels, crabs, snails and sea urchins
During the entire period of hatching the eggs, the female lies completely still on the eggs and does not eat any food. She only leaves the nest for a few minutes each night, to drink some water and preen her plumage. Once the eggs have hatched, the young leave the colony with the female after only a few days. They then establish large “kindergartens” together, where the females share the responsibility of looking after the many small ducklings. The common eider is tasty and among the most coveted huntable bird species in Greenland. Perhaps as a result of this, the common eider population was previously declining, but this trend has today been reversed, and the species is growing in number in most places in Greenland. In winter, common eiders congregate in large flocks in south Greenland.
King Eider
King Eider
Distribution: North and Northeast Greenland
Weight: 1400-2000 grams / Length: 43-65 cm / Wingspan: 85-100 cm
Food: Retrieves its food in the marine environment, but breeds in small lakes inland
Although the two eider species are similar in appearance, they have completely different breeding behaviour. While the common eider is found in most of Greenland, the king eider is found exclusively in the high-arctic areas in Northeast Greenland and the Thule area. The species does not breed in colonies, but individually in freshwater lakes, which can be located far inland. However, its food is retrieved in the marine environment – even during the breeding season. In the summer you can come across flocks of king eiders in Greenland which are not breeding but are gathered to shed their wing feathers, after which they are unable to fly for a period of time. For the same reason, king eiders come to Greenland in winter from the Canadian populations. They gather in huge flocks on the banks off the coast of West Greenland.
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Distribution: The whole country – main distribution: southwest Greenland
Weight: 550-1500 g – female up to 20% larger than the male / Length: 34-51 cm / Wingspan: 80-120 cm
Food: Main food is small birds, but can also eat grouse, ducks, gulls and seabirds
The peregrine falcon is found mostly in the southwestern part of the country. As autumn approaches, and the peregrine falcon’s main food, small birds such as Snow Buntings, begin to leave Greenland for the southern skies, the peregrine falcon does the same. The species is a long-distance migrator that spends the winter months in Central and South America, while snow and ice envelop the Greenlandic landscape. The peregrine falcon places its nest on steep cliff sides, where it lays 3-4 eggs. When the eggs are hatched, it is the female that stays behind and takes care of the young, while the male is out finding food for its constantly hungry offspring. If you approach a rock shelf with a falcon nest on it, you will typically become aware of this by the loud screams from the falcons, which occur when the male delivers food, or if a raven or a White-tailed eagle flies by.
Gyrfalcon
Gyrfalcon
Distribution: All of Greenland
Weight: 960-2100 grams – female largest / Length: 48-63 cm / Wingspan: 120-160 cm
Food: Seabirds and small birds, grouse, hares and in Northeast Greenland: lemmings
Like the Peregrine Falcon, there is a clear difference in size between the sexes. The female is noticeably larger than the male. In this way, as a couple, these birds of prey can take advantage of a wider range of prey – the female catches the largest prey, while the male concentrates on the smaller ones. While the Gyrfalcon hunts many of its prey inland during the summer, it changes to seabird-based foods in the winter. Unlike the peregrine falcon, the Gyrfalcon is not a long-distance migrator, but the Greenlandic Gyrfalcon roams more in the winter, as it lacks a well-defined winter area. Studies in which birds have been equipped with satellite transmitters have shown that the Gyrfalcon can spend large periods of the winter in the middle of the drifting ice, where it forages on seabirds.
White-tailed Eagle
White-tailed Eagle
Distribution: Southwest Greenland with Disko Bay as the northernmost breeding area
Weight: 4000-7000 grams / Length: 69-103 cm / Wingspan: 190-250 cm
Food: Especially fish and birds. Can also take chicks and eggs from bird colonies, as well as mammals such as hares and polar foxes
As its Danish name (which literally translates to sea eagle) suggests, the sea eagle lives in a constant connection with the marine environment. Its food consists mostly of fish and seabirds. The white-tailed eagle has its main distribution in southern Greenland. In the past, things have not gone so well for the White-tailed eagle in Greenland, partly as a result of illegal hunting. Today, the attitude towards the White-tailed eagle is different, and the species is growing in terms of the number of breeding pairs. At the same time, a warmer climate means that the White-tailed eagle is expanding its breeding area to the north, and it is today a common sight in West Greenland, from South Greenland to Disko Bay.
Red-necked Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Distribution: Breeds throughout West Greenland
Weight: 20-48 grams / Length: 17-19 cm / Wingspan: 31-40 cm
Food: In summer, freshwater insects and mosquito larvae. In winter, marine crustaceans
The Red-necked Phalarope is a common breeding bird in Greenland and is found throughout the country. During the breeding season, it is found in small water holes inland, or on larger islands. Here, it lives through the summer on insects – especially mosquitoes and mosquito larvae that it finds on the water’s surface. If during your visit to Greenland, you see a small bird in a water hole that is frantically turning around over and over again, you have in all probability encountered a Red-necked Phalarope. By rapidly moving in small circles, a stream of water is created from the bottom towards the surface, and the small freshwater insects in this way become accessible to the Red-necked Phalarope. Outside the breeding season, the little Red-necked Phalarope spends the winter in the middle of the ocean, far from land.
Grey Phalarope
Grey Phalarope
Distribution: Main distribution in Northeast Greenland, also found on small islands in northwest Greenland
Weight: 37-77 grams / Length: 20-22 cm / Wingspan: 37-44 cm
Food: During the breeding season mainly freshwater insects, in winter zooplankton
The Grey Phalarope has its main distribution in Northeast Greenland, where it breeds in moist areas on the tundra. However, the species is also found in some places in West Greenland (Disko Bay, Uummannaq and Upernavik), where it always chooses to breed together with the arctic tern colonies. With both the Red and Grey Phalaropes, the gender roles have switched, in relation to what is normally seen in the animal world. It is the females, not the males, who have the most beautiful plumage. After mating and egg-laying, the females quickly leave the breeding areas, leaving the hatching of the eggs, as well as the rearing of the young, to the males. The Grey Phalarope also spends the winter far out at sea, when the breeding season is over in Greenland.
Greenland White-fronted Goose
Greenland White-fronted Goose
Distribution: Tundra areas in central West Greenland
Weight: 1700-3200 grams / Length: 64-86 cm / Wingspan: 130-160 cm
Food: Vegetation such as grass, tubers, leaves, seeds, herbs and berries
The white-fronted goose breeds in tundra areas in southwest Greenland, with the Uummannaq region being the northernmost. Particularly important areas are found in the inland areas south of Disko Bay and around Kangerlussuaq. In the winter, the entire Greenlandic population of White-fronted geese gathers in Scotland, and here is carried out a count of the number of birds, as well as the proportion of young birds, in order to follow the status of the white-fronted goose. The white-fronted goose has in recent decades experienced a decline, probably as a result of the fact that the larger and more dominant Canada goose has been growing rapidly in Greenland.
Rock Ptarmigan
Rock Ptarmigan
Distribution: Mountain areas throughout Greenland
Weight: 430-740 grams / Length: 31-38 cm / Wingspan: 50-60 cm
Food: Plant foods such as buds, berries, seeds and herbs.
The Rock Ptarmigan is one of the few bird species that does not leave Greenland but stays within the country’s borders all year round. The ptarmigans that breed in the north in particular make migrations to more southern areas. However, the number of birds making this southward migration can vary quite a bit from year to year. From ancient times, “ptarmigan years” are known, where particularly many ptarmigans come to South Greenland. The Latin name of the Rock Ptarmigan means “hare foot”, and refers to its feathered feet, which is an adaptation to cold areas.
Common Raven
Common Raven
Distribution: All of Greenland
Weight: 1000-1500 grams / Length: 54-71 cm / Wingspan: 115-150 cm
Food: Omnivorous, both vegetarian and animal foods, carrion, bird eggs and chicks
The raven is omnivorous, and certainly not picky. In the winter season, it feeds mainly on carrion and other waste and can gather in large flocks at urban landfills. In summer, the raven specialises in bird eggs and chicks. In order to synchronise the raven chicks’ need for food, the raven is the one bird species in Greenland that breeds the earliest. As early as the month of March the raven lays its eggs, and when the other bird species arrive in Greenland and lay their eggs, the raven already has large chicks in the nest.
Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll
Distribution: Particularly central and southwest Greenland
Weight: 11-18 grams / Length: 11-14 cm / Wingspan: 20-25 cm
Food: Plant parts such as seeds – in the summer also insects
The Common Redpoll is the smallest of the sparrows in Greenland. At the same time, it is quite inconspicuous with its grey-brown plumage, and only when you look at it closely can you discover the beautiful red colours in its forehead and the male’s pink breast. The Common Redpoll is a common breeding bird in West Greenland northwards until Melville Bay, and there are also a few in East Greenland. It is found especially in willow shrubs and other taller vegetation. Its food is a mixture of insects and plant parts, such as seeds, buds and herbs.
The Common Redpoll is a migratory bird, and the majority of those in Greenland leave the country during the winter. The exceptions, however, are in South Greenland and the Tasiilaq area, where Common Redpolls in varying numbers can overwinter, depending on the severity of the winter.
Arctic Redpoll
Arctic Redpoll
Distribution: Breeds in the northernmost parts of Greenland, but also found in winter in southern parts
Weight: 11-16 grams / Length: 12-16 cm / Wingspan: 21-28 cm
Food: Plant parts such as seeds, but in summer also insects
The Arctic Redpoll is surprisingly difficult to distinguish from the Common Redpoll in the field. The best characteristics to look for are a slightly larger size, a completely white rump and a smaller, black “bib” under the beak, compared to the Common Redpoll. The best way to find out if it is one species or the other is actually to use the location and the season: if you see a Redpoll in the summer, it is in all probability a Common Redpoll, unless you are in the northernmost regions. If you see a Redpoll between November and April in Greenland, it is probably an Arctic Redpoll, as the Common Redpoll has left the country at this point in time.
Northern Wheatear
Northern Wheatear
Distribution: Breeds in rocky areas in most of Greenland
Weight: 20-28 grams / Length: 14-16 cm / Wingspan: 26-32 cm
Food: Mostly insects, but also eats berries
The Northern Wheatear is the largest of the Greenlandic sparrows. The male has a grey upper side, ochre-coloured chest and a black “bandit mask”. The female is a slightly more solid light brown. Most often you hear the Northern Wheatear before you see it! A furious “tick-tick”, like the sound when you hit two stones against each other. The Northern Wheatear has a habit of tilting its tail, and if you see it fly, it reveals a large, white patch on the top of the tail, with a black, inverted “T”.
Snow Bunting
Snow Bunting
Distribution: All of Greenland
Weight: 30-45 grams / Length: 16-19 cm / Wingspan: 32-38 cm
Food: Especially seeds, but during the breeding season also insects, which the young are fed with
The male is unmistakable, with his black-and-white plumage, while the female has a brown upper side and a light belly. In the winter, practically all snow buntings move away from Greenland. However, it does happen that a smaller proportion overwinters in South Greenland, where they search for food in large flocks. Some of the Greenlandic snow buntings migrate to Russia in the winter, while others use North America as their winter grounds. The diet of the snow bunting is composed of both plant parts and insects, which are fed to the chicks in the nest.
Lapland Bunting
Lapland Bunting
Distribution: Especially West and Southwest Greenland
Weight: 20-30 grams / Length: 14-16 cm / Wingspan: 25-28 cm
Food: Especially insects but also plant parts such as seeds
The nest, with 3-7 eggs, is placed in a small depression in the ground, preferably under a bush. The species occurs in Greenland from May to September/October, and it only rarely happens that the Lapland bunting is seen in the winter. Its food is a mixture of plant parts in winter and insects in summer. The Lapland bunting has an evocative song that is usually performed from the top of a bush, and which creates the soundscape for a hiking trip in the mountains in the summer.