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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | 14000-18000,15700 |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Least Concern |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
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| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
The species is a river specialist during the breeding season and winters along exposed rocky seashores. Laying occurs in May and June. It nests on small islands in rivers (Tucker and Heath 1994). The nest is a thin layer of grass occasionally with a few dry twigs and leaves and lined with down (Carboneras and Kirwan 2013) and is usually concealed in dense vegetation (Tucker and Heath 1994). It usually lays five to seven eggs (Kear 2005). In summer the species occurs at high densities around lake outlets where it feeds on its favoured food resource: blackfly (Simulium vittatum) larvae (Bengtson and Ulfstrand 1971, Gudmundsson 1971). It also takes molluscs (Kear 2005). In summer it feeds on insect larvae and pupae, other invertebrates and small fish (Kear 2005, Carboneras and Kirwan 2013). In winter it forages along exposed rocky seashores where it feeds on intertidal and subtidal invertebrates (Tucker and Heath 1994). In Iceland birds from the north and north-east of the island move to the west and south-west coasts in winter (Carboneras and Kirwan 2013).
Although the generation length for both EU and Europe regional assessments were calculated using the same methodology, new information arriving after the EU assessments were undertaken gave rise to an update in the generation lengths. This new information was then used for the Europe level assessments giving rise to a difference between the generation lengths used for the EU and Europe regions.
Although the generation length for both EU and Europe regional assessments were calculated using the same methodology, new information arriving after the EU assessments were undertaken gave rise to an update in the generation lengths. This new information was then used for the Europe level assessments giving rise to a difference between the generation lengths used for the EU and Europe regions.
Range:
In Europe, this species breeds only in Iceland and Greenland, with the former holding about two thirds of the European breeding population.
Conservation:
Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. The species is protected against hunting and egg-collecting in Iceland. The core area, River Laxá, is partly protected by law, is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a Ramsar Site (Tucker and Heath 1994).
Conservation Actions Proposed
The identification of other rivers with high numbers of breeding pairs is needed and these should be protected from development. A study of the effect of the American mink on the species should be undertaken (Tucker and Heath 1994). Research should also be undertaken on resource use on the coast, individual females and the survival of small young and the relationship between breeding, moulting and wintering sites (Gardarsson 2008).
CMS Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. The species is protected against hunting and egg-collecting in Iceland. The core area, River Laxá, is partly protected by law, is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a Ramsar Site (Tucker and Heath 1994).
Conservation Actions Proposed
The identification of other rivers with high numbers of breeding pairs is needed and these should be protected from development. A study of the effect of the American mink on the species should be undertaken (Tucker and Heath 1994). Research should also be undertaken on resource use on the coast, individual females and the survival of small young and the relationship between breeding, moulting and wintering sites (Gardarsson 2008).