This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series where I am sharing a folklore story every Friday in 2024.

This is a relatively short folklore story but is one that might interest anyone who plans to visit or take a dip into a hot spring while in Iceland. There is a type of bird that is said to lurk around hot springs. Over the centuries the description has been that the birds are the size of small ducks. They have mostly dark feathers with some white surrounding their eyes. They have only been spotted around hot springs, which might not seem weird.

However, the catch is that when they are approached, they dive into the boiling hot water and might not be seen again. They have been spotted in the Hveragerði region where people often go on the Reykjadalur hot spring hike.

Well, these reports are from people back in the day but it is possible that visitors are encountering them but don´t know who they are seeing. There have also been sightings of these birds flying out of hot springs. It is a bit shocking to see a bird emerging from a bubbling hot spring. Just something for you to keep your eyes open for when you visit a hot spring in this country.

According to the book “Meeting with the Monsters”, there are about 700 hot springs and pools mentioned in a document from 1910 about Iceland.

Hverafuglar – hot spring bird

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