Complete Svalbard Wildlife Guide: Encounters on Arctic Sailing Expeditions

Svalbard's remote archipelago hosts a remarkable array of wildlife adapted to extreme Arctic conditions. The region's untouched wilderness provides a rare opportunity to observe these creatures in their natural habitat. Our Our Svalbard sailing expeditions are designed to bring adventurers into close proximity with this extraordinary ecosystem while maintaining respect for its delicate balance.

Polar Bears
The undisputed king of the Arctic, the polar bear is the world's largest land carnivore and Svalbard's most renowned resident. With an estimated population of 3,000 bears in the Svalbard-Barents Sea area, these magnificent creatures are adapted perfectly to life in the Arctic.

Polar bears primarily hunt seals on sea ice, making the fjords and pack ice edges prime locations for sightings. During our Svalbard and 80° North Ultimate Arctic Sailing Expedition, we navigate carefully through these areas, always maintaining safe distances while maximizing observation opportunities.

Arctic Fox
The chameleon of the tundra, the Arctic fox changes its coat seasonally—snowy white in winter and brownish-grey in summer. These resourceful predators have remarkable adaptations, including fur-covered paws and compact bodies that conserve heat efficiently.

Arctic foxes often follow polar bears to scavenge remains from their hunts. They can be spotted near bird colonies where they hunt for eggs and chicks, particularly along coastal cliffs frequented during our sailing routes.

Svalbard Reindeer
The Svalbard reindeer is a distinct subspecies found nowhere else on Earth. Shorter-legged and more rotund than their mainland cousins, these adaptations help them conserve heat in the harsh Arctic environment.

During summer months, Svalbard reindeer can be observed grazing on the sparse vegetation of the archipelago's valleys and plateaus. Their remarkable ability to survive the Arctic winter makes them fascinating subjects for wildlife observation during our expeditions.

Walrus
With their distinctive tusks and massive bodies, walruses are among the most memorable creatures encountered in Svalbard waters. These social animals gather in " haul-outs " groups on shores and ice floes.

During our Epic Arctic Triangle expedition, we often observe walrus colonies in protected bays where they rest between feeding dives. Their curious nature sometimes brings them close to our vessel, creating unforgettable wildlife encounters.

Bearded & Ringed Seals
The bearded seal is distinguished by its impressive whiskers, while the smaller ringed seal features distinctive ring patterns on its coat. Both species are crucial components of the Arctic food web and primary prey for polar bears.

Seals can be spotted resting on ice floes or popping their heads above water throughout the archipelago's waters, particularly in fjords with active glaciers where they find refuge from predators.

Whales of Svalbard Waters
The waters around Svalbard host an impressive diversity of whale species, including:

• Beluga Whale: These distinctive white whales travel in social pods and are often seen near glacier fronts.
• Humpback Whale: Known for spectacular breaching displays and feeding behaviors.
• Blue Whale: The largest animal known to have existed, occasionally spotted in Svalbard's deep waters.
• Narwhal: The "unicorn of the sea" with its spiral tusk, rare but possible to observe in northern waters.

Whale sightings add a magnificent dimension to our sailing journeys, particularly during the 1500nm Polar Sailing routes that traverse rich feeding grounds.

Seabirds and Coastal SpeciesSvalbard hosts massive seabird colonies during the breeding season, with millions of birds nesting on coastal cliffs:

Atlantic Puffin
With their distinctive colorful beaks and penguin-like appearance, Atlantic Puffins are among the most charismatic birds encountered in Svalbard. These remarkable birds spend most of their lives at sea, returning to land only during breeding season where they nest in burrows on grassy slopes or in rock crevices. Their beaks become brilliantly colored during breeding season—a vibrant orange with blue and yellow markings—but fade to a duller grey in winter. Sailing close to puffin colonies provides opportunities to observe their incredible fishing abilities, as they can carry up to 60 small fish in their specialized beaks at once.

Kittiwake
The Black-legged Kittiwake is distinguished by its call that sounds remarkably like its name—"kitti-waake, kitti-waake." These medium-sized gulls construct precarious nests on impossibly narrow cliff ledges, creating vertical cities of birds along Svalbard's dramatic coastlines. Their ability to nest on such sheer surfaces provides protection from terrestrial predators like Arctic foxes. During our expeditions, we often sail beneath towering kittiwake colonies where thousands of birds create spectacular displays of aerial activity, their white bodies contrasting dramatically against dark rock faces.

Arctic Tern
The Arctic Tern is nature's ultimate marathoner, undertaking the longest migration known in the animal kingdom—from Antarctica to the Arctic annually, traveling approximately 70,000 kilometers round trip. These sleek, white birds with black caps and blood-red bills fiercely defend their nesting territories in Svalbard's coastal plains. Notorious for dive-bombing intruders who venture too close to their nests, they've been known to strike sailors' heads when colonies are approached. Despite weighing only 100-120 grams, these remarkable birds may live over 30 years, potentially covering more than 2.4 million kilometers in their lifetime—equivalent to three round trips to the Moon.

Common Eider
The Common Eider represents one of Svalbard's conservation success stories. Females create remarkable nests lined with the world's most insulating natural material—eiderdown—plucked from their own breasts. This valuable material, once overharvested, is now sustainably collected in some areas after nesting season. These robust sea ducks form impressive flotillas in protected bays and fjords, where males with distinctive black and white plumage contrast with the cryptic brown coloration of females. During our sailing expeditions, we often observe their characteristic synchronized diving behavior as they forage for mollusks and crustaceans in shallow coastal waters.

King Eider
The King Eider is the more colorful and regal cousin of the common eider, with males sporting striking plumage featuring a bluish-grey crown, bright orange bill shield, and delicate pastel body coloration. Less numerous than their common relatives, King Eiders prefer deeper waters and are often spotted near glacier fronts where nutrient upwellings create rich feeding grounds. Their presence adds a flash of unexpected color to the often monochromatic Arctic landscape, creating memorable sightings during our voyages through Svalbard's fjord systems.

Long-tailed Duck
Known for its musical yodeling calls that carry across Arctic waters, the Long-tailed Duck is immediately recognizable by the male's elongated central tail feathers during breeding season. Previously called "Oldsquaw" due to their vocalization resembling animated conversation, these expert divers can reach depths of 60 meters—making them the deepest diving ducks in the world. Their distinctive silhouettes and constant activity add life to sheltered bays and coastal waters throughout our sailing routes in the archipelago.

Barnacle Goose
The Barnacle Goose undertakes an impressive migration between Svalbard and the British Isles, traveling over 3,000 kilometers each way. Unlike most geese that nest on the ground, Barnacle Geese in Svalbard have adapted to nest on cliff ledges to evade Arctic foxes. This remarkable behavior leads to the incredible sight of goslings, just days old, launching themselves from heights of up to 100 meters to follow their parents to feeding grounds below. During summer expeditions, we often observe family groups foraging in the sparse tundra vegetation near shorelines, the adults vigilantly guarding their offspring.

Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan
The Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan holds the distinction of being the northernmost permanently resident bird species on Earth. These remarkable ground-dwelling birds survive the harsh Arctic winter through a suite of adaptations: feathered feet that act as snowshoes, specialized digestive systems that can process woody plants, and a striking seasonal camouflage transformation from snow-white winter plumage to mottled brown in summer. Despite their limited habitat on the archipelago, these hardy birds can be encountered even in the most remote northern regions during our voyages to 80° North, where their distinctive croaking calls often reveal their presence before they're visually spotted.

Snow Bunting
The Snow Bunting brings melodic song to an otherwise harsh landscape, earning it the nickname "the songbird of the Arctic." Males perform elaborate flight displays during courtship, ascending 30 meters before floating down like snowflakes with wings spread wide, all while delivering complex songs. Their striking black and white breeding plumage gradually transitions to buff-colored winter coloration through wear rather than molt—an unusual adaptation among birds. These cheerful, sparrow-sized birds are often encountered near human settlements and historic sites throughout the archipelago, where their persistent songs provide a soundtrack to our shore excursions.

Different sailing routes offer varied wildlife encounters:

• The Western Fjords Exploration provides excellent opportunities for observing seabird colonies and reindeer in sheltered fjords.
• Our 80° North Expedition ventures into the realm of polar bears and walruses on northern ice edges.
• The comprehensive Arctic Triangle route offers the broadest spectrum of wildlife observations across multiple Arctic ecosystems.

Svalbard's wildlife faces challenges from climate change and human activity. During our expeditions, we adhere to strict guidelines for responsible wildlife viewing:

• Maintaining safe distances from all animals
• Never pursue or disturbing wildlife
• Limiting our environmental footprint
• Supporting conservation through education and awareness

Participants in our sailing expeditions gain not just sightings of these remarkable creatures but a deeper understanding of Arctic ecosystems and the importance of their preservation.

For the best wildlife viewing experiences on our Svalbard sailing expeditions:

• Bring quality binoculars (minimum 8x42 recommended)
• Pack a camera with telephoto lens capabilities
• Wear layers of quiet, non-rustling clothing in neutral colors
• Practice patience and quiet observation
• Keep expectations flexible, as wildlife encounters are never guaranteed

The unique perspective of exploring from a sailing vessel offers unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities. From the deck of our expedition yacht, watch as a polar bear hunts along ice edges, observe whales feeding in nutrient-rich waters, or witness thousands of seabirds wheeling around towering cliffs.