Due to the isolated, insular nature of the Faroe Islands, some animal species do not occur there naturally, such as reptiles, amphibians, and freshwater fish. Mammals are represented only by gray seals.
Impressive is only the world of birds, whose population is estimated at 3.5 million individuals. They are represented by about 40 species of nesting birds, 30 migrating birds, and more than 200 visiting the islands during migration.
Colonies of puffins-water birds of the auk family (Alcidae)-are very numerous here. A wading bird of the oystercatcher family (Haematopodidae), the Eurasian oystercatcher, which is the national bird of the Faroe Islands, was immortalized on the country’s former flag until 1940.
The Faroe Islands are home to what is probably the world's largest colony of the European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus), numbering between 150.000 and 400.000 pairs. In the past, sailors called these birds unlucky, storm-creating birds. They believed that they were the souls of drowned sailors and one should have a good relationship with them.
