What wildlife can you see in Norway?

While most are drawn to Norway for its famous fjords and glorious mountains, many are thrilled to discover a range of wildlife thriving in its waters, skies, and hillsides.


Norway is wild in every direction, from humpback whales and orcas feasting on schools of herring to reindeer herds crossing snow-covered plains. Look up and spot sea eagles and falcons circling high above coastal cliffs and learn why cod and king crab remain the prized catches in the north. 

Biggest brain on the planet

During wintertime on the Norwegian coast, humpbacks and orcas can be spotted in the waters north of Tromsø. From late May to the middle of September, Norway’s summertime waters attract other whale species such as sperm and minke whales.

Sperm whales are renowned for their large head and prominent domed foreheads. This feature comes in handy when you have the largest brain of any creature to have lived on earth. But is that all the sperm whales head encases? Scientists have found that their heads also hold considerable quantities of an oily substance called spermaceti. What is its purpose? No one ones for sure, but one theory is that it aids the animal’s buoyancy.

Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales, often measuring longer than an average bus and weighing up to 45 tonnes. The front third of its body is made up of its dome-shaped head which encases the animal kingdom’s largest brain. To maintain their size and perhaps also to fuel their huge brain, they eat about a tonne of fish and squid per day.

Photogenic reindeer

The nomadic reindeer lives in large herds and travels long distances between its summer and winter-feeding areas. Today, herding reindeer in Norway is an exclusive privilege of the indigenous Sámi people.

With our all-inclusive expeditions, you’ll spend time with Sámi people, gaining a deeper understanding of their time-honoured herding traditions. 

Birds of prey

Northern Norway has the biggest population of white-tailed eagles in Europe, which is the largest bird of prey on the continent. It can have a wingspan of up to 2.5 metres. An optional sea eagle safari excursion during your expedition cruise may allow you to see just how big this bird is up close. Throughout your journey, our Expedition Team will share insight into the birdlife of Norway, helping you spot and understand these majestic raptors and the ecosystems they call home. 

Underwater royalty

The king crab is actually a late arrival to Norway’s waters. Initially, it belonged to the northern Pacific area and was introduced in the Murmansk Fjord near the Norwegian-Russian border in the 1960s.

They are one of the biggest and most sought-after crustaceans in the world, weighing as much as 10 kg. The shield length can be up to 25 cm, and with extended claws, they can measure almost two metres across. The meat of the king crab is considered a delicacy, making it an essential part of the local fishing culture.

Mainly made of calcium, a king crab's shell is actually its skeleton. They will even moult this skeleton and grow new ones a few times in their 20 to 30-year life cycle. The tough carapace acts as a natural shield against predators such as cod, halibut, and octopuses. The weight of the skeleton, however, as much as 24 pounds, means king crabs can’t swim and are instead limited to clambering slowly along the sea floor with their long limbs.

The fish that built Norway

For more than a thousand years, Vikings produced and ate dried cod, even using it for trade. This makes it Norway’s oldest export. The word skrei comes from the Norse word skreið which means ‘fish that wanders’. And wander it does. Every winter and spring, cod migrate in large numbers to the Norwegian coast, sustaining important livelihoods for locals. Dry fish production and trade still thrives in Norway today, such as in the Lofoten Islands.

Expedition boat cruising

Encounter Arctic wildlife on an all-inclusive expedition

Sail into the Arctic Circle during peak Northern Lights season and experience a world where nature writes the rules. There’s no fixed itinerary with our all-inclusive Ultimate Norway Expedition – just pure adventure, guided by wildlife, weather, and Northern Lights.  

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Penguins perched on the ice of Cuverville Island, Antarctica. Credit: Espen Mills / HX Hurtigruten Expeditions

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