Tolting Through Iceland's Fauna Quiz

Answer: Gyrfalcon

The gyrfalcon, locally called valur or falki, is Iceland's national animal and also its national bird. These birds are the largest of all falcons and can mostly be found in the Arctic regions. While some gyrfalcons have a snowy-white plumage, the Icelandic gyrfalcons have darker colourings but, like all other falcons, they are sexually dimorphic and have a majestic wing-span. These falcons are heavily protected in Iceland, from the stealing of its eggs to the taking of photographs! Partly because of these protections, the population of local gyrfalcons peaked in 2019, but it also coincided with a peak in numbers of their preferred food, the ptarmigan.

Strength and freedom are highly regarded traits in Iceland, and the gyrfalcon is representative of both.

Leith90 swooped on this question and dropped it safely into the quiz.

Answer: Bull and vulture

Note: in heraldry, right (dexter) and left (sinister) refer to the position as if standing behind the shield, not looking at it as a viewer.

The coat of arms is a red cross on a silver cross atop a blue background surrounded by the four guardian spirits. A giant (Bergrisi) stands on the left with the dragon (Dreki) above him, On the right the bull (Grioungur) stands below the vulture (Gammur). The guardian spirits are taken from a collection of sagas called Heimskringla, which includes a passage that explains how King Harald's magician travelled the land and met the four Guardians.

With Iceland having a number of unique animals at their disposal, the choice of the vulture is odd. The large bird depicted is sometimes referred to as an eagle or a griffin, but the official Government of Iceland reference it as a vulture, but vultures are not a raptor generally associated with the country, unlike the gyrfalcon or the white-tailed eagle. Icelandic cattle are a breed known for milk production, they are small and rugged and generally have a docile nature. The males may be a bit more aggressive than the cows.


smpdit has long been associated with dragons. (not necessarily in a flattering sense. ) and so we continue on Phoenix Rising's World Tour.

Answer: Similar to walking only faster

A tolt is a four beat gait similar to a walk where at least one hoof is always on the ground. The difference is the tolt can reach speeds equal to a canter while still maintaining the same footfall pattern. Because there is no suspension between footfalls, the ride is very smooth without the up-down motion of a normal trot or canter. The horse can carry a fully grown adult for long distances using the tolt. The ability to tolt is inbred in the Icelandic horse, and young foals demonstrate tolting from a very young age.

The gait known as the flying pace has an unusual movement where the two legs on one side of the horse move at the same time rather than diagonal legs. This gait is normally done at speed, and usually for only a few hundred metres. A slow pace is uncomfortable for the rider as it causes an exaggerated side to side rocking.

The two beat trot and the trot with elevated knees and hocks (passage) are both gaits used in dressage.


Phoenix Rising's Red Crew member leith90 trotted in like a champion with this interesting question.

Answer: Some are ponies, some are horses

To qualify as a horse, an equine must be at least 14.2 hands tall at the withers, which equates to 58 inches. So most Icelandic horses are pony-sized, but some verge into horse territory. Regardless, they are called Icelandic horses, no matter the size.

This question was trotted out by player pusdoc as part of the Red Crew's journey on Phoenix Rising's Global Tour 2022

Answer: True

As far back as 982 CE the Icelandic parliament, the Althing, codified that no horses would be imported into Iceland. Thus, the Icelandic horses that are in Iceland have been purebred for more than 1,000 years. Icelandic horses that leave Iceland are not allowed to return back to Iceland because of the country's ban on the importation of livestock. Native Icelandic horses have not obtained immunity to diseases.

This question was admitted into the quiz by Phoenix Rising teammate and Red Crew member Triviaballer as part of the team's 2022 World Tour.

Answer: Arctic fox

Very well adapted to living in Arctic conditions, the Arctic fox is an animal that has thick fur with a bushy tail which they tuck around themselves to minimise heat loss. They eat small mammals, fish, birds and their eggs, berries, and seaweed. Outside of Iceland, where their natural predators are present, they display polygamous behaviour, but on Iceland where predators are absent the Arctic fox is mainly monogamous and will raise their cubs together in a pair bond.

Phoenix Rising's Red Team's smpdit would love to see an Arctic fox in the wild.

Answer: Database of registered horses

Most Icelandic horses are on the database, which is used to match mares and stallions, to improve the bloodline of the Icelandic breed. The data also includes Icelandic horses in other countries, including Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Austria, and the UK.

ozzz2002 jockeyed this question into the quiz.

Answer: Icelandic goat

The Icelandic goat has been traced back to the settlement of Iceland around 874 CE when they were likely transported to the island. They nearly became extinct both in the late 19th century as well as the late 20th century. The low numbers of the species prompted the Icelandic government to make the Icelandic goat the only farm animal sponsored by it for the purpose of ensuring its survival. The breeding work of the farmer Johanna Bergmann Porvaldsdottir helped increase the goat's population from 90 in the year 2000 to 820 by the end of 2014.

This question was bred into the quiz by Phoenix Rising teammate and Red Crew member Triviaballer as part of the team's 2022 World Tour.

Answer: Seabird

The Atlantic puffin or common puffin, is a sturdy seabird in the auk family. Atlantic puffins are mostly black and white but have colorful beaks and legs. There are an estimated 10 million puffins inhabiting the northern Atlantic from Quebec in the west to France in the east, but mainly on the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) archipelago off the south of Iceland.

mike32768 of Phoenix Rising's Red Crew flew in with this question and interesting information about the lovely puffins.

Answer: No

Reindeer were brought to Iceland in the 1770s-1780s from Norway. They were placed in different areas of Iceland but only now live in Iceland's east and northeast regions. Some reports say there are roughly 3000 remaining reindeer in this magnificent country while others count 6000-7000!

Jaknginger is looking forward to seeing reindeer when she visits Iceland.