VAKA | Mállýskur skógarþrasta

Dialects of the Redwing

The Natural History Museum of Kópavogur is currently working on collecting, analyzing, and mapping the song dialects of redwings in Iceland. Using recordings of the main dialects of redwings in the capital region, the lecture will cover the language, song learning, and communication of redwings.

The museum received a grant from the Museum Fund in 2026 for a community-based approach to research work. The life of the capital region's concrete jungle will be studied with the participation of residents, young and old alike. The project builds on earlier research and recordings by Hlynur Steinsson, with plans to begin a broader collection involving city residents in spring 2027. The project is being carried out in collaboration with a similar project in Norway, which is focused on redwing dialects there. How many different redwing dialects are there in Iceland? Do the redwings of Iceland and Norway share a common cultural heritage?

VAKA Folk Arts Festival takes place from September 13–19, 2026, in Kópavogur. The festival brings together music, dance, craft, storytelling, and poetry in a varied programme for curious guests of all ages. Whether you come to listen, learn, dance, sing, create, or simply enjoy being together, you'll have the chance to discover a wide range of folk arts in a new way — and become part of them. VAKA is committed to making its events as accessible as possible. That's why most events offer three different price tiers, allowing each guest to choose the price that suits them best. Secure your festival pass for access to all festival events.

All information about the festival can be found at www.vakareykjavik.is and on Vökufélagið's social media channels.