List of birds of Poland
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Poland. The avifauna of Poland include 468 species, of which 2 have been introduced by humans and seven have not occurred since 1950.
This list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature follow the conventions of the Polish Fauna Commission. Supplemental updates follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2019 edition.
The Polish names of the birds, with their scientific names, are in the :pl:Ptaki Polski|Polish Wikipedia article.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
- Historical - species that have not occurred in Poland since 1950
- Introduced - species introduced to Poland as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
- Rare - species that are rare or accidental in Poland
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: AnatidaeAnatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Graylag goose | Anser anser | |
Greater white-fronted goose | Anser albifrons | |
Lesser white-fronted goose | Anser erythropus | * |
Taiga bean-goose | Anser fabalis | |
Tundra bean-goose | Anser serrirostris | |
Pink-footed goose | Anser brachyrhynchus | |
Brant | Branta bernicla | * |
Barnacle goose | Branta leucopsis | |
Canada goose | Branta canadensis | |
Red-breasted goose | Branta ruficollis | * |
Mute swan | Cygnus olor | |
Tundra swan | Cygnus columbianus | |
Whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus | |
Egyptian goose | Alopochen aegyptiaca | |
Ruddy shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | * |
Common shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | |
Mandarin duck | Aix galericulata | |
Garganey | Spatula querquedula | |
Blue-winged teal | Spatula discors | * |
Northern shoveler | Spatula clypeata | |
Gadwall | Mareca strepera | |
Eurasian wigeon | Mareca penelope | |
American wigeon | Mareca americana | * |
Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | |
Northern pintail | Anas acuta | |
Green-winged teal | Anas crecca | |
Red-crested pochard | Netta rufina | |
Common pochard | Aythya ferina | |
Ring-necked duck | Aythya collaris | * |
Ferruginous duck | Aythya nyroca | |
Tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | |
Greater scaup | Aythya marila | |
Lesser scaup | Aythya affinis | * |
Steller's eider | Polysticta stelleri | * |
King eider | Somateria spectabilis | * |
Common eider | Somateria mollissima | |
Harlequin duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | * |
Surf scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | * |
Velvet scoter | Melanitta fusca | |
Stejneger's scoter | Melanitta stejnegeri | * |
Common scoter | Melanitta nigra | |
Black scoter | Melanitta americana | * |
Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | |
Common goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | |
Smew | Mergus albellus | |
Common merganser | Mergus merganser | |
Red-breasted merganser | Mergus serrator | |
Ruddy duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | C |
White-headed duck | Oxyura leucocephala | * |
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: PhasianidaeThe Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump and have broad, relatively short wings.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Common quail | Coturnix coturnix | |
Ring-necked pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | C |
Gray partridge | Perdix perdix | |
Western capercaillie | Tetrao urogallus | |
Black grouse | Tetrao tetrix | |
Hazel grouse | Tetrastes bonasia | |
Willow ptarmigan | Lagopus lagopus | B |
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: PhoenicopteridaeFlamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Greater flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | * |
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: PodicipedidaeGrebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Little grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | |
Pied-billed grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | * |
Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus | |
Red-necked grebe | Podiceps grisegena | |
Great crested grebe | Podiceps cristatus | |
Eared grebe | Podiceps nigricollis |
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: ColumbidaePigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Rock pigeon | Columba livia | |
Stock dove | Columba oenas | |
Common wood-pigeon | Columba palumbus | |
European turtle-dove | Streptopelia turtur | |
Oriental turtle-dove | Streptopelia orientalis | * |
Eurasian collared-dove | Streptopelia decaocto |
Sandgrouse
Order: PterocliformesFamily: PteroclidaeSandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Pallas's sandgrouse | Syrrhaptes paradoxus | * |
Bustards
Order: OtidiformesFamily: OtididaeBustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Great bustard | Otis tarda | |
Macqueen's bustard | Chlamydotis macqueenii | * |
Little bustard | Tetrax tetrax | * |
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: CuculidaeThe family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Great spotted cuckoo | Clamator glandarius | * |
Northern hawk-cuckoo | Hierococcyx hyperythrus | * |
Common cuckoo | Cuculus canorus |
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: CaprimulgidaeNightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus |
Swifts
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: ApodidaeSwifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Alpine swift | Apus melba | * |
Common swift | Apus apus | |
Pallid swift | Apus pallidus | * |
Rails, gallinules and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: RallidaeRallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Water rail | Rallus aquaticus | |
Corn crake | Crex crex | |
Spotted crake | Porzana porzana | |
Eurasian moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | |
Eurasian coot | Fulica atra | |
Little crake | Zapornia parva | |
Baillon's crake | Zapornia pusilla | * |
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: GruidaeCranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Demoiselle crane | Anthropoides virgo | * |
Common crane | Grus grus |
Thick-knees
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: BurhinidaeThe thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian thick-knee | Burhinus oedicnemus |
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: RecurvirostridaeRecurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Black-winged stilt | Himantopus himantopus | |
Pied avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta |
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: HaematopodidaeThe oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus |
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: CharadriidaeThe family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Black-bellied plover | Pluvialis squatarola | |
European golden-plover | Pluvialis apricaria | |
American golden-plover | Pluvialis dominica | * |
Pacific golden-plover | Pluvialis fulva | * |
Northern lapwing | Vanellus vanellus | |
Spur-winged lapwing | Vanellus spinosus | * |
Sociable lapwing | Vanellus gregarius | * |
White-tailed lapwing | Vanellus leucurus | * |
Lesser sand-plover | Charadrius mongolus | * |
Greater sand-plover | Charadrius leschenaultii | * |
Caspian plover | Charadrius asiaticus | * |
Kentish plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | |
Common ringed plover | Charadrius hiaticula | |
Little ringed plover | Charadrius dubius | |
Eurasian dotterel | Charadrius morinellus | * |
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: ScolopacidaeScolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | |
Slender-billed curlew | Numenius tenuirostris | * |
Eurasian curlew | Numenius arquata | |
Bar-tailed godwit | Limosa lapponica | |
Black-tailed godwit | Limosa limosa | |
Ruddy turnstone | Arenaria interpres | |
Great knot | Calidris tenuirostris | * |
Red knot | Calidris canutus | |
Ruff | Calidris pugnax | |
Broad-billed sandpiper | Calidris falcinellus | |
Stilt sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | * |
Curlew sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | |
Temminck's stint | Calidris temminckii | |
Sanderling | Calidris alba | |
Dunlin | Calidris alpina | |
Purple sandpiper | Calidris maritima | * |
Baird's sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | * |
Little stint | Calidris minuta | |
Least sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | * |
White-rumped sandpiper | Calidris fuscicollis | * |
Buff-breasted sandpiper | Calidris subruficollis | * |
Pectoral sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | * |
Semipalmated sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | * |
Long-billed dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | * |
Jack snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus | |
Eurasian woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | |
Great snipe | Gallinago media | |
Common snipe | Gallinago gallinago | |
Terek sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | * |
Red-necked phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | |
Red phalarope | Phalaropus fulicarius | * |
Common sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | |
Spotted sandpiper | Actitis macularius | * |
Green sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | |
Spotted redshank | Tringa erythropus | |
Greater yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | * |
Common greenshank | Tringa nebularia | |
Lesser yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | * |
Marsh sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis | |
Wood sandpiper | Tringa glareola | |
Common redshank | Tringa totanus |
Pratincoles and coursers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: GlareolidaeGlareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Collared pratincole | Glareola pratincola | * |
Black-winged pratincole | Glareola nordmanni | * |
Skuas and jaegers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: StercorariidaeThe family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Great skua | Stercorarius skua | * |
Pomarine jaeger | Stercorarius pomarinus | * |
Parasitic jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus | |
Long-tailed jaeger | Stercorarius longicaudus | * |
Auks, murres, and puffins
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: AlcidaeAlcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Dovekie | Alle alle | * |
Common murre | Uria aalge | |
Thick-billed murre | Uria lomvia | * |
Razorbill | Alca torda | |
Black guillemot | Cepphus grylle | |
Atlantic puffin | Fratercula arctica | * |
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: LaridaeLaridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Black-legged kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | * |
Ivory gull | Pagophila eburnea | * |
Sabine's gull | Xema sabini | * |
Slender-billed gull | Chroicocephalus genei | * |
Black-headed gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | |
Little gull | Hydrocoloeus minutus | |
Ross's gull | Rhodostethia rosea | * |
Laughing gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | * |
Franklin's gull | Leucophaeus pipixcan | * |
Mediterranean gull | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus | |
Pallas's gull | Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus | * |
Audouin's gull | Ichthyaetus audouinii | * |
Mew gull | Larus canus | |
Ring-billed gull | Larus delawarensis | * |
Herring gull | Larus argentatus | |
Yellow-legged gull | Larus michahellis | |
Caspian gull | Larus cachinnans | |
Iceland gull | Larus glaucoides | |
Lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus | |
Slaty-backed gull | Larus schistisagus | * |
Glaucous gull | Larus hyperboreus | * |
Great black-backed gull | Larus marinus | |
Little tern | Sternula albifrons | |
Gull-billed tern | Gelochelidon nilotica | * |
Caspian tern | Hydroprogne caspia | |
Black tern | Chlidonias niger | |
White-winged tern | Chlidonias leucopterus | |
Whiskered tern | Chlidonias hybrida | * |
Roseate tern | Sterna dougallii | * |
Common tern | Sterna hirundo | |
Arctic tern | Sterna paradisaea | * |
Sandwich tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis |
Loons
Order: GaviiformesFamily: GaviidaeLoons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Red-throated loon | Gavia stellata | |
Arctic loon | Gavia arctica | |
Common loon | Gavia immer | * |
Yellow-billed loon | Gavia adamsii | * |
Southern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: OceanitidaeSouthern storm-petrels, are seabirds in the family Oceanitidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These smallest of seabirds feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Wilson's storm-petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | * |
Northern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: HydrobatidaeThe northern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
European storm-petrel | Hydrobates pelagicus | * |
Leach's storm-petrel | Oceanodroma leucorhoa | * |
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: ProcellariidaeThe procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Northern fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis | * |
Cory's shearwater | Calonectris diomedea | * |
Sooty shearwater | Ardenna grisea | * |
Manx shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | * |
Balearic shearwater | Puffinus mauretanicus | * |
Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: CiconiidaeStorks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Black stork | Ciconia nigra | |
White stork | Ciconia ciconia |
Boobies and gannets
Order: SuliformesFamily: SulidaeThe sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Northern gannet | Morus bassanus | * |
Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: PhalacrocoracidaePhalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Pygmy cormorant | Microcarbo pygmeus | * |
Great cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | |
European shag | Phalacrocorax aristotelis | * |
Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: PelecanidaePelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Great white pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus | * |
Dalmatian pelican | Pelecanus crispus | * |
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: ArdeidaeThe family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Great bittern | Botaurus stellaris | |
Little bittern | Ixobrychus minutus | |
Gray heron | Ardea cinerea | |
Purple heron | Ardea purpurea | * |
Great egret | Ardea alba | * |
Little egret | Egretta garzetta | * |
Cattle egret | Bubulcus ibis | * |
Squacco heron | Ardeola ralloides | * |
Black-crowned night-heron | Nycticorax nycticorax |
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: ThreskiornithidaeThreskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Glossy ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | * |
Eurasian spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | * |
Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: PandionidaeThe family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
Hawks, eagles, and kites
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: AccipitridaeAccipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
Barn-owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: TytonidaeBarn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Barn owl | Tyto alba |
Owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: StrigidaeThe typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian scops-owl | Otus scops | * |
Eurasian eagle-owl | Bubo bubo | |
Snowy owl | Bubo scandiacus | * |
Northern hawk owl | Surnia ulula | * |
Eurasian pygmy-owl | Glaucidium passerinum | |
Little owl | Athene noctua | |
Tawny owl | Strix aluco | |
Ural owl | Strix uralensis | |
Great gray owl | Strix nebulosa | * |
Long-eared owl | Asio otus | |
Short-eared owl | Asio flammeus | |
Boreal owl | Aegolius funereus |
Hoopoes
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: UpupidaeHoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian hoopoe | Upupa epops |
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: AlcedinidaeKingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Common kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | |
Pied kingfisher | Ceryle rudis | B * |
Bee-eaters
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: MeropidaeThe bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
European bee-eater | Merops apiaster |
Rollers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: CoraciidaeRollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
European roller | Coracias garrulus |
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: PicidaeWoodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian wryneck | Jynx torquilla | |
Eurasian three-toed woodpecker | Picoides tridactylus | |
Middle spotted woodpecker | Dendrocoptes medius | |
White-backed woodpecker | Dendrocopos leucotos | |
Great spotted woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | |
Syrian woodpecker | Dendrocopos syriacus | |
Lesser spotted woodpecker | Dryobates minor | |
Gray-headed woodpecker | Picus canus | |
Eurasian green woodpecker | Picus viridis | |
Black woodpecker | Dryocopus martius |
Falcons and caracaras
Order: FalconiformesFamily: FalconidaeFalconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Lesser kestrel | Falco naumanni | * |
Eurasian kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | |
Red-footed falcon | Falco vespertinus | |
Eleonora's falcon | Falco eleonorae | * |
Merlin | Falco columbarius | |
Eurasian hobby | Falco subbuteo | |
Saker falcon | Falco cherrug | * |
Gyrfalcon | Falco rusticolus | * |
Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus |
Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis
Order: PasseriformesFamily: VireonidaeThe vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World and Southeast Asia.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Red-eyed vireo | Vireo olivaceus | * |
Old World orioles
Order: PasseriformesFamily: OriolidaeThe Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian golden oriole | Oriolus oriolus |
Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LaniidaeCommon name | Binomial | Status |
Red-backed shrike | Lanius collurio | |
Red-tailed shrike | Lanius phoenicuroides | * |
Isabelline shrike | Lanius isabellinus | * |
Great gray shrike | Lanius excubitor | |
Lesser gray shrike | Lanius minor | |
Woodchat shrike | Lanius senator |
Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CorvidaeThe family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Siberian jay | Perisoreus infaustus | * |
Eurasian jay | Garrulus glandarius | |
Eurasian magpie | Pica pica | |
Eurasian nutcracker | Nucifraga caryocatactes | |
Yellow-billed chough | Pyrrhocorax graculus | * |
Eurasian jackdaw | Corvus monedula | |
Rook | Corvus frugilegus | |
Carrion crow | Corvus corone | |
Hooded crow | Corvus cornix | |
Common raven | Corvus corax |
Tits, chickadees, and titmice
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ParidaeThe Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Coal tit | Parus ater | |
Crested tit | Parus cristatus | |
Marsh tit | Parus palustris | |
Willow tit | Parus montanus | |
Eurasian blue tit | Parus caeruleus | |
Azure tit | Parus cyanus | * |
Great tit | Parus major |
Penduline-tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RemizidaeThe penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian penduline-tit | Remiz pendulinus |
Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AlaudidaeLarks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Horned lark | Eremophila alpestris | |
Greater short-toed lark | Calandrella brachydactyla | * |
Calandra lark | Melanocorypha calandra | B * |
Black lark | Melanocorypha yeltoniensis | * |
Lesser short-toed lark | Alaudala rufescens | * |
Wood lark | Lullula arborea | |
White-winged lark | Alauda leucoptera | * |
Eurasian skylark | Alauda arvensis | |
Crested lark | Galerida cristata |
Bearded reedling
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PanuridaeThis species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Bearded reedling | Panurus biarmicus |
Reed warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AcrocephalidaeThe members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Booted warbler | Iduna caligata | * |
Eastern olivaceous warbler | Iduna pallida | * |
Melodious warbler | Hippolais polyglotta | |
Icterine warbler | Hippolais icterina | |
Aquatic warbler | Acrocephalus paludicola | |
Moustached warbler | Acrocephalus melanopogon | * |
Sedge warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | |
Paddyfield warbler | Acrocephalus agricola | * |
Blyth's reed warbler | Acrocephalus dumetorum | |
Marsh warbler | Acrocephalus palustris | |
Eurasian reed warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | |
Great reed warbler | Acrocephalus arundinaceus |
Grassbirds and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LocustellidaeLocustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Pallas's grasshopper-warbler | Locustella certhiola | * |
River warbler | Locustella fluviatilis | |
Savi's warbler | Locustella luscinioides | |
Common grasshopper-warbler | Locustella naevia |
Swallows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: HirundinidaeThe family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Bank swallow | Riparia riparia | |
Eurasian crag-martin | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | * |
Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | |
Red-rumped swallow | Cecropis daurica | * |
Common house-martin | Delichon urbicum |
Leaf warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PhylloscopidaeLeaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Wood warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix | |
Western Bonelli's warbler | Phylloscopus bonelli | * |
Yellow-browed warbler | Phylloscopus inornatus | * |
Hume's warbler | Phylloscopus humei | * |
Pallas's leaf warbler | Phylloscopus proregulus | * |
Radde's warbler | Phylloscopus schwarzi | * |
Dusky warbler | Phylloscopus fuscatus | * |
Willow warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | |
Common chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | |
Iberian chiffchaff | Phylloscopus ibericus | * |
Greenish warbler | Phylloscopus trochiloides | |
Arctic warbler | Phylloscopus borealis | * |
Long-tailed tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AegithalidaeLong-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Long-tailed tit | Aegithalos caudatus |
Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SylviidaeThe family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | |
Garden warbler | Sylvia borin | |
Barred warbler | Sylvia nisoria | |
Lesser whitethroat | Sylvia curruca | |
Subalpine warbler | Sylvia cantillans | * |
Sardinian warbler | Sylvia melanocephala | * |
Greater whitethroat | Sylvia communis |
Kinglets
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RegulidaeThe kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Goldcrest | Regulus regulus | |
Common firecrest | Regulus ignicapilla |
Wallcreeper
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TichodromidaeThe wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Wallcreeper | Tichodroma muraria |
Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SittidaeNuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian nuthatch | Sitta europaea |
Treecreepers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CerthiidaeTreecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian treecreeper | Certhia familiaris | |
Short-toed treecreeper | Certhia brachydactyla |
Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TroglodytidaeThe wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Eurasian wren | Troglodytes troglodytes |
Dippers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CinclidaeDippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
White-throated dipper | Cinclus cinclus |
Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SturnidaeStarlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
European starling | Sturnus vulgaris | |
Rosy starling | Pastor roseus | * |
Thrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TurdidaeThe thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
White's thrush | Zoothera aurea | * |
Scaly thrush | Zoothera dauma | * |
Siberian thrush | Geokichla sibirica | * |
Mistle thrush | Turdus viscivorus | |
Song thrush | Turdus philomelos | |
Redwing | Turdus iliacus | |
Eurasian blackbird | Turdus merula | |
Eyebrowed thrush | Turdus obscurus | * |
Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | |
Ring ouzel | Turdus torquatus | |
Black-throated thrush | Turdus atrogularis | * |
Red-throated thrush | Turdus ruficollis | * |
Dusky thrush | Turdus eunomus | * |
Naumann's thrush | Turdus naumanni | * |
Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MuscicapidaeOld World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Spotted flycatcher | Muscicapa striata | |
European robin | Erithacus rubecula | |
Rufous-tailed robin | Larvivora sibilans | * |
Thrush nightingale | Luscinia luscinia | |
Common nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | |
Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica | |
Red-flanked bluetail | Tarsiger cyanurus | * |
Red-breasted flycatcher | Ficedula parva | |
European pied flycatcher | Ficedula hypoleuca | |
Collared flycatcher | Ficedula albicollis | |
Common redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | |
Black redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | |
Rufous-tailed rock-thrush | Monticola saxatilis | |
Whinchat | Saxicola rubetra | |
European stonechat | Saxicola rubicola | |
Siberian stonechat | Saxicola maurus | * |
Northern wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | |
Isabelline wheatear | Oenanthe isabellina | * |
Desert wheatear | Oenanthe deserti | * |
Pied wheatear | Oenanthe pleschanka | * |
Black-eared wheatear | Oenanthe hispanica | |
White-crowned wheatear | Oenanthe leucopyga | * |
Waxwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: BombycillidaeThe waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Bohemian waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus |
Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PrunellidaeThe accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Alpine accentor | Prunella collaris | |
Siberian accentor | Prunella montanella | * |
Dunnock | Prunella modularis |
Old World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PasseridaeOld World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
House sparrow | Passer domesticus | |
Eurasian tree sparrow | Passer montanus | |
Rock sparrow | Petronia petronia | B * |
White-winged snowfinch | Montifringilla nivalis | B * |
Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MotacillidaeMotacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Gray wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | |
Western yellow wagtail | Motacilla flava | |
Citrine wagtail | Motacilla citreola | * |
White wagtail | Motacilla alba | |
Richard's pipit | Anthus richardi | * |
Blyth's pipit | Anthus godlewskii | * |
Tawny pipit | Anthus campestris | |
Meadow pipit | Anthus pratensis | |
Tree pipit | Anthus trivialis | |
Olive-backed pipit | Anthus hodgsoni | * |
Pechora pipit | Anthus gustavi | * |
Red-throated pipit | Anthus cervinus | |
Water pipit | Anthus spinoletta | |
Rock pipit | Anthus petrosus |
Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: FringillidaeFinches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Common chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | |
Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla | |
Hawfinch | Coccothraustes coccothraustes | |
Common rosefinch | Carpodacus erythrinus | |
Pine grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | * |
Eurasian bullfinch | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | |
European greenfinch | Chloris chloris | |
Twite | Linaria flavirostris | |
Eurasian linnet | Linaria cannabina | |
Common redpoll | Acanthis flammea | |
Lesser redpoll | Acanthis cabaret | |
Hoary redpoll | Acanthis hornemanni | * |
Parrot crossbill | Loxia pytyopsittacus | * |
Red crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | |
White-winged crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | * |
European goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | |
Citril finch | Serinus citrinella | * |
European serin | Serinus serinus | |
Eurasian siskin | Spinus spinus |
Longspurs and snow buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CalcariidaeThe Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds which had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Lapland bunting | Calcarius lapponicus | |
Snow bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis |
Old World buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: EmberizidaeThe emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Black-headed bunting | Emberiza melanocephala | * |
Corn bunting | Emberiza calandra | |
Rock bunting | Emberiza cia | * |
Cirl bunting | Emberiza cirlus | * |
Yellowhammer | Emberiza citrinella | |
Pine bunting | Emberiza leucocephalos | * |
Ortolan bunting | Emberiza hortulana | |
Reed bunting | Emberiza schoeniclus | |
Yellow-breasted bunting | Emberiza aureola | * |
Little bunting | Emberiza pusilla | * |
Rustic bunting | Emberiza rustica | * |
Yellow-browed bunting | Emberiza chrysophrys | * |
New World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PasserellidaeUntil 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
Dark-eyed junco | Junco hyemalis | * |