List of birds of Europe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
More than 900 species of birds have been observed in Europe. The avifauna of Europe is broadly similar to that of Asia north of the Himalayas and North Africa, both of which also belong to the Palearctic realm. There are also many groups shared with North America. On the other hand, many groups characteristic of the Afrotropical and Indomalayan realms are entirely absent from Europe, including jacanas, darters, trogons, hornbills, honeyguides, barbets (families Lybiidae in Africa and Megalaimidae in Asia), parrots, pittas, cuckooshrikes, broadbills (families Calyptomenidae and Eurylaimidae), drongos, monarch flycatchers, white-eyes, and estrildid finches (although parrots and estrildid finches have been introduced to Europe by humans).
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Two species that occurred in the European region until recently (post 1800) — the great auk and the Canary Islands oystercatcher — are now globally extinct, while one additional species — the slender-billed curlew — may also be extinct. In addition, the common buttonquail has been extirpated from Europe, but survives in Africa and Asia. 71 bird species are considered threatened in Europe.[1]
The following tags have been used to indicate the status of species in Europe. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
- (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Europe
- (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Europe
- (Ext) Extinct - a species that no longer exists
- (Ex) Extirpated - a species that is extinct in the wild in Europe
- (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Europe as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
The taxonomic order follows the IOC World Bird List version 13.1.[2]
This article follows a common definition of Europe as being bounded to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, to the east and north-east by the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, and the Caspian Sea, and to the south-east by the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, and the waterways connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Iceland and Svalbard are included, but Greenland is not. Mediterranean islands are generally included, except for Cyprus and those islands belonging to Turkey or countries of North Africa or the Middle East. The Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands belong politically to Europe, but definitions based on geography or avifauna assign these islands variously to Europe, Africa, or neither of the two. Here, birds that are endemic to these islands, or have been observed only on these islands but not elsewhere in Europe, are labelled accordingly. The same approach is applied to birds occurring only in the Caucasus, which is commonly seen as straddling the border between Europe and Asia. The birds of Cape Verde are not included in this list. Oceans are included up to the limit of 200 nautical miles from the European coastline, or half the distance to Africa, whichever is lesser.
For countries or territories lying wholly within Europe as defined above, species are included in this list if they are classified as Category A, B, or C (or the nearest equivalent) on the relevant national list. For countries that straddle Europe and Asia (in particular Russia and Turkey), the precise location of sightings within that country is determinative.
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
The swans, ducks and geese are medium to large birds that are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet and bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent. In many ducks the male is colourful while the female is dull brown. The diet consists of a variety of animals and plants. The family is well represented in Europe with many introduced species as well.
- American black duck, Anas rubripes (A)
- American wigeon, Mareca americana (A)
- Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A)
- Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus (I, A)
- Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
- Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica
- Black scoter, Melanitta americana (A)
- Black swan, Cygnus atratus (I)
- Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (A)
- Brant goose, Branta bernicla
- Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A)
- Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A)
- Canada goose, Branta canadensis (I, A)
- Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A)
- Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A)
- Common eider, Somateria mollissima
- Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
- Common merganser, Mergus merganser
- Common pochard, Aythya ferina
- Common scoter, Melanitta nigra
- Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
- Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca (I)
- Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
- Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
- Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (A)
- Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca
- Gadwall, Mareca strepera
- Garganey, Spatula querquedula
- Greater scaup, Aythya marila
- Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
- Green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis (A)
- Greylag goose, Anser anser
- Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus
- Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A)
- King eider, Somateria spectabilis
- Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A)
- Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus
- Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
- Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (I)
- Marbled duck, Marmaronetta angustirostris
- Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata (I-Canary Islands)
- Mute swan, Cygnus olor
- Northern pintail, Anas acuta
- Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
- Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
- Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis
- Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
- Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
- Redhead, Aythya americana (A)
- Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A)
- Ross's goose, Anser rossii (A)
- Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (I)
- Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
- Smew, Mergellus albellus
- Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (I, A)
- Spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri (A)
- Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri (A)
- Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri
- Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A)
- Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis
- Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
- Tundra bean goose, Anser serrirostris
- Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus
- Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca
- White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
- White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (A)
- Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus
- Wood duck, Aix sponsa (I and A)
Order: Galliformes Family: Numididae
Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.
- Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris (I)
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
Pheasants and allies are terrestrial species, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings.
- Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara
- Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus (Ex, formerly possibly I[3])
- Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix
- Caucasian grouse, Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (E-Caucasus)
- Caucasian snowcock, Tetraogallus caucasicus (E-Caucasus)
- Chukar partridge, Alectoris chukar
- Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
- Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
- Golden pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus (I)
- Grey partridge, Perdix perdix
- Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia
- Lady Amherst's pheasant, Chrysolophus amherstiae (I)
- Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa (E)
- Reeves's pheasant, Syrmaticus reevesii (I)
- Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca (E)
- Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta
- Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
- Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.
- Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A)
- Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A)
- European nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
- Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
Swifts 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.
- Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
- Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A)
- Common swift, Apus apus
- Little swift, Apus affinis
- Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (A)
- Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
- Plain swift, Apus unicolor
- White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
- White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus (A)
Order: Otidiformes Family: Otididae
Bustards 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.
- Great bustard, Otis tarda
- Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata (Canary Islands)
- Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax
- MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (A)
Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
The 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.
- Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A)
- Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
- Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
- Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus (A)
- Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A)
Order: Pterocliformes Family: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse 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.
- Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis
- Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (A)
- Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus (A)
- Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata
- Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus (A)
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
- African collared dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (I)
- Bolle's pigeon, Columba bollii (E-Canary Islands)
- Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus
- Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
- European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur
- Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis
- Laurel pigeon, Columba junoniae (E-Canary Islands)
- Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (A)
- Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A)
- Rock dove, Columba livia
- Stock dove, Columba oenas
- Trocaz pigeon, Columba trocaz (E-Madeira)
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a 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.
- African crake, Crecopsis egregia (A)
- African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A-Canary Islands)
- Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A)
- American coot, Fulica americana (A)
- Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (A)
- Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
- Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (A)
- Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
- Corn crake, Crex crex
- Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
- Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus (A)
- Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata (A)
- Little crake, Zapornia parva
- Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata
- Sora, Porzana carolina (A)
- Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
- Striped crake, Aenigmatolimnas marginalis (A)
- Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
- Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae
Cranes 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 crane, Grus grus
- Demoiselle crane, Grus virgo
- Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (A)
- Siberian crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large diving birds with lobed toes and pointed bills. They are seen mainly on lowland waterbodies and coasts. They feed on aquatic animals and nest on a floating platform of vegetation.
- Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
- Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
- Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
- Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
- Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (A)
- Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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.
- Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
- Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor (A)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.
- Common buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus (Ex)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae
The 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.
- Eurasian stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
- Canary Islands oystercatcher, Haematopus meadewaldoi (Ext-formerly endemic to the Canary Islands)
- Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae
A family of fairly large wading birds. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
- Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
- Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae
Small to medium-sized wading birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
- American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica (A)
- Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus (A)
- Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
- Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus
- European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria
- Greater sand plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A)
- Grey-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus (A)
- Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola
- Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
- Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (A)
- Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius (A)
- Lesser sand plover, Charadrius mongolus (A)
- Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
- Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
- Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus (A)
- Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva (A)
- Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (Azores, elsewhere A)
- Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius (A)
- Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus
- White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus (A)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Pluvianidae
The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.
- Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius (A-Canary Islands)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae 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.
- American woodcock, Scolopax minor (A)
- Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A)
- Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
- Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
- Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus
- Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A)
- Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
- Common redshank, Tringa totanus
- Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
- Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
- Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
- Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (A, possibly Ext)
- Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
- Eurasian whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
- Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
- Dunlin, Calidris alpina
- Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (A)
- Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris (A)
- Great snipe, Gallinago media
- Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
- Grey-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes (A)
- Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (A)
- Hudsonian whimbrel, Numenius hudsonicus (A)
- Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
- Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (A)
- Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A)
- Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A)
- Little stint, Calidris minuta
- Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A)
- Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta (A)
- Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
- Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A)
- Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura
- Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima
- Red knot, Calidris canutus
- Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
- Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
- Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A)
- Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
- Ruff, Calidris pugnax
- Sanderling, Calidris alba
- Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (A)
- Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A)
- Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (A)
- Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius (A)
- Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A, possibly Ext)
- Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (A)
- Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
- Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (A)
- Swinhoe's snipe, Gallinago megala (A)
- Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
- Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
- Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (A)
- Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (A)
- White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A)
- Willet, Tringa semipalmata (A)
- Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A)
- Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A)
- Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae
Glareolidae 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.
- Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni
- Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
- Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor (Canary Islands, elsewhere A)
- Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. They 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.
- Aleutian tern, Onychoprion aleuticus (A)
- American herring gull, Larus smithsonianus (A)
- Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
- Armenian gull, Larus armenicus
- Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii
- Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
- Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
- Black tern, Chlidonias niger
- Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (A)
- Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus (A)
- Brown noddy, Anous stolidus (A)
- Cabot's tern, Thalasseus acuflavidus (A)
- Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
- Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
- Common gull, Larus canus
- Common tern, Sterna hirundo
- Elegant tern, Thalasseus elegans (A)
- European herring gull, Larus argentatus
- Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri (A)
- Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (A)
- Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus
- Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens (A)
- Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
- Grey-headed gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus (A)
- Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
- Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides
- Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea
- Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus (A)
- Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (A)
- Least tern, Sternula antillarum (A)
- Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
- Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis (A)
- Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
- Little tern, Sternula albifrons
- Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
- Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
- Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (A)
- Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii
- Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea (A)
- Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus (A)
- Sabine's gull, Xema sabini
- Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
- Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus (A-Azores)
- Slaty-backed gull, Larus schistisagus (A)
- Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
- Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (A)
- Vega gull, Larus vegae (A)
- West African crested tern, Thalasseus albididorsalis (A)
- Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
- White-eyed gull, Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus (A)
- White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
- Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
The 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.
- South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A)
- Great skua, Stercorarius skua
- Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
- Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
- Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae
Auks 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.
- Ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus (A)
- Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica
- Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle
- Common murre, Uria aalge
- Crested auklet, Aethia cristatella (A)
- Great auk, Pinguinus impennis (Ext)
- Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata (A)
- Little auk, Alle alle
- Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (A)
- Parakeet auklet, Aethia psittacula (A)
- Razorbill, Alca torda
- Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia
- Tufted puffin, Fratercula cirrhata (A)
Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are a family of tropical pelagic seabirds. They are the sole living representatives of the order Phaethontiformes.
- Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (A)
- White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (A-Azores)
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
Loons, 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.
- Black-throated loon, Gavia arctica
- Common loon, Gavia immer
- Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (A)
- Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
- Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Oceanitidae
Austral storm petrels, or southern 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.
- Black-bellied storm petrel, Fregetta tropica (A-Madeira and Canary Islands)
- White-faced storm petrel, Pelagodroma marina (Madeira and Canary Islands, elsewhere A)
- Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are among the largest flying birds, with long, narrow wings for gliding. The majority are found in the Southern Hemisphere with only vagrants occurring in the North Atlantic.
- Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (A)
- Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A)
- Tristan albatross, Diomedea dabbenena (A)
- Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans (A)
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
The northern storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on plankton and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. They nest in colonies on the ground, most often in burrows.
- Band-rumped storm petrel, Hydrobates castro
- European storm petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
- Leach's storm petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous
- Monteiro's storm petrel, Hydrobates monteiroi (Azores)
- Swinhoe's storm petrel, Hydrobates monorhis (A)
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae
These are highly pelagic birds with long, narrow wings and tube-shaped nostrils. They feed at sea on fish, squid and other marine life. They come to land to breed in colonies, nesting in burrows or on cliffs.
- Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri (A)
- Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus
- Barolo shearwater, Puffinus baroli (Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands, elsewhere A)
- Bermuda petrel, Pterodroma cahow (A)
- Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata (A)
- Boyd's shearwater, Puffinus boydi (A-Canary Islands)
- Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii
- Cape petrel, Daption capense (A)
- Cape Verde shearwater, Calonectris edwardsii (A-Canary Islands, Madeira)
- Cory's shearwater, Calonectris borealis
- Desertas petrel, Pterodroma deserta (Madeira, elsewhere A)
- Fea's petrel, Pterodroma feae (A-Canary Islands)
- Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis
- Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus
- Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
- Scopoli's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
- Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris (A)
- Soft-plumaged petrel, Pterodroma mollis (A)
- Sooty shearwater, Ardenna grisea
- Southern giant petrel, Macronectes giganteus (A)
- Trindade petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana (A-Azores)
- White-chinned petrel, Procellaria aequinoctialis (A)
- Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan
- Zino's petrel, Pterodroma madeira (Madeira)
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae
Storks 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.
- Black stork, Ciconia nigra
- White stork, Ciconia ciconia
- Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis (A)
Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. All have predominantly black plumage, long, deeply forked tails and long hooked bills. Females have white underbellies and males have a distinctive red gular pouch, which they inflate during the breeding season to attract females. Their wings are long and pointed and can span up to 2.3 metres (7.5 ft), the largest wing area to body weight ratio of any bird.
- Ascension frigatebird, Fregata aquila (A)
- Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (A)
Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
- Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)
- Cape gannet, Morus capensis (A-Azores)
- Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (A)
- Northern gannet, Morus bassanus
- Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
- Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum (A)
- European shag, Gulosus aristotelis
- Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
- Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmaeus
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae
A family of long-legged, long-necked wading birds. Ibises have long, curved bills. Spoonbills have a flattened bill, wider at the tip.
- African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus (I)
- Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
- Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
- Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita (reintroduced populations in Spain and Central Europe, otherwise A)
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
The 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.
- American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (A)
- Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
- Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala (A)
- Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca (A)
- Chinese pond heron, Ardeola bacchus (A)
- Dwarf bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii (A-Canary Islands)
- Eurasian bittern, Botaurus stellaris
- Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (A)
- Great egret, Ardea alba
- Green heron, Butorides virescens (A)
- Grey heron, Ardea cinerea
- Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia (A)
- Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis (A)
- Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
- Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea (A)
- Little egret, Egretta garzetta
- Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
- Snowy egret, Egretta thula (A)
- Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
- Striated heron, Butorides striata
- Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor (A-Azores, Canary Islands)
- Von Schrenck's bittern, Ixobrychus eurhythmus (A)
- Western cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
- Western reef heron, Egretta gularis (A)
- Yellow-crowned night heron, Nyctanassa violacea (A)
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak.
- Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus
- Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae
The osprey is a large migratory fish-eating bird of prey. It is mainly brown above and white below with long, angled wings.
- Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
A family of birds of prey which includes hawks, buzzards, eagles, kites and harriers. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
- Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (A)
- Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus (A)
- Bearded vulture, Gypaetus barbatus
- Black kite, Milvus migrans
- Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
- Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata
- Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
- Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus
- Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
- Crested honey buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus (A)
- Eastern imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca
- Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
- Eurasian goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
- Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
- European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus
- Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
- Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga
- Griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus
- Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus
- Lappet-faced vulture, Torgos tracheliotos (A)
- Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina
- Levant sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes
- Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus
- Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
- Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (A)
- Pallas's fish eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus (A)
- Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
- Red kite, Milvus milvus
- Rough-legged buzzard, Buteo lagopus
- Rüppell's vulture, Gyps rueppelli (A)
- Short-toed snake eagle, Circaetus gallicus
- Spanish imperial eagle, Aquila adalberti (E)
- Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
- Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus (A-Azores, Canary Islands)
- Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
- White-backed vulture, Gyps africanus (A)
- Yellow-billed kite, Milvus aegyptius (A-Canary Islands)
- White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae
Barn owls are medium-sized to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
- Western barn owl, Tyto alba
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 extant bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions (e.g., the northern hawk-owl). Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish.
- Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus
- Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo
- Eurasian pygmy owl, Glaucidium passerinum
- Eurasian scops owl, Otus scops
- Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa
- Little owl, Athene noctua
- Long-eared owl, Asio otus
- Marsh owl, Asio capensis (A)
- Northern hawk-owl, Surnia ulula
- Pharaoh eagle-owl, Bubo ascalaphus (A)
- Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
- Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus
- Tawny owl, Strix aluco
- Ural owl, Strix uralensis
Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Upupidae
Distinctive birds with a long curved bill, a crest and black-and-white striped wings and tail.
- Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae
A small family of colourful, medium-sized birds with a crow-like shape that feed mainly on insects.
- Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinicus (A-Canary Islands)
- European roller, Coracias garrulus
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
- Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (A)
- Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
- Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis (A)
- White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis (A)
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae
A group of near-passerine birds characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers.
- Asian green bee-eater, Merops orientalis (A)
- Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (A)
- European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae
Woodpeckers 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.
- Black woodpecker, Dryocopus martius
- European green woodpecker, Picus viridis
- Eurasian three-toed woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus
- Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
- Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
- Grey-headed woodpecker, Picus canus
- Iberian green woodpecker, Picus sharpei (E)
- Lesser spotted woodpecker, Dryobates minor
- Middle spotted woodpecker, Dendrocoptes medius
- Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus (A)
- Syrian woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus
- White-backed woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos
- Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (A)
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
Falconidae 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.
- American kestrel, Falco sparverius (A)
- Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (A)
- Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
- Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
- Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
- Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
- Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
- Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
- Merlin, Falco columbarius
- Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
- Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus
- Saker falcon, Falco cherrug
- Sooty falcon, Falco concolor (A)
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
At least three species have established themselves in Europe after being introduced by humans.
- Mitred parakeet, Psittacara mitratus (I)
- Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus (I)
- Red-masked parakeet, Psittacara erythrogenys (I)
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae
At least two species have established themselves in Europe after being introduced by humans.
- Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria (I)
- Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae
A family from the Americas with very rare vagrants recorded in Western Europe.
- Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens (A)
- Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum (A)
- Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (A)
- Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe (A)
- Eastern wood pewee, Contopus virens (A-Azores)
- Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana (A)
- Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus (A)
- Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris (A)
- Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (A-Azores)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Malaconotidae
Bushshrikes occur almost exclusively in Africa. They are similar in build and habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush.
- Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegalus (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.
- Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (A)
- Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor
- Iberian grey shrike, Lanius meridionalis (E)
- Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (A)
- Lesser grey shrike, Lanius minor
- Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach (A)
- Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
- Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (A)
- Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
- Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides (A)
- Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator
Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae
The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World and Southeast Asia.
- Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus (A)
- Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (A)
- White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus (A-Azores)
- Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae
The figbirds and orioles are medium-sized passerines, mostly with bright and showy plumage. The females often have duller plumage than the males. The beak is long, slightly curved and hooked. Orioles are arboreal and tend to feed in the canopy.
- Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
The 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.
- Alpine chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
- Carrion crow, Corvus corone
- Daurian jackdaw, Coloeus dauuricus (A)
- Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
- Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
- Hooded crow, Corvus cornix
- Iberian magpie, Cyanopica cooki (E)
- Northern raven, Corvus corax
- Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
- Rook, Corvus frugilegus
- Siberian jay, Perisoreus infaustus
- Spotted nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes
- Western jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae
The 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.
- Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
- Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae
The 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.
- African blue tit, Cyanistes teneriffae (Canary Islands, elsewhere A)
- Azure tit, Cyanistes cyanus
- Coal tit, Periparus ater
- Crested tit, Lophophanes cristatus
- Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
- Great tit, Parus major
- Grey-headed chickadee, Poecile cinctus
- Marsh tit, Poecile palustris
- Sombre tit, Poecile lugubris
- Willow tit, Poecile montanus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae
The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
- Black-headed penduline tit, Remiz macronyx
- Eurasian penduline tit, Remiz pendulinus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Panuridae
A single species formerly placed in the Old World babbler family.
- Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
- Asian short-toed lark, Alaudala cheleensis (A)
- Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cinctura (A)
- Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata (A)
- Black lark, Melanocorypha yeltoniensis
- Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
- Crested lark, Galerida cristata
- Dupont's lark, Chersophilus duponti
- Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
- Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes (A)
- Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
- Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
- Mediterranean short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens
- Oriental skylark, Alaudala cheleensis (A-Caucasus)
- Thekla's lark, Galerida theklae
- Turkestan short-toed lark, Alaudala heinei
- White-winged lark, Alauda leucoptera
- Woodlark, Lullula arborea
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.
- Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus
- Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus (I)
- White-eared bulbul, Pycnonotus leucotis (possibly I[4])
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
The 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.
- American cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (A)
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
- Common house martin, Delichon urbicum
- Eurasian crag martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
- Purple martin, Progne subis (A)
- Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
- Sand martin, Riparia riparia
- Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cettiidae
Cettiidae is a family of small insectivorous songbirds. It contains the typical bush warblers (Cettia) and their relatives. Its members occur mainly in Asia and Africa, ranging into Oceania and Europe.
- Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae
Bushtits 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.
- Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae
Leaf warblers are small, active, insectivorous passerine birds. They glean the foliage for insects along the branches of trees and bushes. They forage at various levels within forests, from the top canopy to the understorey. Most of the species are markedly territorial both in their summer and winter quarters. Most are greenish or brownish above and off-white or yellowish below.
- Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis
- Canary Islands chiffchaff, Phylloscopus canariensis (E-Canary Islands)
- Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
- Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (A)
- Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis
- Eastern crowned warbler, Phylloscopus coronatus (A)
- Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides
- Green warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus (A)
- Hume's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus humei (A)
- Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus brehmii
- Kamchatka leaf warbler, Phylloscopus examinandus (A)
- Mountain chiffchaff, Phylloscopus sindianus (Caucasus)
- Pale-legged leaf warbler, Phylloscopus tenellipes (A)
- Pallas's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus
- Plain leaf warbler, Phylloscopus neglectus (A)
- Radde's warbler, Phylloscopus schwarzi (A)
- Sulphur-bellied warbler, Phylloscopus griseolus (A)
- Two-barred warbler, Phyloscopus plumbeitarsus (A)
- Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
- Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
- Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
- Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae
The species in this family are usually rather large 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 also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
- Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola
- Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
- Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
- Common reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
- Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
- Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus
- Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
- Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon
- Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola
- Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
- Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
- Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama
- Thick-billed warbler, Arundinax aedon (A)
- Upcher's warbler, Hippolais languida (A)
- Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
- Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum
Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae
Grassbirds are small insectivorous songbirds, with tails that are usually long and pointed. These birds occur mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are less wren-like than the typical shrub-warblers (Cettia) but like these drab brownish or buffy all over. Many have bold dark streaks on wings and/or underside. Most live in scrubland and frequently hunt food by clambering through thick tangled growth or pursuing it on the ground; they are perhaps the most terrestrial of the "warblers".
- Common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia
- Gray's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes fasciolatus (A)
- Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (A)
- Pallas's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes certhiola (A)
- River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis
- Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cisticolidae
Cisticolas are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub. They are often difficult to see and many species are similar in appearance, so the song is often the best identification guide. These are insectivorous birds which nest low in vegetation.
- Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
The sylviid warblers are 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.
- African desert warbler, Curruca deserti (A)
- Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana (A)
- Balearic warbler, Curruca balearica (E)
- Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria
- Common whitethroat, Curruca communis
- Dartford warbler, Curruca undata
- Desert whitethroat, Curruca minula (A)
- Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris
- Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
- Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
- Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
- Hume's whitethroat, Curruca althaea (A)
- Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
- Marmora's warbler, Curruca sarda
- Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea (A)
- Moltoni's warbler, Curruca subalpina
- Rüppell's warbler, Curruca ruppeli
- Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala
- Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata
- Tristram's warbler, Curruca deserticola (A)
- Western Orphean warbler, Curruca hortensis
- Western subalpine warbler, Curruca iberiae
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paradoxornithidae
Parrotbills and their allies are small, long-tailed birds that typically inhabit reedbeds and similar habitats. Most are native to East or Southeast Asia, although a single species, the wrentit, is native to North America. Introduced populations in Italy are thought to contain two parrotbill species, although there is some uncertainty about the taxonomic identity of these populations.[5]
- Ashy-throated parrotbill, Suthora alphonsiana (I)
- Vinous-throated parrotbill, Suthora webbiana (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Leiothrichidae
The laughingthrushes are a family of Old World passerine birds. They are diverse in size and coloration. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
- Red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae
The kinglets and "crests" are a small family of birds which resemble some warblers. They are very small insectivorous birds in the single genus Regulus. The adults have coloured crowns, giving rise to their name.
- Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
- Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
- Madeira firecrest, Regulus madeirensis (E-Madeira)
- Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae
The 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.
- Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae
Nuthatches 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.
- Corsican nuthatch, Sitta whiteheadi (E)
- Eastern rock nuthatch, Sitta tephronota (A-Caucasus)
- Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea
- Krüper's nuthatch, Sitta krueperi (A)
- Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis (A)
- Western rock nuthatch, Sitta neumayer
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tichodromidae
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
- Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria
Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae
Treecreepers 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.
- Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris
- Short-toed treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla
Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae
Medium-sized passerine birds with long tails. Some are notable for their ability to mimic sounds such as other birds' songs.
- Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (A)
- Grey catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (A)
- Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae
Starlings 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 starling, Sturnus vulgaris
- Crested myna, Acridotheres cristatellus (I)
- Daurian starling, Agropsar sturninus (A)
- Rosy starling, Pastor roseus
- Spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
The 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.
- American robin, Turdus migratorius (A)
- Black-throated thrush, Turdus atrogularis
- Common blackbird, Turdus merula
- Dusky thrush, Turdus eunomus (A)
- Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (A)
- Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
- Grey-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus (A)
- Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus (A)
- Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
- Naumann's thrush, Turdus naumanni (A)
- Red-throated thrush, Turdus ruficollis (A)
- Redwing, Turdus iliacus
- Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus
- Scaly thrush, Zoothera dauma (A)
- Siberian thrush, Geokichla sibirica (A)
- Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
- Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus (A)
- Tickell's thrush, Turdus unicolor (A)
- Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius (A)
- Veery, Catharus fuscescens (A)
- White's thrush, Zoothera aurea (A)
- Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae
Old 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.
- Amur stonechat, Saxicola stejnegeri (A)
- Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica (A)
- Atlas pied flycatcher, Ficedula speculigera (A)
- Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
- Black wheatear, Oenanthe leucura
- Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius'
- Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
- Canary Islands stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae (E)
- Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis
- Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos
- Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
- Common rock thrush, Monticola saxatilis
- Cyprus wheatear, Oenanthe cypriaca
- Dark-sided flycatcher, Muscicapa sibirica (A)
- Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti (A)
- Eastern black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe melanoleuca
- European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
- European robin, Erithacus rubecula
- European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
- Finsch's wheatear, Oenanthe finschii (A)
- Güldenstädt's redstart, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus (Caucasus)
- Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
- Kurdish wheatear, Oenanthe xanthoprymna (A)
- Mediterranean flycatcher, Muscicapa tyrrhenica
- Moussier's redstart, Phoenicurus moussieri (A)
- Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
- Pied bush chat, Saxicola caprata (A)
- Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka
- Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva
- Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus
- Red-rumped wheatear, Oenanthe moesta (A)
- Rufous-tailed robin, Larvivora sibilans (A)
- Rufous-tailed scrub robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
- Semicollared flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata
- Siberian blue robin, Larvivora cyane (A)
- Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope (A)
- Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus
- Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
- Taiga flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla (A)
- Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia
- Western black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica
- Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
- White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga (A)
- White-throated robin, Irania gutturalis
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae
Dippers 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.
- White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
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 and they also consume small insects.
- Dead Sea sparrow, Passer moabiticus (A)
- Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
- House sparrow, Passer domesticus
- Italian sparrow, Passer italiae
- Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
- Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
- White-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis
Order: Passeriformes Family: Ploceidae
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.
- Black-headed weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus (I)
- Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
- Black-rumped waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes (I)
- Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (I)
- Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda (I)
- Red avadavat, Amandava amandava (I)
- Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Viduidae
The indigobirds and whydahs are finch-like species native to Africa whose plumage is usually dominated by black or indigo. All are obligate brood parasites, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches. One introduced species has established a population in Portugal.
- Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae
The 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.
- Alpine accentor, Prunella collaris
- Black-throated accentor, Prunella atrogularis (A)
- Dunnock, Prunella modularis
- Radde's accentor, Prunella ocularis (A)
- Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
The Motacillidae are 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.
- Berthelot's pipit, Anthus berthelotii (E-Madeira and Canary Islands)
- Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii (A)
- Buff-bellied pipit, Anthus rubescens (A)
- Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola
- Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (A)
- Eurasian rock pipit, Anthus petrosus (E)
- Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
- Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis (A)
- Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
- Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
- Paddyfield pipit, Anthus rufulus (A)
- Pechora pipit, Anthus gustavi
- Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
- Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi (A)
- Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
- Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
- Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta
- Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
- White wagtail, Motacilla alba
Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae
Finches 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.
- Arctic redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni
- Asian crimson-winged finch, Rhodopechys sanguineus (A-Caucasus)
- Atlantic canary, Serinus canaria (E-Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands)
- Azores bullfinch, Pyrrhula murina (E-Azores)
- Azores chaffinch, Fringilla moreletti (E-Azores)
- Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
- Canary Islands chaffinch, Fringilla canariensis (E-Canary Islands)
- Cape canary, Serinus canicollis (A)
- Citril finch, Carduelis citrinella
- Common linnet, Linaria cannabina
- Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea
- Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
- Corsican finch, Carduelis corsicana (E)
- Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
- Eurasian chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
- Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus
- European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
- European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
- European serin, Serinus serinus
- Evening grosbeak, Hesperiphona vespertina (A)
- Gran Canaria blue chaffinch, Fringilla polatzeki (E-Canary Islands)
- Great rosefinch, Carpodacus rubicilla (Caucasus)
- Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
- Lesser redpoll, Acanthis cabaret (E)
- Madeira chaffinch, Fringilla maderensis (E-Madeira)
- Mongolian finch, Bucanetes mongolicus (A)
- Pallas's rosefinch, Carpodacus roseus (A)
- Parrot crossbill, Loxia pytyopsittacus
- Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator
- Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
- Red-fronted serin, Serinus pusillus (A)
- Scottish crossbill, Loxia scotica (E)
- Siberian long-tailed rosefinch, Carpodacus sibiricus (A)
- Tenerife blue chaffinch, Fringilla teydea (E-Canary Islands)
- Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githagineus
- Twite, Linaria flavirostris
- Two-barred crossbill, Loxia leucoptera
Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae
The Calcariidae are a family of birds that had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
- Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
- Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.
- Black-faced bunting, Emberiza spodocephala (A)
- Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
- Chestnut bunting, Emberiza rutila (A)
- Chestnut-eared bunting, Emberiza fucata (A)
- Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea
- Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus
- Common reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
- Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
- Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia
- Grey-necked bunting, Emberiza buchanani (A)
- House bunting, Emberiza sahari (A)
- Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
- Pallas's reed bunting, Emberiza pallasi (A)
- Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos
- Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps
- Rock bunting, Emberiza cia
- Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica
- Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
- Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla
- Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola
- Yellow-browed bunting, Emberiza chrysophrys (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passerellidae
The New World sparrows (or American sparrows) are a large family of seed-eating passerine birds with distinctively finch-like bills.
- American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea (A)
- Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis (A)
- Eastern towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus (A)
- Lark sparrow, Chondestes grammacus (A)
- Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii (A)
- Red fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca (A)
- Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis (A)
- Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia (A)
- White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys (A)
- White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteriidae
This species was historically placed in the wood-warblers (Parulidae) but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. It was placed in its own family in 2017.
- Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae
Icterids make up a family of small- to medium-sized, often colorful, New-World passerine birds. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The species in the family vary widely in size, shape, behavior and coloration.
- Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula (A)
- Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (A)
- Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater (A)
- Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula (A)
- Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus (A)
- Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae
A group of small, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal and insectivorous.
- American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (A)
- American yellow warbler, Setophaga aestiva (A)
- Audubon's warbler, Setophaga auduboni (A)
- Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea (A)
- Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia (A)
- Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca (A)
- Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata (A)
- Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (A)
- Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens (A)
- Blue-winged warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera (A)
- Canada warbler, Cardellina canadensis (A)
- Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina (A)
- Cerulean warbler, Setophaga cerulea (A)
- Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica (A)
- Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas (A)
- Connecticut warbler, Oporornis agilis (A-Azores)
- Golden-winged warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera (A)
- Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina (A)
- Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia (A)
- Myrtle warbler, Setophaga coronata (A)
- Northern parula, Setophaga americana (A)
- Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis (A)
- Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla (A)
- Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum (A)
- Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor (A-Azores)
- Prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea (A-Azores)
- Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina (A)
- Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla (A)
- Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica (A-Azores)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae
Cardinals are passerine birds found in North and South America. They are also known as cardinal-grosbeaks and cardinal-buntings.
- Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea (A-Azores)
- Dickcissel, Spiza americana (A)
- Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea (A)
- Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus (A)
- Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea (A)
- Summer tanager, Piranga rubra (A)
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