List of birds of Italy

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Italy. The avifauna of Italy included a total of 577 species recorded in the wild by March 2024, according to Avibase. Of these species, 13 have been introduced by humans, one has been extirpated, and four others have not been recorded since before 1950. One species is hypothetical and another's status has not been determined.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.^[1]

The following tags have been used to highlight some categories of occurrence. The notes of population status, such as "endangered", apply to the worldwide population, not that only in Italy, and are from Bird Checklists of the World.^[2]

(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Italy, also called a vagrant
(I) Introduced - a species introduced by humans directly or indirectly to Italy which has a self-supporting population
(S) Status uncertain - a species whose status has not been determined or a species which has been reported but not confirmed.

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

Anatidae 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.

Graylag goose, Anser anser
Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris
Canada goose, Branta canadensis
Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (vulnerable)
Mute swan, Cygnus olor
Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus
Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus
Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata
Garganey, Spatula querquedula
Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
Gadwall, Mareca strepera
Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Northern pintail, Anas acuta
Green-winged teal, Anas crecca

(vulnerable)

Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
Common pochard, Aythya ferina (vulnerable)
Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (near-threatened)
Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Greater scaup, Aythya marila
Common eider, Somateria mollissima (near-threatened)
Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca (vulnerable)
Common scoter, Melanitta nigra
Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (vulnerable)
Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
Smew, Mergellus albellus
Common merganser, Mergus merganser
Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala (endangered)

Accidental :

Snow goose, Anser caerulescens
Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (vulnerable)
Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis
Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
Brant, Branta bernicla
Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (vulnerable)
Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
American wigeon, Mareca americana
Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris
King eider, Somateria spectabilis
Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis

Status Uncertain:

Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii

Introduced:

Wood duck, Aix sponsa

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia
Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta
Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix
Gray partridge, Perdix perdix
Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara
Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa
Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca (near-threatened)

Introduced:

Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus (extirpated)^[3]
Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii

Flamingos

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

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes 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.

Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (vulnerable)
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Rock pigeon, Columba livia
Stock pigeon, Columba oenas
Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus
European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur (vulnerable)
Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis

Accidental:

Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis

Sandgrouse

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. All are not native and were imported accidentally.

Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus
Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus

Bustards

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.

Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (near-threatened)

Accidental:

Great bustard, Otis tarda (A) (vulnerable)
Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata (A)
MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (A) (vulnerable)

Cuckoos

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.

Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Accidental :

Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus

Nightjars and allies

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. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis (A)
Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A)

Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes 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. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Alpine swift, Apus melba
Common swift, Apus apus
Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
Little swift, Apus affinis (A)
White-rumped swift, Apus caffer (A)

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

Rallidae 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.

Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
Corn crake, Crex crex
Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata (A)
Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A)
Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (A)
Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A)
Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis (A)
Little crake, Zapornia parva
Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Cranes

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".

Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (A)
Common crane, Grus grus

Thick-knees

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 thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae 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.

Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (near-threatened)

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

The 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.

Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria
Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus

Accidental:

American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (near-threatened)
Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus
Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius (critically endangered)
White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus
Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus

Sandpipers and allies

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.

Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (A)
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A) (critically endangered)
Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (near-threatened)
Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (near-threatened)
Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (near-threatened)
Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Red knot, Calidris canutus (near-threatened)
Ruff, Calidris pugnax
Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus
Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A)
Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (near-threatened)
Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A) (near-threatened)
Sanderling, Calidris alba
Dunlin, Calidris alpina
Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (A)
Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A)
Little stint, Calidris minuta
Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (A)
White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A)
Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A) (near-threatened)
Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A)
Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
Great snipe, Gallinago media (near-threatened)
Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura (A)
Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A)
Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)
Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (A)
Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
Willet, Tringa semipalmata (A)
Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A)
Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
Common redshank, Tringa totanus

Buttonquail

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.

Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus (Extirpated; not recorded since before 1950)

Pratincoles and coursers

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.

Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor (A)
Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)
Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A) (near-threatened)

Skuas and jaegers

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.

Great skua, Stercorarius skua
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae

Auks are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colors, 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.

Dovekie, Alle alle (A)
Common murre, Uria aalge (A)
Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (A)
Razorbill, Alca torda (near-threatened)
Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica (vulnerable)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

Laridae 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.

Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (vulnerable)
Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea (A) (near-threatened)
Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (A)
Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
Gray-hooded gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus (A)
Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea (A)
Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (A)
Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (A)
Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus (A)
Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii
Common gull, Larus canus
Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (A)
Herring gull, Larus argentatus
Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis
Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides (A)
Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus (A)
Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (A; not recorded since before 1950)
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 (A)
Common tern, Sterna hirundo
Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (A)
Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis (V)

Loons

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.

Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
Arctic loon, Gavia arctica
Common loon, Gavia immer
Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A) (near-threatened)

Albatrosses

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.

Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (A)
Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A)
Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans (A)

Southern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Oceanitidae

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.

Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A)

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

The 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.

European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A) (vulnerable)
Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Hydrobates monorhis (A) (near-threatened)

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

Southern giant-petrel, Macronectes giganteus (A)
Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (A)
Cape petrel, Daption capense (A)
Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii (A)
Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)
Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A) (near-threatened)
Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan (vulnerable)
Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus (A) (critically endangered)
Barolo shearwater, Puffinus baroli (A)

Storks

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

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)
Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)
Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae 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.

Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
European shag, Gulosus aristotelis

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans 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.

Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus (A)
Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens (A)
Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus (A) (near-threatened)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

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.

Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris
Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
Schrenck's bittern, Ixobrychus eurhythmus (A)
Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
Great egret, Ardea alba
Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia (A)
Little egret, Egretta garzetta
Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis (A)
Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca (A)
Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
Chinese pond-heron, Ardeola bacchus (A)
Green heron, Butorides virescens (A)
Striated heron, Butorides striata (A)
Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae 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.

Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus (I)
Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita (I) (endangered)
Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae

The 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.

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae 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.

Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus (A)
Bearded vulture, Gypaetus barbatus (near-threatened)
Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus (endangered)
European honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus
Oriental honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus (A)
Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus (A) (near-threatened)
Rüppell's griffon, Gyps rueppelli (A) (critically endangered)
Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus
Short-toed snake-eagle, Circaetus gallicus
Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina
Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga (vulnerable)
Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax (A) (vulnerable)
Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis (A) (endangered)
Spanish eagle, Aquila adalberti (A) (vulnerable)
Imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca (A) (vulnerable)
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata
Eurasian marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus
Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus (near-threatened)
Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
Levant sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes (A)
Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
Red kite, Milvus milvus (near-threatened)
Black kite, Milvus migrans
White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus
Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

The 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.

Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo
Eurasian pygmy-owl, Glaucidium passerinum
Little owl, Athene noctua
Tawny owl, Strix aluco
Ural owl, Strix uralensis
Long-eared owl, Asio otus
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink coloring with a large erectile crest on their head.

Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis (A)

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae

The 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 colored 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.

Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (A)
European bee-eater, Merops apiaster

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae

Rollers 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.

European roller, Coracias garrulus

Woodpeckers

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.

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
Lesser spotted woodpecker, Dryobates minor
Gray-headed woodpecker, Picus canus
Eurasian green woodpecker, Picus viridis
Black woodpecker, Dryocopus martius

Falcons and caracaras

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.

Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (near-threatened)
Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (A)
Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
Sooty falcon, Falco concolor (A) (vulnerable)
Merlin, Falco columbarius
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
Saker falcon, Falco cherrug (endangered)
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)

African and New World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.

Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus (I)
Blue-fronted amazon, Amazona aestiva (I)

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World and Southeast Asia.

Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (A)

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus

Shrikes

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 shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides (A)
Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (A)
Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (A)
Iberian gray shrike, Lanius meridionalis (A)
Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus (A)
Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Crows, jays, and magpies

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.

Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
Eurasian nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes
Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Yellow-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula
Rook, Corvus frugilegus
Carrion crow, Corvus corone
Hooded crow, Corvus cornix
Pied crow, Corvus albus (A)
Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis (A)
Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

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.

Coal tit, Periparus ater
Crested tit, Lophophanes cristatus
Sombre tit, Poecile lugubris (A; not recorded since before 1950)
Marsh tit, Poecile palustris
Willow tit, Poecile montana
Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
African blue tit, Cyanistes teneriffae
Great tit, Parus major

Penduline-tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

Eurasian penduline-tit, Remiz pendulinus

Larks

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.

Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes (A)
Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cincturus (A)
Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata (A)
Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
Black lark, Melanocorypha yeltoniensis (A)
Dupont's lark, Chersophilus duponti (A) (near-threatened)
Wood lark, Lullula arborea
Mediterranean short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens (A)
White-winged lark, Alauda leucoptera (A)
Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Bearded reedling

Order: Passeriformes Family: Panuridae

This species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.

Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus

Cisticolas and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae

The 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.

Booted warbler, Iduna caligata (A)
Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama (A)
Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida (A)
Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca (A)
Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum (A)
Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola (vulnerable)
Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon
Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola
Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum (A)
Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae 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.

River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis (A)
Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia

Swallows

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.

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: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf 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 greyish-green to greyish-brown colors.

Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis (A)
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus
Hume's warbler, Phylloscopus humei (A)
Pallas's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus (A)
Radde's warbler, Phylloscopus schwarzi (A)
Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (A)
Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus ibericus (A)
Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides (A)
Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis (A)

Bush warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.^[4]

Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae

Long-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.

Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae

The 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.

Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria
Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
Western Orphean warbler, Curruca hortensis
Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris (A)
African desert warbler, Curruca deserti (A)
Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana (A)
Tristram's warbler, Curruca deserticola (A)
Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea (A)
Rüppell's warbler, Curruca ruppeli (A)
Cyprus warbler, Curruca melanothorax (A)
Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala
Moltoni's warbler, Curruca subalpina
Western subalpine warbler, Curruca iberiae
Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis
Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata
Marmora's warbler, Curruca sarda
Dartford warbler, Curruca undata (near-threatened)
Vinous-throated parrotbill, Sinosuthora webbiana (I)
Ashy-throated parrotbill, Sinosuthora alphonsiana (I)

Laughingthrushes and allies

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)

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae

The 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.

Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla

Wallcreeper

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

Nuthatches

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.

Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea

Treecreepers

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

Wrens

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

Dippers

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

Starlings

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.

European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor
Rosy starling, Pastor roseus

Thrushes and allies

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.

White's thrush, Zoothera aurea (A)
Scaly thrush, Zoothera dauma (A)
Gray-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus (A)
Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus (A)
Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus (A)
Siberian thrush, Geokichla sibirica (A)
Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
Redwing, Turdus iliacus (near-threatened)
Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (A)
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus
Black-throated thrush, Turdus atrogularis (A)
Red-throated thrush, Turdus ruficollis (A)
Dusky thrush, Turdus eunomus (A)
Naumann's thrush, Turdus naumanni (A)

Old World flycatchers

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.

Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
European robin, Erithacus rubecula
White-throated robin, Irania gutturalis (A)
Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia
Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos
Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope (A)
Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus (A)
Mugimaki flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki (A)
Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva
Semicollared flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata
European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
Atlas flycatcher, Ficedula speculigera (A)
Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis
Moussier's redstart, Phoenicurus moussieri (A)
Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, Monticola saxatilis
Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius
Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus (A)
Pied bushchat, Saxicola caprata (A)
Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina (A)
Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti (A)
Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka (A)
Western black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica
Eastern black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe melanoleuca (A)
Black wheatear, Oenanthe leucura
White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga (A)

Waxwings

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

Waxbills and allies

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 colors and patterns.

Red avadavat, Amandava amandava (I)

Accentors

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
Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (A)
Black-throated accentor, Prunella atrogularis (A)
Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

Old 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.

House sparrow, Passer domesticus
Italian sparrow, Passer italiae (vulnerable)
Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
White-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae 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.

Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (A)
Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola
White wagtail, Motacilla alba
Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii (A)
Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis (near-threatened)
Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni (A)
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta
Rock pipit, Anthus petrosus (A)
American pipit, Anthus rubescens (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies

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.

Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (A)
Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githagineus (A)
European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
Twite, Linaria flavirostris (A)
Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina
Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea
Lesser redpoll, Acanthis cabaret
Parrot crossbill, Loxia pytyopsittacus (A)
Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (A)
European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
Citril finch, Serinus citrinella
Corsican finch, Serinus corsicanus
European serin, Serinus serinus
Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae

The 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.

Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

Old World buntings

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-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps (A)
Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
Rock bunting, Emberiza cia
Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus
Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos
Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia (A)
Pallas's bunting, Emberiza pallasi (A)
Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A) (critically endangered)
Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A)
Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A) (vulnerable)
Black-faced bunting, Emberiza spodocephala (A)

New World sparrows

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.

Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca (A)

Troupials and allies

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.