List of birds of Ireland

The avifauna of Ireland included a total of 522 species as of the end of 2019 according to the Irish Rare Birds Committee. Of them, 183 are rare, and 14 of the rarities have not been seen in Ireland since 1950. Three species were either introduced to Ireland or came to Ireland from another introduced population.
Ireland has a relatively low diversity of breeding birds due to its isolation. Several species such as the tawny owl, Eurasian nuthatch and willow tit which breed in Great Britain have not been recorded. However, there are large colonies of seabirds including important populations of European storm-petrels, northern gannets, and roseate terns. Other notable breeding birds include corn crakes and red-billed choughs. There are no endemic species but there are endemic subspecies of white-throated dipper, coal tit, and Eurasian jay.
Large numbers of wildfowl and waders winter in Ireland, attracted by its mild climate. About half the world population of the Greenland race of greater white-fronted geese spend the winter there. During autumn, many migrating seabirds can be seen off the coasts including several species of skuas, shearwaters, and petrels. Ireland's westerly position means that North American birds are regularly recorded in autumn.
This list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature are those of the International Ornithological Congress as of July 2021. Many of the Irish names are taken from the National Terminology Database for Irish.
The following A, B, and C tags are used by the IRBC to define the status of species. "R" is used here for rare species. The list does not include species placed in "Category D" by the IRBC. These are species where there is doubt as to whether they have occurred in a wild state, they have arrived by human assistance such as on board a ship, they have only been recorded dead on the tideline, or they are feral species whose populations may not be self-sustaining. Some species have records of individuals in more than one category; the "highest" category is listed here in those cases.

A - "Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state in Ireland at least once since 1st January 1950".
B - "Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state in Ireland at least once up to 31st December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently", i.e. old vagrant records and/or regionallly extinct species.
C - "Species that, although originally introduced by man, have established feral breeding populations in Ireland which apparently maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction that have occurred, but are considered to have originated from established naturalised populations outside Ireland".
R - Species on IRBC Appendix 1, those "requiring substantiating details", i.e. rarities.

Ducks, geese, swans

Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.

Common name	Binomial	Irish name	Status
Brent goose	Branta bernicla	Cadhan	A
Red-breasted goose	Branta ruficollis	Gé broinnrua	A R
Canada goose	Branta canadensis	Gé cheanadach	A R
Barnacle goose	Branta leucopsis	Gé ghiúrainn / cadhan	A
Cackling goose	Branta hutchinsii	Brioscarnach-ghé	A R
Snow goose	Anser caerulescens	Gé shneachta	A
Greylag goose	Anser anser	Crann-ghé / gé mhór fhionn / gé ghlas	A
Taiga bean goose	Anser fabalis	Síolghé taigaí	A R
Pink-footed goose	Anser brachyrhynchus	Gé ghobghearr	A
Tundra bean goose	Anser serrirostris	Síolghé tundraí	A R
Greater white-fronted goose	Anser albifrons	Gé bhánéadanach mhór	A
Lesser white-fronted goose	Anser erythropus	Mionghé bhánéadanach / gé bheag fhionn	A R
Mute swan	Cygnus olor	Eala bhalbh	A
Bewick's swan	Cygnus columbianus bewickii	Eala thundra	A
Whooper swan	Cygnus cygnus	Eala ghlórach	A
Common shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	Seil-lacha	A
Ruddy shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	Seil-lacha rua / garg ruadh	B
Mandarin duck	Aix galericulata	Lacha mhandarin	C
Baikal teal	Sibirionetta formosa	Praslacha bhaicalach	A R
Garganey	Spatula querquedula	Praslacha shamraidh	A
Blue-winged teal	Spatula discors	Praslacha ghormeiteach	A R
Northern shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Slapaire tuaisceartach	A
Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Gadual	A
Eurasian wigeon	Mareca penelope	Rualacha	A
American wigeon	Mareca americana	Rualacha mhericeánach	A
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard	A
American black duck	Anas rubripes	Lacha chosrua	A R
Northern pintail	Anas acuta	Biorearrach tuaisceartach	A
Eurasian teal	Anas crecca	Praslacha ghlaseiteach	A
Green-winged teal	Anas carolinensis		A
Red-crested pochard	Netta rufina	Póiseard cíordhearg	A
Redhead	Aythya americana	Ceanndearg	A R
Common pochard	Aythya ferina	Póiseard cíordhearg / lacha mhásach	A
Ferruginous duck	Aythya nyroca	Póiseard ferruginous	A R
Ring-necked duck	Aythya collaris	Lacha mhuinceach	A
Tufted duck	Aythya fuligula	Lacha bhadánach	A
Greater scaup	Aythya marila	Lacha iascán mór	A
Lesser scaup	Aythya affinis	Mionlacha iascán	A R
King eider	Somateria spectabilis	Éadar taibhseach / rígh éadar	A R
Common eider	Somateria mollissima	Éadar	A
Surf scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	Scótar toinne	A
Velvet scoter	Melanitta fusca	Sceadach	A
White-winged scoter	Melanitta deglandi	Scótarach bháneiteach	A R
Common scoter	Melanitta nigra	Scótar / lacha scótarach	A
Black scoter	Melanitta americana	Scótar dubh	A R
Long-tailed duck	Clangula hyemalis	Lacha earrfhada	A
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Órshúileach ceannsceadach	A R
Common goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Órshúileach	A
Barrow's goldeneye	Bucephala islandica	Órshúileach bhearú	A R
Smew	Mergellus albellus	Síolta gheal	A
Hooded merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	Síolta chochaill	A R
Goosander	Mergus merganser	Síolta / tumaire	A
Red-breasted merganser	Mergus serrator	Síolta rua	A
Ruddy duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	Lachra rua	C

Pheasants and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump and have broad, relatively short wings.

Common name	Binomial	Irish name	Status
Western capercaillie	Tetrao urogallus	Capall coille	B
Red grouse	Lagopus scotica	Tarmachan	A
Grey partridge	Perdix perdix	Cearc coille	A
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix	Gearg / gearraghuirt	A
Common pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	Feasán mhuinceach	C

Nightjars

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.

Common name	Binomial	Irish name	Status
European nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	Tuirne lín	A
Common nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	Tuirne lín Meiriceánach	A R