List of birds of Europe
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, parrots, pittas, cuckooshrikes, broadbills, drongos, monarch flycatchers, white-eyes, and waxbills.
Three species that occurred in the European region until recently, the great auk, the Canary Islands oystercatcher, and the slender-billed curlew, are now globally extinct, the last being concluded to be extinct in 2025. In addition, the common buttonquail has become extinct in Europe, but survives in Africa and Asia. In total, 71 bird species are considered threatened in Europe.
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.
- Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Europe
- Endemic - a species endemic to Europe
- Extinct - a species that no longer exists
- Regionally extinct - a species that is extinct in the wild in Europe
- Introduced - a species introduced to Europe as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Definition of Europe
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 or Asia, 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 on the relevant national list. For countries that straddle Europe and Asia, the precise location of sightings within that country is determinative.
Ducks, geese, and swans
Order: AnseriformesFamily: AnatidaeThe 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.
- Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
- White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
- Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
- Mute swan, Cygnus olor
- Black swan, Cygnus atratus
- Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus
- Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus
- Brant goose, Branta bernicla
- Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis
- Canada goose, Branta canadensis
- Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
- Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii
- Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
- Ross's goose, Anser rossii
- Snow goose, Anser caerulescens
- Greylag goose, Anser anser
- Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus
- Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
- Tundra bean goose, Anser serrirostris
- Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
- Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis
- Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
- Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata
- Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata
- Wood duck, Aix sponsa
- Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
- Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
- Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis
- Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri
- Spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri
- King eider, Somateria spectabilis
- Common eider, Somateria mollissima
- Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus
- Common scoter, Melanitta nigra
- Black scoter, Melanitta americana
- Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata
- Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca
- White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi
- Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri
- Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
- Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica
- Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
- Smew, Mergellus albellus
- Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
- Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
- Common merganser, Mergus merganser
- Marbled duck, Marmaronetta angustirostris
- Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
- Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca
- Common pochard, Aythya ferina
- Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
- Redhead, Aythya americana
- Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris
- Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
- Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis
- Greater scaup, Aythya marila
- Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa
- Garganey, Spatula querquedula
- Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
- Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera
- Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
- Falcated duck, Mareca falcata
- Gadwall, Mareca strepera
- Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
- American wigeon, Mareca americana
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
- American black duck, Anas rubripes
- Northern pintail, Anas acuta
- Green-winged teal, ''Anas crecca''
Guineafowl
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''
New World quail
- Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
- California quail, ''Callipepla californica''
Pheasants and allies
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.
- Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia
- Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta
- Red grouse, Lagopus scotica
- Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
- Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
- Cantabrian capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus cantabricus
- Caucasian grouse, Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi
- Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix
- Grey partridge, Perdix perdix
- Reeves's pheasant, Syrmaticus reevesii
- Golden pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus
- Lady Amherst's pheasant, Chrysolophus amherstiae
- Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
- Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus
- Caucasian snowcock, Tetraogallus caucasicus
- Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
- Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara
- Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa
- Chukar partridge, Alectoris chukar
- Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca
- Erckel's spurfowl, ''Pternistis erckelii''
Flamingos
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
- Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor
- Greater flamingo, ''Phoenicopterus roseus''
Grebes
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.
- Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
- Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
- Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
- Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
- Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
- Black-necked grebe, ''Podiceps nigricollis''
Bustards
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
- Asian houbara, Chlamydotis macqueenii
- African houbara, Chlamydotis undulata
- Little bustard, ''Tetrax tetrax''
Cuckoos
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
- Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
- Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
- Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
- Oriental cuckoo, ''Cuculus optatus''