List of birds of Denmark
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Denmark. The avifauna of Denmark included a total of 504 species recorded in the wild by according to the Dansk Ornitologisk Forening 's DK listen This list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature are those of the IOC World Bird List, 2022 edition.
Bird species admitted to the Danish List are included in the following categories A, B or C, with the same definitions as the British and other Western Palaearctic bird lists:
- A: species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.
- B: species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.
- C: species introduced by humans, and have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, which maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.
- Species marked with a * are rare species which require acceptance by the Sjældenheds Udvalget.
Grouse, pheasants, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: PhasianidaeThese are terrestrial species of game birds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings.
- Common quail Coturnix coturnix A
- Black grouse Lyrurus tetrix A*
- Grey partridge Perdix perdix A
- Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus C
Geese, swans, and ducks
Order: AnseriformesFamily: AnatidaeAnatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
- Brant goose Branta bernicla A
- Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis A
- Canada goose Branta canadensis C
- Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis A
- Bar-headed goose Anser indicus C
- Ross's goose Anser rossii A*
- Greylag goose Anser anser A
- Taiga bean goose Anser fabalis A
- Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus A
- Tundra bean goose Anser serrirostris A
- Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons A
- Lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus A
- Black swan Cygnus atratus C
- Mute swan Cygnus olor A
- Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus A
- Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus A
- Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiacus C
- Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna A
- Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea A
- Mandarin duck Aix galericulata C
- Baikal teal Sibirionetta formosa A*
- Garganey Spatula querquedula A
- Blue-winged teal Spatula discors A*
- Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata A
- Gadwall Mareca strepera A
- Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope A
- American wigeon Mareca americana A*
- Mallard Anas platyrhynchos A
- American black duck Anas rubripes A*
- Northern pintail Anas acuta A
- Eurasian teal Anas crecca A
- Green-winged teal Anas carolinensis A
- Red-crested pochard Netta rufina A
- Common pochard Aythya ferina A
- Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca A*
- Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris A*
- Tufted duck Aythya fuligula A
- Greater scaup Aythya marila A
- Lesser scaup Aythya affinis A*
- Steller's eider Polysticta stelleri A*
- King eider Somateria spectabilis A
- Common eider Somateria mollissima A
- Surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata A*
- Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca A
- White-winged scoter Melanitta deglandi A*
- Stejneger's scoter Melanitta stejnegeri A*
- Common scoter Melanitta nigra A
- Black scoter Melanitta americana A*
- Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis A
- Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula A
- Smew Mergellus albellus A
- Goosander Mergus merganser A
- Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator A
- Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis C*
- White-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala A*
Nightjars
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: CaprimulgidaeNightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
- Eurasian nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus A
- Egyptian nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius A*
Swifts
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: ApodidaeSwifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. They have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent.
- White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus A*
- Alpine swift Tachymarptis melba A*
- Common swift Apus apus A
- Pallid swift Apus pallidus A*
- Pacific swift Apus pacificus A*
- Little swift Apus affinis A*
- White-rumped swift Apus caffer A*
Bustards
Order: OtidiformesFamily: OtididaeBustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
- Great bustard Otis tarda A*
- MacQueen's bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii B*
- Little bustard Tetrax tetrax A*
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: CuculidaeThe family Cuculidae includes cuckoos and allies. 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 A*
- Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus B*
- Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus A*
- Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus A
Sandgrouse
Order: PterocliformesFamily: PteroclidaeSandgrouse have small pigeon-like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
- Pallas's sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus A*
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: ColumbidaePigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
- Rock dove Columba livia C
- Stock dove Columba oenas A
- Common wood pigeon Columba palumbus A
- European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur A
- Oriental turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis A*
- Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto A
- Mourning dove Zenaida macroura A*
Rails, moorhens, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: RallidaeRallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and moorhens. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. Many 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 A
- Corn crake Crex crex A
- Little crake Zapornia parva A*
- Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla A*
- Spotted crake Porzana porzana A
- Allen's gallinule Porphyrula alleni B*
- Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus A
- Eurasian coot Fulica atra A
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: GruidaeCranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays.
- Sandhill crane Antigone canadensis A*
- Demoiselle crane Anthropoides virgo A*
- Common crane Grus grus A
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: PodicipedidaeGrebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are placed far back on the body, making them ungainly on land.
- Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis A
- Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena A
- Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus A
- Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus A
- Black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricollis A
Stone-curlews
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: BurhinidaeStone-curlews and thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some 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 A*
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: HaematopodidaeThe oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
- Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus A
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: RecurvirostridaeRecurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
- Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus A*
- Pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta A
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: CharadriidaeThe family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
- Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus A
- Sociable lapwing Vanellus gregarius A*
- White-tailed lapwing Vanellus leucurus A*
- European golden plover Pluvialis apricaria A
- Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva A*
- American golden plover Pluvialis dominica A*
- Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola A
- Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula A
- Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius A
- Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus A
- Siberian sand plover Charadrius mongolus A*
- Tibetan sand plover Charadrius atrifrons A*
- Greater sand plover Charadrius leschenaultii A*
- Caspian plover Charadrius asiaticus A*
- Eurasian dotterel Charadrius morinellus A
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: ScolopacidaeScolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, woodcocks, snipe, 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*
- Eurasian whimbrel Numenius phaeopus A
- Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata A
- Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica A
- Black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa A
- Hudsonian godwit Limosa haemastica A*
- Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres A
- Red knot Calidris canutus A
- Ruff Calidris pugnax A
- Broad-billed sandpiper Calidris falcinellus A
- Sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata A*
- Stilt sandpiper Calidris himantopus A*
- Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea A
- Temminck's stint Calidris temminckii A
- Red-necked stint Calidris ruficollis A*
- Sanderling Calidris alba A
- Dunlin Calidris alpina A
- Purple sandpiper Calidris maritima A
- Baird's sandpiper Calidris bairdii A*
- Little stint Calidris minuta A
- White-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis A*
- Buff-breasted sandpiper Calidris subruficollis A*
- Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos A
- Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla A*
- Long-billed dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus A*
- Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola A
- Jack snipe Lymnocryptes minimus A
- Great snipe Gallinago media A
- Common snipe Gallinago gallinago A
- Terek sandpiper Xenus cinereus A*
- Wilson's phalarope Phalaropus tricolor A*
- Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus A
- Grey phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius A
- Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos A
- Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularius A*
- Green sandpiper Tringa ochropus A
- Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes A*
- Common redshank Tringa totanus A
- Marsh sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis A
- Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola A
- Spotted redshank Tringa erythropus A
- Common greenshank Tringa nebularia A
- Greater yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca A*
Pratincoles and coursers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: GlareolidaeGlareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings, and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings, and long, pointed bills that curve downwards.
- Cream-coloured courser Cursorius cursor A*
- Collared pratincole Glareola pratincola A*
- Oriental pratincole Glareola maldivarum A*
- Black-winged pratincole Glareola nordmanni A*
Gulls and terns
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: LaridaeLaridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, and allies. Gulls are typically white with grey wings, often with black markings on the wingtips, and the head white or dark in breeding plumage. They have stout, longish, bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally smaller to medium seabirds typically white with grey wings, often with black cap on the head; some darker overall. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Gulls and terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live more than 30 years.
- Black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla A
- Ivory gull Pagophila eburnea A*
- Sabine's gull Xema sabini A
- Slender-billed gull Chroicocephalus genei A*
- Bonaparte's gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia A*
- Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus A
- Little gull Hydrocoloeus minutus A
- Ross's gull Rhodostethia rosea A*
- Laughing gull Leucophaeus atricilla A*
- Franklin's gull Leucophaeus pipixcan A*
- Audouin's gull Ichthyaetus audouinii A*
- Mediterranean gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus A
- Pallas's gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus A*
- Common gull Larus canus A
- Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis A*
- Great black-backed gull Larus marinus A
- Glaucous-winged gull Larus glaucescens A*
- Glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus A
- Iceland gull Larus glaucoides A
- European herring gull Larus argentatus A
- Caspian gull Larus cachinnans A
- Yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis A
- Armenian gull Larus armenicus A*
- Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus A
- Gull-billed tern Gelochelidon nilotica A
- Caspian tern Hydroprogne caspia A
- Sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis A
- Elegant tern Thalasseus elegans A*
- Little tern Sternula albifrons A
- Bridled tern Onychoprion anaethetus A*
- Roseate tern Sterna dougallii A*
- Common tern Sterna hirundo A
- Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea A
- Whiskered tern Chlidonias hybrida A*
- White-winged tern Chlidonias leucopterus A
- Black tern Chlidonias niger A
Skuas
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: StercorariidaeThe skuas are medium to large predatory or kleptoparasitic seabirds, typically with brown plumage, often with creamy-white underparts and white streaks on the primary feathers. They nest on the ground in subarctic and arctic regions and most are long-distance migrants.
- Great skua Stercorarius skua A
- Pomarine skua Stercorarius pomarinus A
- Arctic skua Stercorarius parasiticus A
- Long-tailed skua Stercorarius longicaudus A
Auks, guillemots, and puffins
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: AlcidaeAlcidae is a family of seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins with their black-and-white colour, their upright posture, and some of their habits, but which can fly.
- Little auk Alle alle A
- Brünnich's guillemot Uria lomvia A*
- Common guillemot Uria aalge A
- Razorbill Alca torda A
- Black guillemot Cepphus grylle A
- Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica A
Divers
Order: GaviiformesFamily: GaviidaeDivers or loons are a group of aquatic birds found in arctic and cool temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. They are the size of large ducks or small geese, but to which they are completely unrelated. In particular, their legs are set very far back which assists in swimming underwater but makes walking on land extremely difficult.
- Red-throated diver Gavia stellata A
- Black-throated diver Gavia arctica A
- Pacific diver Gavia pacifica A*
- Great northern diver Gavia immer A
- White-billed diver Gavia adamsii A
Southern storm petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: OceanitidaeThe austral 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.
- Wilson's storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus A*
Albatrosses
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: DiomedeidaeThe albatrosses are oceanic seabirds, among the largest of flying birds; the great albatrosses of the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant bird.
- Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris A*
Northern storm petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: HydrobatidaeThough the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.
- European storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus A
- Leach's storm petrel Hydrobates leucorhous A
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: ProcellariidaeThe procellariids are the main group of medium-sized petrels and shearwaters, characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long functional outer primary.
- Northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis A
- Scopoli's shearwater Calonectris diomedea A*
- Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis A*
- Sooty shearwater Ardenna grisea A
- Great shearwater Ardenna gravis A*
- Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus A
- Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus A*
- Audubon's shearwater Puffinus lherminieri A*
Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: CiconiidaeStorks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
- Black stork Ciconia nigra A
- White stork Ciconia ciconia A
Frigatebirds
Order: SuliformesFamily: FregatidaeFrigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
- Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens A*
Gannets and boobies
Order: SuliformesFamily: SulidaeThe sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
- Northern gannet Morus bassanus A
- Brown booby Sula leucogaster A*
Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: PhalacrocoracidaeCormorants and shags are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.
- Pygmy cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus A*
- European shag Gulosus aristotelis A*
- Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo A
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: ThreskiornithidaeThe family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills.
- Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus A*
- Eurasian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia A
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: ArdeidaeThe family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
- Eurasian bittern Botaurus stellaris A
- American bittern Botaurus lentiginosus A*
- Little bittern Ixobrychus minutus A*
- Black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax A*
- Squacco heron Ardeola ralloides A*
- Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis A*
- Grey heron Ardea cinerea A
- Purple heron Ardea purpurea A*
- Great egret Ardea alba A
- Little egret Egretta garzetta A
Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: PelecanidaePelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.
- Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus A*
Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: PandionidaePandionidae is a family of fish-eating birds of prey, possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing fish apart, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. The family is monotypic.
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus A
Hawks, eagles, and kites
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: AccipitridaeAccipitridae is a family of birds of prey and includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
- Black-winged kite Elanus caeruleus A*
- Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus A*
- European honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus A
- Griffon vulture Gyps fulvus A*
- Short-toed snake eagle Circaetus gallicus A*
- Lesser spotted eagle Clanga pomarina A
- Greater spotted eagle Clanga clanga A*
- Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus A*
- Steppe eagle Aquila nipalensis A*
- Eastern imperial eagle Aquila heliaca A*
- Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos A
- Bonelli's eagle Aquila fasciata A*
- Eurasian sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A
- Northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis A
- Eurasian marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus A
- Hen harrier Circus cyaneus A
- Northern harrier Circus hudsonius A*
- Pallid harrier Circus macrourus A
- Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus A
- Red kite Milvus milvus A
- Black kite Milvus migrans A
- White-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla A
- Rough-legged buzzard Buteo lagopus A
- Long-legged buzzard Buteo rufinus A*
- Common buzzard Buteo buteo A
Barn owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: TytonidaeBarn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
- Western barn owl Tyto alba A
Owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: StrigidaeTypical 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 A*
- Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus A*
- Eurasian eagle-owl Bubo bubo C
- Tawny owl Strix aluco A
- Northern hawk owl Surnia ulula A*
- Eurasian pygmy owl Glaucidium passerinum A*
- Little owl Athene noctua A
- Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus A
- Long-eared owl Asio otus A
- Short-eared owl Asio flammeus A
Hoopoes
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: UpupidaeHoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on the head.
- Eurasian hoopoe Upupa epops A
Rollers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: CoraciidaeRollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
- European roller Coracias garrulus A*
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: AlcedinidaeKingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
- Common kingfisher Alcedo atthis A
Bee-eaters
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: MeropidaeThe bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All 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 A
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: PicidaeWoodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
- Eurasian wryneck Jynx torquilla A
- Eurasian three-toed woodpecker Picoides tridactylus A*
- Middle spotted woodpecker Dendrocoptes medius A*
- Lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor A
- Great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major A
- Northern flicker Colaptes auratus A*
- Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius A
- Eurasian green woodpecker Picus viridis A
Falcons
Order: FalconiformesFamily: FalconidaeFalconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they often kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
- Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni A*
- Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus A
- American kestrel Falco sparverius B*
- Red-footed falcon Falco vespertinus A
- Eleonora's falcon Falco eleonorae A*
- Merlin Falco columbarius A
- Eurasian hobby Falco subbuteo A
- Saker falcon Falco cherrug A*
- Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus A*
- Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus A
Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LaniidaeShrikes 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.
- Brown shrike Lanius cristatus A*
- Red-backed shrike Lanius collurio A
- Red-tailed shrike Lanius phoenicuroides A*
- Long-tailed shrike Lanius schach A*
- Lesser grey shrike Lanius minor A*
- Great grey shrike Lanius excubitor A
- Woodchat shrike Lanius senator A*
Vireos and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: VireonidaeThe vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.
- Red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus A*
Old World orioles
Order: PasseriformesFamily: OriolidaeThe Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.
- Eurasian golden oriole Oriolus oriolus A
Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CorvidaeThe family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, and nutcrackers. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and many of the species show high levels of intelligence.
- Eurasian jay Garrulus glandarius A
- Eurasian magpie Pica pica A
- Eurasian nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes A
- Eurasian jackdaw Coloeus monedula A
- Daurian jackdaw Coloeus dauuricus A*
- Rook Corvus frugilegus A
- Carrion crow Corvus corone A
- Hooded crow Corvus cornix A
- Common raven Corvus corax A
Waxwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: BombycillidaeThe waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers; these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They eat insects in summer and berries in winter.
- Bohemian waxwing Bombycilla garrulus A
Tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ParidaeThe Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
- Coal tit Periparus ater A
- Crested tit Lophophanes cristatus A
- Marsh tit Poecile palustris A
- Willow tit Poecile montanus A
- Eurasian blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus A
- Great tit Parus major A
Penduline tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RemizidaeThe penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
- Eurasian penduline tit Remiz pendulinus A
Bearded reedling
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PanuridaeThis species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.
- Bearded reedling Panurus biarmicus A
Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AlaudidaeLarks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
- Wood lark Lullula arborea A
- Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis A
- Crested lark Galerida cristata A
- Shore lark Eremophila alpestris A
- Greater short-toed lark Calandrella brachydactyla A*
- Bimaculated lark Melanocorypha bimaculata A*
Swallows and martins
Order: PasseriformesFamily: HirundinidaeThe family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
- Sand martin Riparia riparia A
- Barn swallow Hirundo rustica A
- Eurasian crag martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris A*
- Common house martin Delichon urbicum A
- Red-breasted swallow Cecropis semirufa A*
- European red-rumped swallow Cecropis rufula A
- Striated swallow Cecropis striolata A*
Long-tailed tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AegithalidaeLong-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.
- Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus A
Leaf warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PhylloscopidaeLeaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are small to very small, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.
- Wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix A
- Western Bonelli's warbler Phylloscopus bonelli A*
- Hume's warbler Phylloscopus humei A*
- Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus A
- Pallas's leaf warbler Phylloscopus proregulus A
- Radde's warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi A*
- Sulphur-bellied warbler Phylloscopus griseolus A*
- Dusky warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus A*
- Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus A
- Common chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita A
- Iberian chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus A*
- Green warbler Phylloscopus nitidus A*
- Two-barred warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus A*
- Greenish warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides A
- Arctic warbler Phylloscopus borealis A*
Reed warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AcrocephalidaeThe members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
- Great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus A
- Aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicola A*
- Sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus A
- Paddyfield warbler Acrocephalus agricola A*
- Blyth's reed warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum A*
- Eurasian reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus A
- Marsh warbler Acrocephalus palustris A
- Booted warbler Iduna caligata A*
- Eastern olivaceous warbler Iduna pallida A*
- Melodious warbler Hippolais polyglotta A*
- Icterine warbler Hippolais icterina A
Grassbirds and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LocustellidaeLocustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
- Gray's grasshopper warbler Helopsaltes fasciolatus A*
- Lanceolated warbler Locustella lanceolata A*
- Common grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia A
- River warbler Locustella fluviatilis A
- Savi's warbler Locustella luscinioides A
Cisticolas and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CisticolidaeThe 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 A*
Sylviid warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SylviidaeThe family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as another common name implies, in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
- Eurasian blackcap Sylvia atricapilla A
- Garden warbler Sylvia borin A
- Barred warbler Curruca nisoria A
- Lesser whitethroat Curruca curruca A
- Asian desert warbler Curruca nana A*
- Greater whitethroat Curruca communis A
- Marmora's warbler Curruca sarda A*
- Eastern subalpine warbler Curruca cantillans A*
- Western subalpine warbler Curruca iberiae A*
- Moltoni's warbler Curruca subalpina A*
- Sardinian warbler Curruca melanocephala A*
- Rüppell's warbler Curruca ruppeli A*
Crests
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RegulidaeThe crests and kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble some warblers. They are very small insectivorous birds in the single genus Regulus. The adults have a yellow to orange crown stripe, giving rise to their name.
- Common firecrest Regulus ignicapilla A
- Goldcrest Regulus regulus A
Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TroglodytidaeThe wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
- Eurasian wren Troglodytes troglodytes A
Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SittidaeNuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet.
- Eurasian nuthatch Sitta europaea A
Treecreepers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CerthiidaeTreecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
- Eurasian treecreeper Certhia familiaris A
- Short-toed treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla A
Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SturnidaeStarlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Their plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen, but in some is brightly coloured.
- Rosy starling Pastor roseus A
- Common starling Sturnus vulgaris A
- Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor A*
Thrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TurdidaeThe thrushes are a family of birds with a cosmopolitan distribution. They are plump, soft-plumaged, small-to-medium-sized insectivores or omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
- White's thrush Zoothera aurea A*
- Swainson's thrush Catharus ustulatus A*
- Hermit thrush Catharus guttatus A*
- Ring ouzel Turdus torquatus A
- Eurasian blackbird Turdus merula A
- Eyebrowed thrush Turdus obscurus A*
- Black-throated thrush Turdus atrogularis A*
- Dusky thrush Turdus eunomus A*
- Fieldfare Turdus pilaris A
- Redwing Turdus iliacus A
- Song thrush Turdus philomelos A
- Mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus A
- American robin Turdus migratorius A*
Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MuscicapidaeOld World flycatchers are a large group of birds which 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 A
- Asian brown flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica A*
- European robin Erithacus rubecula A
- Rufous-tailed robin Larvivora sibilans A*
- Bluethroat Luscinia svecica A
- Thrush nightingale Luscinia luscinia A
- Common nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos A
- Siberian rubythroat Calliope calliope A*
- Red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus A*
- European pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca A
- Collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis A
- Red-breasted flycatcher Ficedula parva A
- Taiga flycatcher Ficedula albicilla A*
- Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros A
- Common redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus A
- Rufous-tailed rock thrush Monticola saxatilis A*
- Whinchat Saxicola rubetra A
- European stonechat Saxicola rubicola A
- Siberian stonechat Saxicola maurus A*
- Amur stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri A*
- Northern wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe A
- Isabelline wheatear Oenanthe isabellina A*
- Desert wheatear Oenanthe deserti A*
- Western black-eared wheatear Oenanthe hispanica A*
- Eastern black-eared wheatear Oenanthe melanoleuca A*
- Pied wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka A*
- White-crowned wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga A*
Dippers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CinclidaeDippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes riverine environments in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.
- White-throated dipper Cinclus cinclus A
Old World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PasseridaeIn general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
- House sparrow Passer domesticus A
- Spanish sparrow Passer hispaniolensis A*
- Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus A
- White-winged snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis A*
Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PrunellidaeThe accentors and dunnocks are the only bird family which is endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows but with slender bills.
- Alpine accentor Prunella collaris A*
- Siberian accentor Prunella montanella A*
- Black-throated accentor Prunella atrogularis A*
- Dunnock Prunella modularis A
Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MotacillidaeMotacillidae is a family of small birds with medium to long tails which includes the wagtails and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.
- Western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava A
- Eastern yellow wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis A*
- Citrine wagtail Motacilla citreola A*
- Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea A
- White wagtail Motacilla alba A
- Richard's pipit Anthus richardi A
- Blyth's pipit Anthus godlewskii A*
- Tawny pipit Anthus campestris A
- Meadow pipit Anthus pratensis A
- Tree pipit Anthus trivialis A
- Olive-backed pipit Anthus hodgsoni A*
- Red-throated pipit Anthus cervinus A
- Water pipit Anthus spinoletta A
- European rock pipit Anthus petrosus A
Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: FringillidaeFinches are seed-eating 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 A
- Brambling Fringilla montifringilla A
- Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes A
- Pine grosbeak Pinicola enucleator A*
- Eurasian bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula A
- Trumpeter finch Bucanetes githaginea A*
- Common rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus A
- European greenfinch Chloris chloris A
- Twite Linaria flavirostris A
- Eurasian linnet Linaria cannabina A
- Redpoll Acanthis flammea A
- Parrot crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus A
- Red crossbill Loxia curvirostra A
- Two-barred crossbill Loxia leucoptera A
- European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis A
- European serin Serinus serinus A
- Eurasian siskin Spinus spinus A
Longspurs and snow buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CalcariidaeThe Calcariidae are a family of birds that had been traditionally grouped with the buntings and New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
- Lapland bunting Calcarius lapponicus A
- Snow bunting Plectrophenax nivalis A
Buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: EmberizidaeEmberizidae is a family of passerine birds containing a single genus. Until 2017, the New World sparrows, now Passerellidae, were also considered part of this family.
- Corn bunting Emberiza calandra A
- Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella A
- Pine bunting Emberiza leucocephalos A*
- Rock bunting Emberiza cia A*
- Cinereous bunting Emberiza cineracea A*
- Ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana A
- Cirl bunting Emberiza cirlus A*
- Little bunting Emberiza pusilla A*
- Yellow-browed bunting Emberiza chrysophrys A*
- Rustic bunting Emberiza rustica A*
- Yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola A*
- Black-headed bunting Emberiza melanocephala A*
- Red-headed bunting Emberiza bruniceps A*
- Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus A
New World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PasserellidaeUntil 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.
- White-throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis A*
- Dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis A*
New World warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ParulidaeParulidae are a group of small, often colourful birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal and insectivorous.
- American yellow warbler Setophaga aestiva A*
- Blackpoll warbler Setophaga striata A*
Cardinals and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CardinalidaeThe cardinals are a family of robust seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.
- Rose-breasted grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus A*