List of birds of Austria
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Austria. The avifauna of Austria included a total of 458 species as of July 2023 according to the Avifaunistic Commission of BirdLife Austria (Avifaunistische Kommission, AFK) with supplemental additions from Avibase.[1] Of them, 9 have been introduced by humans. Eighteen species have not been recorded in the wild since 1950.
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.[2]
The following tags are used in the status column to define several categories of occurrence; the definitions are those of the AFK.
- A: Accidental – species having "either less than 15 records in total or a maximum of 5 records [since 1997] irrespective of the total number of records"
- H: Historical – "Recorded in a wild state in Austria only between 1800 and 31 December 1949."
- I: Introduced – "Established in Austria as self-sustaining breeding species by man."
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Graylag goose | Anser anser | |
Greater white-fronted goose | Anser albifrons | |
Lesser white-fronted goose | Anser erythropus | A |
Taiga bean-goose | Anser fabalis | |
Tundra bean-goose | Anser serrirostris | |
Pink-footed goose | Anser brachyrhynchus | A |
Brant | Branta bernicla | A |
Barnacle goose | Branta leucopsis | |
Cackling goose | Branta hutchinsii | A |
Canada goose | Branta canadensis | I |
Red-breasted goose | Branta ruficollis | A |
Mute swan | Cygnus olor | |
Tundra swan | Cygnus columbianus | |
Whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus | |
Egyptian goose | Alopochen aegyptiacus | I |
Ruddy shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | H I |
Common shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | |
Wood duck | Aix sponsa | I |
Mandarin duck | Aix galericulata | I |
Baikal teal | Sibirionetta formosa | A |
Garganey | Spatula querquedula | |
Blue-winged teal | Spatula discors | A |
Northern shoveler | Spatula clypeata | |
Gadwall | Mareca strepera | |
Falcated duck | Mareca falcata | A H |
Eurasian wigeon | Mareca penelope | |
American wigeon | Mareca americana | A |
Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | |
Northern pintail | Anas acuta | |
Green-winged teal | Anas crecca | |
Marbled teal | Marmaronetta angustirostris | A |
Red-crested pochard | Netta rufina | |
Common pochard | Aythya ferina | |
Ring-necked duck | Aythya collaris | A |
Ferruginous duck | Aythya nyroca | |
Tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | |
Greater scaup | Aythya marila | |
Common eider | Somateria mollissima | |
Harlequin duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | A |
Velvet scoter | Melanitta fusca | |
Common scoter | Melanitta nigra | |
Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | |
Common goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | |
Smew | Mergellus albellus | |
Common merganser | Mergus merganser | |
Red-breasted merganser | Mergus serrator | A |
Ruddy duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | A I |
White-headed duck | Oxyura leucocephala | A |
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
[edit]Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Hazel grouse | Tetrastes bonasia | |
Rock ptarmigan | Lagopus muta | |
Western capercaillie | Tetrao urogallus | |
Black grouse | Lyrurus tetrix | |
Gray partridge | Perdix perdix | |
Ring-necked pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | I |
Common quail | Coturnix coturnix | |
Rock partridge | Alectoris graeca |
Flamingos
[edit]Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (91 to 152 cm) high, 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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Greater flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus |
Grebes
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Little grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | |
Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus | |
Red-necked grebe | Podiceps grisegena | |
Great crested grebe | Podiceps cristatus | |
Eared grebe | Podiceps nigricollis |
Pigeons and doves
[edit]Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Rock pigeon | Columba livia | I |
Stock dove | Columba oenas | |
Common wood-pigeon | Columba palumbus | |
European turtle-dove | Streptopelia turtur | |
Oriental turtle-dove | Streptopelia orientalis | A |
Eurasian collared-dove | Streptopelia decaocto |
Sandgrouse
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Pallas's sandgrouse | Syrrhaptes paradoxus | A H |
Bustards
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Great bustard | Otis tarda | |
MacQueen's bustard | Chlamydotis macqueenii | A |
Little bustard | Tetrax tetrax | extirpated[3] |
Cuckoos
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Great spotted cuckoo | Clamator glandarius | A |
Common cuckoo | Cuculus canorus |
Nightjars and allies
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus |
Swifts
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Alpine swift | Apus melba | |
Common swift | Apus apus | |
Pallid swift | Apus pallidus | A |
Rails, gallinules, and coots
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Water rail | Rallus aquaticus | |
Corn crake | Crex crex | |
Spotted crake | Porzana porzana | |
Eurasian moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | |
Eurasian coot | Fulica atra | |
Western swamphen | Porphyrio porphyrio | A H |
Little crake | Zapornia parva | |
Baillon's crake | Zapornia pusilla | A |
Cranes
[edit]Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Demoiselle crane | Anthropoides virgo | A |
Common crane | Grus grus |
Thick-knees
[edit]Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of waders 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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian thick-knee | Burhinus oedicnemus |
Stilts and avocets
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-winged stilt | Himantopus himantopus | |
Pied avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta |
Oystercatchers
[edit]Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus |
Plovers and lapwings
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-bellied plover | Pluvialis squatarola | A |
European golden-plover | Pluvialis apricaria | A |
American golden-plover | Pluvialis dominica | A |
Pacific golden-plover | Pluvialis fulva | A |
Northern lapwing | Vanellus vanellus | |
Sociable lapwing | Vanellus gregarius | A |
White-tailed lapwing | Vanellus leucurus | A |
Greater sand-plover | Charadrius leschenaultii | A |
Kentish plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | |
Common ringed plover | Charadrius hiaticula | |
Little ringed plover | Charadrius dubius | |
Eurasian dotterel | Charadrius morinellus |
Sandpipers and allies
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | A |
Slender-billed curlew | Numenius tenuirostris | A |
Eurasian curlew | Numenius arquata | |
Bar-tailed godwit | Limosa lapponica | A |
Black-tailed godwit | Limosa limosa | |
Ruddy turnstone | Arenaria interpres | A |
Red knot | Calidris canutus | A |
Ruff | Calidris pugnax | |
Broad-billed sandpiper | Calidris falcinellus | A |
Sharp-tailed sandpiper | Calidris acuminata | A |
Curlew sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | A |
Temminck's stint | Calidris temminckii | 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 |
Least sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | A |
Buff-breasted sandpiper | Calidris subruficollis | A |
Pectoral sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | A |
Semipalmated sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | A |
Jack snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus | A |
Eurasian woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | |
Great snipe | Gallinago media | A |
Common snipe | Gallinago gallinago | |
Terek sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | A |
Red-necked phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | A |
Red phalarope | Phalaropus fulicarius | A |
Common sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | |
Spotted sandpiper | Actitis macularius | A |
Green sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | |
Spotted redshank | Tringa erythropus | A |
Common greenshank | Tringa nebularia | A |
Lesser yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | A |
Marsh sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis | |
Wood sandpiper | Tringa glareola | A |
Common redshank | Tringa totanus |
Pratincoles and coursers
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Cream-colored courser | Cursorius cursor | A |
Collared pratincole | Glareola pratincola | A |
Black-winged pratincole | Glareola nordmanni | A |
Skuas and jaegers
[edit]Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large sea birds, typically with gray 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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Great skua | Stercorarius skua | A |
Pomarine jaeger | Stercorarius pomarinus | A |
Parasitic jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus | A |
Long-tailed jaeger | Stercorarius longicaudus | A |
Auks, murres, and puffins
[edit]Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae
Alcidae are a family of seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins with their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits, but which are able to fly.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Dovekie | Alle alle | A |
Common murre | Uria aalge | A H |
Thick-billed murre | Uria lomvia | A H |
Razorbill | Alca torda | A |
Atlantic puffin | Fratercula arctica | A |
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
[edit]Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray 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 gray 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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-legged kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | A |
Sabine's gull | Xema sabini | A |
Slender-billed gull | Chroicocephalus genei | A |
Black-headed gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | |
Little gull | Hydrocoloeus minutus | |
Franklin's gull | Leucophaeus pipixcan | A |
Mediterranean gull | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus | |
Pallas's gull | Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus | A |
Audouin's gull | Ichthyaetus audouinii | A |
Common gull | Larus canus | |
Ring-billed gull | Larus delawarensis | A |
Herring gull | Larus argentatus | A |
Yellow-legged gull | Larus michahellis | |
Caspian gull | Larus cachinnans | |
Armenian gull | Larus armenicus | A |
Iceland gull | Larus glaucoides | A H |
Lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus | A |
Glaucous gull | Larus hyperboreus | A |
Great black-backed gull | Larus marinus | A |
Little tern | Sternula albifrons | A |
Gull-billed tern | Gelochelidon nilotica | |
Caspian tern | Hydroprogne caspia | A |
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 | A |
Lesser crested tern | Thalasseus bengalensis | A |
Loons
[edit]Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
Loons 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 in shape when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated. In particular, loons' legs are set very far back which assists swimming underwater but makes walking on land extremely difficult.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Red-throated loon | Gavia stellata | |
Arctic loon | Gavia arctica | |
Common loon | Gavia immer | A |
Yellow-billed loon | Gavia adamsii | A |
Northern storm-petrels
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
European storm-petrel | Hydrobates pelagicus | A |
Leach's storm-petrel | Hydrobates leucorhous | A H |
Shearwaters and petrels
[edit]Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Cory's shearwater | Calonectris borealis | A H |
Manx shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | A |
Yelkouan shearwater | Puffinus yelkouan | A H |
Storks
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black stork | Ciconia nigra | |
White stork | Ciconia ciconia |
Boobies and gannets
[edit]Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Northern gannet | Morus bassanus | A H |
Cormorants and shags
[edit]Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Pygmy cormorant | Microcarbo pygmeus | |
Great cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | |
European shag | Gulosus aristotelis | A |
Pelicans
[edit]Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. They have four webbed toes.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Great white pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus | A |
Dalmatian pelican | Pelecanus crispus | A |
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
[edit]Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains 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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Great bittern | Botaurus stellaris | |
Little bittern | Ixobrychus minutus | |
Gray heron | Ardea cinerea | |
Purple heron | Ardea purpurea | |
Great egret | Egretta alba | |
Little egret | Egretta garzetta | |
Cattle egret | Bubulcus ibis | A |
Squacco heron | Ardeola ralloides | A |
Black-crowned night-heron | Nycticorax nycticorax |
Ibises and spoonbills
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Glossy ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | A |
Northern bald ibis | Geronticus eremita | I |
Eurasian spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia |
Osprey
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
Hawks, eagles, and kites
[edit]Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. They have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-winged kite | Elanus caeruleus | A |
Bearded vulture | Gypaetus barbatus | |
Egyptian vulture | Neophron percnopterus | A |
European honey-buzzard | Pernis apivorus | |
Cinereous vulture | Aegypius monachus | |
Eurasian griffon | Gyps fulvus | |
Short-toed snake-eagle | Circaetus gallicus | A |
Lesser spotted eagle | Clanga pomarina | A |
Greater spotted eagle | Clanga clanga | A |
Booted eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus | |
Steppe eagle | Aquila nipalensis | A |
Imperial eagle | Aquila heliaca | |
Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | |
Bonelli's eagle | Aquila fasciata | A |
Eurasian marsh-harrier | Circus aeruginosus | |
Hen harrier | Circus cyaneus | |
Pallid harrier | Circus macrourus | A |
Montagu's harrier | Circus pygargus | |
Levant sparrowhawk | Accipiter brevipes | A |
Eurasian sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | |
Northern goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | |
Red kite | Milvus milvus | |
Black kite | Milvus migrans | |
White-tailed eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | |
Rough-legged hawk | Buteo lagopus | |
Common buzzard | Buteo buteo | |
Long-legged buzzard | Buteo rufinus | A |
Barn-owls
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Western barn owl | Tyto alba |
Owls
[edit]Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
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 disc.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian scops-owl | Otus scops | |
Eurasian eagle-owl | Bubo bubo | |
Snowy owl | Bubo scandiacus | A |
Northern hawk owl | Surnia ulula | A |
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
[edit]Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white, and orangey-pink coloring with a large erectile crest on their head.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian hoopoe | Upupa epops |
Kingfishers
[edit]Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Common kingfisher | Alcedo atthis |
Bee-eaters
[edit]Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near-passerine birds. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterized by richly colored plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Blue-cheeked bee-eater | Merops persicus | A |
European bee-eater | Merops apiaster |
Rollers
[edit]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 colorful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
European roller | Coracias garrulus |
Woodpeckers
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
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 | |
Syrian woodpecker | Dendrocopos syriacus | |
Lesser spotted woodpecker | Dryobates minor | |
Gray-headed woodpecker | Picus canus | |
Eurasian green woodpecker | Picus viridis | |
Black woodpecker | Dryocopus martius |
Falcons and caracaras
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Lesser kestrel | Falco naumanni | A (considered extirpated by IUCN Red List[4]) |
Eurasian kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | |
Red-footed falcon | Falco vespertinus | |
Eleonora's falcon | Falco eleonorae | A |
Merlin | Falco columbarius | |
Eurasian hobby | Falco subbuteo | |
Saker falcon | Falco cherrug | |
Gyrfalcon | Falco rusticolus | A |
Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus |
Old World orioles
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colorful passerine birds that are not related to the New World orioles.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian golden oriole | Oriolus oriolus |
Shrikes
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Red-backed shrike | Lanius collurio | |
Isabelline shrike | Lanius isabellinus | A |
Great gray shrike | Lanius excubitor | |
Lesser gray shrike | Lanius minor | A |
Woodchat shrike | Lanius senator | A |
Crows, jays, and magpies
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are larger than the average size for species in the order Passeriformes and some show high levels of intelligence.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian jay | Garrulus glandarius | |
Eurasian magpie | Pica pica | |
Eurasian nutcracker | Nucifraga caryocatactes | |
Red-billed chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | A |
Yellow-billed chough | Pyrrhocorax graculus | |
Eurasian jackdaw | Corvus monedula | |
Rook | Corvus frugilegus | |
Carrion crow | Corvus corone | |
Hooded crow | Corvus cornix | |
Common raven | Corvus corax |
Tits, chickadees, and titmice
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Coal tit | Periparus ater | |
Crested tit | Lophophanes cristatus | |
Marsh tit | Poecile palustris | |
Willow tit | Poecile montanus | |
Eurasian blue tit | Cyanistes caeruleus | |
Azure tit | Cyanistes cyanus | A |
Great tit | Parus major |
Penduline-tits
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae
The penduline-tits are a group of small insectivorous birds related to the true tits.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian penduline-tit | Remiz pendulinus |
Larks
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Horned lark | Eremophila alpestris | A |
Greater short-toed lark | Calandrella brachydactyla | |
Bimaculated lark | Melanocorypha bimaculata | A |
Calandra lark | Melanocorypha calandra | A |
Black lark | Melanocorypha yeltoniensis | A H |
Mediterranean short-toed lark | Alaudala rufescens | A |
Turkestan short-toed lark | Alaudala heinei | A |
Wood lark | Lullula arborea | |
White-winged lark | Alauda leucoptera | A H |
Eurasian skylark | Alauda arvensis | |
Crested lark | Galerida cristata |
Bearded reedling
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Panuridae
This species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Bearded reedling | Panurus biarmicus |
Cisticolas and allies
[edit]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 gray appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Zitting cisticola | Cisticola juncidis | A |
Reed warblers and allies
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Booted warbler | Iduna caligata | A |
Eastern olivaceous warbler | Iduna pallida | A |
Melodious warbler | Hippolais polyglotta | |
Icterine warbler | Hippolais icterina | |
Aquatic warbler | Acrocephalus paludicola | A |
Moustached warbler | Acrocephalus melanopogon | |
Sedge warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | |
Paddyfield warbler | Acrocephalus agricola | A |
Blyth's reed warbler | Acrocephalus dumetorum | A |
Marsh warbler | Acrocephalus palustris | |
Eurasian reed warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | |
Great reed warbler | Acrocephalus arundinaceus |
Grassbirds and allies
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
River warbler | Locustella fluviatilis | |
Savi's warbler | Locustella luscinioides | |
Common grasshopper-warbler | Locustella naevia |
Swallows
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Bank swallow | Riparia riparia | |
Eurasian crag-martin | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | |
Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | |
Red-rumped swallow | Hirundo daurica | A |
Common house-martin | Delichon urbicum |
Leaf warblers
[edit]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 grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Wood warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix | |
Western Bonelli's warbler | Phylloscopus bonelli | |
Yellow-browed warbler | Phylloscopus inornatus | A |
Hume's warbler | Phylloscopus humei | A |
Pallas's leaf warbler | Phylloscopus proregulus | A |
Dusky warbler | Phylloscopus fuscatus | A |
Plain leaf warbler | Phylloscopus neglectus | A |
Willow warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | |
Common chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | |
Greenish warbler | Phylloscopus trochiloides | A |
Arctic warbler | Phylloscopus borealis | A |
Bush warblers and allies
[edit]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.[5]
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Cetti's warbler | Cettia cetti |
Long-tailed tits
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Long-tailed tit | Aegithalos caudatus |
Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as another common name (Old World warblers) implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | |
Garden warbler | Sylvia borin | |
Barred warbler | Curruca nisoria | |
Lesser whitethroat | Curruca curruca | |
Western Orphean warbler | Curruca hortensis | A |
Asian desert warbler | Curruca nana | A |
Sardinian warbler | Curruca melanocephala | A |
Eastern subalpine warbler | Curruca cantillans | A |
Greater whitethroat | Curruca communis | |
Spectacled warbler | Curruca conspicillata | A |
Kinglets
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae
The kinglets and "crests" are a small family of birds which resemble some warblers. They are very small insectivorous birds in the single genus Regulus. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Goldcrest | Regulus regulus | |
Common firecrest | Regulus ignicapilla |
Wallcreeper
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Tichodromidae
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, gray, and black plumage. It is the only species in its family
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Wallcreeper | Tichodroma muraria |
Nuthatches
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian nuthatch | Sitta europaea |
Treecreepers
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian treecreeper | Certhia familiaris | |
Short-toed treecreeper | Certhia brachydactyla |
Wrens
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Eurasian wren | Troglodytes troglodytes |
Dippers
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
White-throated dipper | Cinclus cinclus |
Starlings
[edit]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. Their plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
European starling | Sturnus vulgaris | |
Rosy starling | Pastor roseus | (A) |
Thrushes and allies
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
The thrushes are a family of 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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
White's thrush | Zoothera aurea | A H |
Scaly thrush | Zoothera dauma | A |
Mistle thrush | Turdus viscivorus | |
Song thrush | Turdus philomelos | |
Redwing | Turdus iliacus | |
Eurasian blackbird | Turdus merula | |
American robin | Turdus migratorius | A H |
Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | |
Ring ouzel | Turdus torquatus | |
Black-throated thrush | Turdus atrogularis | A |
Dusky thrush | Turdus eunomus | A |
Naumann's thrush | Turdus naumanni | A |
Old World flycatchers
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae
Old 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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Spotted flycatcher | Muscicapa striata | |
European robin | Erithacus rubecula | |
Thrush nightingale | Luscinia luscinia | |
Common nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | |
Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica | |
Siberian rubythroat | Calliope calliope | A |
Red-breasted flycatcher | Ficedula parva | |
Semicollared flycatcher | Ficedula semitorquata | A |
European pied flycatcher | Ficedula hypoleuca | |
Collared flycatcher | Ficedula albicollis | |
Common redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | |
Black redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | |
Rufous-tailed rock-thrush | Monticola saxatilis | |
Blue rock-thrush | Monticola solitarius | A |
Whinchat | Saxicola rubetra | |
European stonechat | Saxicola torquatus | |
Siberian stonechat | Saxicola maurus | A |
Northern wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | |
Isabelline wheatear | Oenanthe isabellina | A |
Desert wheatear | Oenanthe deserti | A |
Western black-eared wheatear | Oenanthe hispanica | A |
Pied wheatear | Oenanthe pleschanka | A |
Waxwings
[edit]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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Bohemian waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus |
Accentors
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae
The accentors are the only bird family which is endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Alpine accentor | Prunella collaris | |
Siberian accentor | Prunella montanella | A H |
Dunnock | Prunella modularis |
Old World sparrows
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
In general, Old World sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or gray birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
House sparrow | Passer domesticus | |
Italian sparrow | Passer italiae | |
Eurasian tree sparrow | Passer montanus | |
Rock sparrow | Petronia petronia | A H |
White-winged snowfinch | Montifringilla nivalis |
Wagtails and pipits
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small birds with medium to long tails which includes the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Gray wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | |
Western yellow wagtail | Motacilla flava | |
Citrine wagtail | Motacilla citreola | A |
White wagtail | Motacilla alba | |
Richard's pipit | Anthus richardi | A |
Tawny pipit | Anthus campestris | |
Meadow pipit | Anthus pratensis | |
Tree pipit | Anthus trivialis | |
Olive-backed pipit | Anthus hodgsoni | A |
Red-throated pipit | Anthus cervinus | A |
Water pipit | Anthus spinoletta | |
Rock pipit | Anthus petrosus | A |
Finches, euphonias, and allies
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae
Finches 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 name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Common chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | |
Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla | |
Hawfinch | Coccothraustes coccothraustes | |
Common rosefinch | Carpodacus erythrinus | |
Pine grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | A H |
Eurasian bullfinch | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | |
Trumpeter finch | Bucanetes githagineus | A |
European greenfinch | Chloris chloris | |
Twite | Linaria flavirostris | |
Eurasian linnet | Linaria cannabina | |
Common redpoll | Acanthis flammea | |
Lesser redpoll | Acanthis cabaret | |
Hoary redpoll | Acanthis hornemanni | A |
Parrot crossbill | Loxia pytyopsittacus | A |
Red crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | |
White-winged crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | A |
European goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | |
Citril finch | Serinus citrinella | |
European serin | Serinus serinus | |
Eurasian siskin | Spinus spinus |
Longspurs and snow buntings
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae
The Calcariidae are a family of birds that had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Lapland longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | A |
Snow bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis |
Old World buntings
[edit]Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae
Emberizidae is a family of passerine birds containing a single genus. Until 2017, the New World sparrows (Passerellidae) were also considered part of this family.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-headed bunting | Emberiza melanocephala | A |
Corn bunting | Emberiza calandra | |
Rock bunting | Emberiza cia | |
Cirl bunting | Emberiza cirlus | A |
Yellowhammer | Emberiza citrinella | |
Pine bunting | Emberiza leucocephalos | A |
Ortolan bunting | Emberiza hortulana | |
Cretzschmar's bunting | Emberiza caesia | A |
Pallas's bunting | Emberiza pallasi | A |
Reed bunting | Emberiza schoeniclus | |
Little bunting | Emberiza pusilla | A |
Rustic bunting | Emberiza rustica | A |
References
[edit]- ^ Ranner, Andreas (December 2021). "List of Austrian Bird Species" (in German). BirdLife Austria. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ BirdLife International. (2018). "Tetrax tetrax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22691896A129913710. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22691896A129913710.en. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ BirdLife International. (2018). "Falco naumanni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22696357A131938109. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22696357A131938109.en. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ Gill, F. and D. Donsker (Eds). 2019. IOC World Bird List (v 9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ retrieved 22 June 2019.
- Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Austria". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- Clements, James F. (2007). Birds of the World: A Checklist, 6th edition. Cornell University Press.