List of birds of Poland

A white-tailed eagle, the national bird

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Poland. The avifauna of Poland include 483 species, of which 5 have been introduced by humans and seven have not occurred since 1950.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of the Polish Fauna Commission (Komisja Faunistyczna). Supplemental updates follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.

The Polish names of the birds, with their scientific names, are in the Polish Wikipedia article.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.

• (B) Historical - species that have not occurred in Poland since 1950
• (C) Introduced - species introduced to Poland as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
• (*) Rare - species that are rare or accidental in Poland

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Graylag goose	Anser anser
Greater white-fronted goose	Anser albifrons
Lesser white-fronted goose	Anser erythropus	*
Taiga bean-goose	Anser fabalis
Tundra bean-goose	Anser serrirostris
Pink-footed goose	Anser brachyrhynchus
Brant	Branta bernicla	*
Barnacle goose	Branta leucopsis
Canada goose	Branta canadensis
Red-breasted goose	Branta ruficollis	*
Mute swan	Cygnus olor
Tundra swan	Cygnus columbianus
Whooper swan	Cygnus cygnus
Egyptian goose	Alopochen aegyptiaca	C
Ruddy shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	*
Common shelduck	Tadorna tadorna
Wood duck	Aix sponsa	C
Mandarin duck	Aix galericulata
Baikal teal	Sibirionetta formosa	*
Garganey	Spatula querquedula
Blue-winged teal	Spatula discors	*
Northern shoveler	Spatula clypeata
Gadwall	Mareca strepera
Eurasian wigeon	Mareca penelope
American wigeon	Mareca americana	*
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Northern pintail	Anas acuta
Green-winged teal	Anas crecca
Red-crested pochard	Netta rufina
Common pochard	Aythya ferina
Ring-necked duck	Aythya collaris	*
Ferruginous duck	Aythya nyroca
Tufted duck	Aythya fuligula
Greater scaup	Aythya marila
Lesser scaup	Aythya affinis	*
Steller's eider	Polysticta stelleri	*
King eider	Somateria spectabilis	*
Common eider	Somateria mollissima
Harlequin duck	Histrionicus histrionicus	*
Surf scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	*
Velvet scoter	Melanitta fusca
White-winged scoter	Melanitta deglandi	*
Stejneger's scoter	Melanitta stejnegeri	*
Common scoter	Melanitta nigra
Black scoter	Melanitta americana	*
Long-tailed duck	Clangula hyemalis
Common goldeneye	Bucephala clangula
Smew	Mergus albellus
Common merganser	Mergus merganser
Red-breasted merganser	Mergus serrator
Ruddy duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	C
White-headed duck	Oxyura leucocephala	*

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix
Ring-necked pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	C
Gray partridge	Perdix perdix
Western capercaillie	Tetrao urogallus
Black grouse	Lyrurus tetrix
Hazel grouse	Tetrastes bonasia
Willow ptarmigan	Lagopus lagopus	B

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Greater flamingo	Phoenicopterus roseus	*

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Little grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Pied-billed grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	*
Horned grebe	Podiceps auritus
Red-necked grebe	Podiceps grisegena
Great crested grebe	Podiceps cristatus
Eared grebe	Podiceps nigricollis

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rock pigeon	Columba livia
Stock dove	Columba oenas
Common wood-pigeon	Columba palumbus
European turtle-dove	Streptopelia turtur
Oriental turtle-dove	Streptopelia orientalis	*
Eurasian collared-dove	Streptopelia decaocto

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pallas's sandgrouse	Syrrhaptes paradoxus	*

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great bustard	Otis tarda
MacQueen's bustard	Chlamydotis macqueenii	*
Little bustard	Tetrax tetrax	*, extirpated

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great spotted cuckoo	Clamator glandarius	*
Northern hawk-cuckoo	Hierococcyx hyperythrus	*
Common cuckoo	Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus

Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Alpine swift	Apus melba	*
Common swift	Apus apus
Pallid swift	Apus pallidus	*

Rails, gallinules and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Water rail	Rallus aquaticus
Corn crake	Crex crex
Spotted crake	Porzana porzana
Eurasian moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian coot	Fulica atra
Little crake	Zapornia parva
Baillon's crake	Zapornia pusilla	*

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Common name	Binomial	Status
Demoiselle crane	Anthropoides virgo	*
Common crane	Grus grus

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian thick-knee	Burhinus oedicnemus

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-winged stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Pied avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-bellied plover	Pluvialis squatarola
European golden-plover	Pluvialis apricaria
American golden-plover	Pluvialis dominica	*
Pacific golden-plover	Pluvialis fulva	*
Northern lapwing	Vanellus vanellus
Spur-winged lapwing	Vanellus spinosus	*
Sociable lapwing	Vanellus gregarius	*
White-tailed lapwing	Vanellus leucurus	*
Lesser sand-plover	Charadrius mongolus	*
Greater sand-plover	Charadrius leschenaultii	*
Caspian plover	Charadrius asiaticus	*
Kentish plover	Charadrius alexandrinus
Common ringed plover	Charadrius hiaticula
Semipalmated plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	*
Little ringed plover	Charadrius dubius
Eurasian dotterel	Charadrius morinellus	*

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Slender-billed curlew	Numenius tenuirostris	*
Eurasian curlew	Numenius arquata
Bar-tailed godwit	Limosa lapponica
Black-tailed godwit	Limosa limosa
Ruddy turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Great knot	Calidris tenuirostris	*
Red knot	Calidris canutus
Ruff	Calidris pugnax
Broad-billed sandpiper	Calidris falcinellus
Stilt sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	*
Curlew sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea
Temminck's stint	Calidris temminckii
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Dunlin	Calidris alpina
Purple sandpiper	Calidris maritima	*
Baird's sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	*
Little stint	Calidris minuta
Least sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	*
White-rumped sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	*
Buff-breasted sandpiper	Calidris subruficollis	*
Pectoral sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	*
Semipalmated sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	*
Long-billed dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	*
Jack snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus
Eurasian woodcock	Scolopax rusticola
Great snipe	Gallinago media
Common snipe	Gallinago gallinago
Terek sandpiper	Xenus cinereus	*
Red-necked phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus
Red phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius	*
Common sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Spotted sandpiper	Actitis macularius	*
Green sandpiper	Tringa ochropus
Spotted redshank	Tringa erythropus
Greater yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	*
Common greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Lesser yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	*
Marsh sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis
Wood sandpiper	Tringa glareola
Common redshank	Tringa totanus

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Collared pratincole	Glareola pratincola	*
Black-winged pratincole	Glareola nordmanni	*

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great skua	Stercorarius skua	*
Pomarine jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus	*
Parasitic jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaeger	Stercorarius longicaudus	*

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Dovekie	Alle alle	*
Common murre	Uria aalge
Thick-billed murre	Uria lomvia	*
Razorbill	Alca torda
Black guillemot	Cepphus grylle
Atlantic puffin	Fratercula arctica	*

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-legged kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	*
Ivory gull	Pagophila eburnea	*
Sabine's gull	Xema sabini	*
Slender-billed gull	Chroicocephalus genei	*
Black-headed gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Little gull	Hydrocoloeus minutus
Ross's gull	Rhodostethia rosea	*
Laughing gull	Leucophaeus atricilla	*
Franklin's gull	Leucophaeus pipixcan	*
Mediterranean gull	Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Pallas's gull	Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus	*
Audouin's gull	Ichthyaetus audouinii	*
Common gull	Larus canus
Ring-billed gull	Larus delawarensis	*
Herring gull	Larus argentatus
Yellow-legged gull	Larus michahellis
Caspian gull	Larus cachinnans
Iceland gull	Larus glaucoides
Lesser black-backed gull	Larus fuscus
Slaty-backed gull	Larus schistisagus	*
Glaucous gull	Larus hyperboreus	*
Great black-backed gull	Larus marinus
Little tern	Sternula albifrons
Gull-billed tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	*
Caspian tern	Hydroprogne caspia
Black tern	Chlidonias niger
White-winged tern	Chlidonias leucopterus
Whiskered tern	Chlidonias hybrida	*
Roseate tern	Sterna dougallii	*
Common tern	Sterna hirundo
Arctic tern	Sterna paradisaea	*
Sandwich tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-throated loon	Gavia stellata
Arctic loon	Gavia arctica
Pacific loon	Gavia pacifica	*
Common loon	Gavia immer	*
Yellow-billed loon	Gavia adamsii	*

Southern storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

Southern storm petrels, are seabirds in the family Oceanitidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These smallest of seabirds feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wilson's storm petrel	Oceanites oceanicus	*

Northern storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The northern storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European storm petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus	*
Leach's storm petrel	Hydrobates leucorhous	*

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis	*
Cory's shearwater	Calonectris diomedea	*
Sooty shearwater	Ardenna grisea	*
Manx shearwater	Puffinus puffinus	*
Balearic shearwater	Puffinus mauretanicus	*

Storks

52,000 pairs of white storks breed in Poland

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

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	*

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pygmy cormorant	Microcarbo pygmeus	*
Great cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo
European shag	Gulosus aristotelis	*

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great white pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus	*
Dalmatian pelican	Pelecanus crispus	*

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great bittern	Botaurus stellaris
Little bittern	Ixobrychus minutus
Gray heron	Ardea cinerea
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea	*
Great egret	Ardea alba	*
Little egret	Egretta garzetta	*
Cattle egret	Bubulcus ibis	*
Squacco heron	Ardeola ralloides	*
Black-crowned night-heron	Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	*
Northern bald ibis	Geronticus eremita	(C)
Eurasian spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	*

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-winged kite	Elanus caeruleus	*
Bearded vulture	Gypaetus barbatus	B *
Egyptian vulture	Neophron percnopterus	*
European honey-buzzard	Pernis apivorus
Cinereous vulture	Aegypius monachus	*
Eurasian griffon	Gyps fulvus	*
Short-toed snake-eagle	Circaetus gallicus
Lesser spotted eagle	Clanga pomarina
Greater spotted eagle	Clanga clanga
Booted eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus
Steppe eagle	Aquila nipalensis	*
Imperial eagle	Aquila heliaca	*
Golden eagle	Aquila chrysaetos
Bonelli's eagle	Aquila fasciata	*
Eurasian marsh harrier	Circus aeruginosus
Hen harrier	Circus cyaneus
Pallid harrier	Circus macrourus	*
Montagu's harrier	Circus pygargus
Levant sparrowhawk	Accipiter brevipes	*
Eurasian sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus
Northern goshawk	Accipiter gentilis
Red kite	Milvus milvus
Black kite	Milvus migrans
White-tailed eagle	Haliaeetus albicilla
Pallas's fish-eagle	Haliaeetus leucoryphus	B *
Rough-legged hawk	Buteo lagopus
Common buzzard	Buteo buteo
Long-legged buzzard	Buteo rufinus	*

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Western barn owl	Tyto alba

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian scops-owl	Otus scops	*
Eurasian eagle-owl	Bubo bubo
Snowy owl	Bubo scandiacus	*
Northern hawk owl	Surnia ulula	*
Eurasian pygmy-owl	Glaucidium passerinum
Little owl	Athene noctua
Tawny owl	Strix aluco
Ural owl	Strix uralensis
Great gray owl	Strix nebulosa	*
Long-eared owl	Asio otus
Short-eared owl	Asio flammeus
Boreal owl	Aegolius funereus

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian hoopoe	Upupa epops

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
Pied kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	B *

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European bee-eater	Merops apiaster

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European roller	Coracias garrulus

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

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

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	*
Eurasian kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
Red-footed falcon	Falco vespertinus
Eleonora's falcon	Falco eleonorae	*
Merlin	Falco columbarius
Eurasian hobby	Falco subbuteo
Saker falcon	Falco cherrug	*
Gyrfalcon	Falco rusticolus	*
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-eyed vireo	Vireo olivaceus	*

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian golden oriole	Oriolus oriolus

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-backed shrike	Lanius collurio
Red-tailed shrike	Lanius phoenicuroides	*
Isabelline shrike	Lanius isabellinus	*
Northern shrike	Lanius borealis	*
Great gray shrike	Lanius excubitor
Lesser gray shrike	Lanius minor
Woodchat shrike	Lanius senator

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Siberian jay	Perisoreus infaustus	*
Eurasian jay	Garrulus glandarius
Eurasian magpie	Pica pica
Eurasian nutcracker	Nucifraga caryocatactes
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

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	Parus ater
Crested tit	Parus cristatus
Marsh tit	Parus palustris
Willow tit	Parus montanus
Eurasian blue tit	Parus caeruleus
Azure tit	Parus cyanus	*
Great tit	Parus major

Penduline-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian penduline-tit	Remiz pendulinus

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Horned lark	Eremophila alpestris
Greater short-toed lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	*
Calandra lark	Melanocorypha calandra	B *
Black lark	Melanocorypha yeltoniensis	*
Mediterranean short-toed lark	Alaudala rufescens	*
Wood lark	Lullula arborea
White-winged lark	Alauda leucoptera	*
Eurasian skylark	Alauda arvensis
Crested lark	Galerida cristata

Bearded reedling

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Panuridae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bearded reedling	Panurus biarmicus

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Booted warbler	Iduna caligata	*
Eastern olivaceous warbler	Iduna pallida	*
Melodious warbler	Hippolais polyglotta
Icterine warbler	Hippolais icterina
Aquatic warbler	Acrocephalus paludicola
Moustached warbler	Acrocephalus melanopogon	*
Sedge warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Paddyfield warbler	Acrocephalus agricola	*
Blyth's reed warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum
Marsh warbler	Acrocephalus palustris
Eurasian reed warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Great reed warbler	Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pallas's grasshopper warbler	Helopsaltes certhiola	*
River warbler	Locustella fluviatilis
Savi's warbler	Locustella luscinioides
Common grasshopper-warbler	Locustella naevia

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bank swallow	Riparia riparia
Eurasian crag-martin	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	*
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica
Red-rumped swallow	Cecropis daurica	*
Common house-martin	Delichon urbicum

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with 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	*
Hume's warbler	Phylloscopus humei	*
Pallas's leaf warbler	Phylloscopus proregulus	*
Radde's warbler	Phylloscopus schwarzi	*
Dusky warbler	Phylloscopus fuscatus	*
Willow warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus
Common chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita
Iberian chiffchaff	Phylloscopus ibericus	*
Greenish warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides
Arctic warbler	Phylloscopus borealis	*

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Long-tailed tit	Aegithalos caudatus

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla
Garden warbler	Sylvia borin
Barred warbler	Curruca nisoria
Lesser whitethroat	Curruca curruca
Western subalpine warbler	Curruca iberiae	*
Eastern subalpine warbler	Curruca cantillans	*
Sardinian warbler	Curruca melanocephala	*
Greater whitethroat	Curruca communis

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus
Common firecrest	Regulus ignicapilla

Wallcreeper

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tichodromidae

The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wallcreeper	Tichodroma muraria

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian nuthatch	Sitta europaea

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian treecreeper	Certhia familiaris
Short-toed treecreeper	Certhia brachydactyla

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian wren	Troglodytes troglodytes

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White-throated dipper	Cinclus cinclus

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European starling	Sturnus vulgaris
Rosy starling	Pastor roseus	*

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White's thrush	Zoothera aurea	*
Scaly thrush	Zoothera dauma	*
Siberian thrush	Geokichla sibirica	*
Mistle thrush	Turdus viscivorus
Song thrush	Turdus philomelos
Redwing	Turdus iliacus
Eurasian blackbird	Turdus merula
Eyebrowed thrush	Turdus obscurus	*
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris
Ring ouzel	Turdus torquatus
Black-throated thrush	Turdus atrogularis	*
Red-throated thrush	Turdus ruficollis	*
Dusky thrush	Turdus eunomus	*
Naumann's thrush	Turdus naumanni	*

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Spotted flycatcher	Muscicapa striata
European robin	Erithacus rubecula
Rufous-tailed robin	Larvivora sibilans	*
Thrush nightingale	Luscinia luscinia
Common nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica
Red-flanked bluetail	Tarsiger cyanurus	*
Red-breasted flycatcher	Ficedula parva
European pied flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca
Collared flycatcher	Ficedula albicollis
Common redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Black redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros
Rufous-tailed rock-thrush	Monticola saxatilis
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra
European stonechat	Saxicola rubicola
Siberian stonechat	Saxicola maurus	*
Northern wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe
Isabelline wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	*
Desert wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	*
Pied wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	*
Western black-eared wheatear	Oenanthe hispanica
White-crowned wheatear	Oenanthe leucopyga	*

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bohemian waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Alpine accentor	Prunella collaris
Siberian accentor	Prunella montanella	*
Black-throated accentor	Prunella atrogularis	*
Dunnock	Prunella modularis

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

Common name	Binomial	Status
House sparrow	Passer domesticus
Eurasian tree sparrow	Passer montanus
Rock sparrow	Petronia petronia	B *
White-winged snowfinch	Montifringilla nivalis	B *

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Gray wagtail	Motacilla cinerea
Western yellow wagtail	Motacilla flava
Eastern yellow wagtail	Motacilla tschutschensis	*
Citrine wagtail	Motacilla citreola	*
White wagtail	Motacilla alba
Richard's pipit	Anthus richardi	*
Blyth's pipit	Anthus godlewskii	*
Tawny pipit	Anthus campestris
Meadow pipit	Anthus pratensis
Tree pipit	Anthus trivialis
Olive-backed pipit	Anthus hodgsoni	*
Pechora pipit	Anthus gustavi	*
Red-throated pipit	Anthus cervinus
Water pipit	Anthus spinoletta
Rock pipit	Anthus petrosus

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

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

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds which had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Lapland bunting	Calcarius lapponicus
Snow bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis

Old World buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-headed bunting	Emberiza melanocephala	*
Red-headed bunting	Emberiza bruniceps	*
Corn bunting	Emberiza calandra
Rock bunting	Emberiza cia	*
Cirl bunting	Emberiza cirlus	*
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella
Pine bunting	Emberiza leucocephalos	*
Ortolan bunting	Emberiza hortulana
Reed bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus
Yellow-breasted bunting	Emberiza aureola	*
Little bunting	Emberiza pusilla	*
Rustic bunting	Emberiza rustica	*
Black-faced bunting	Emberiza spodocephala	*
Yellow-browed bunting	Emberiza chrysophrys	*

New World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Dark-eyed junco	Junco hyemalis	*
Savannah sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	*

See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

References

• Komisja Faunistyczna: Bird species found in Poland (in Polish)

External links

• Media related to Birds of Poland at Wikimedia Commons