List of birds of Portugal
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Portugal. The avifauna of mainland Portugal include a total of 466 species recorded in the wild according to Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves (SPEA), Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds.[1] An additional 151 species have been recorded on the mainland and in the Azores and Madeira islands by Bird Checklists of the World.[2][3][4] Of the 618 species listed here, 284 are accidental and 17 have been introduced by humans. Three are endemic to islands, one is extinct, and six have been extirpated. Of the 618, 137 have been recorded only in one or both of the Azores and Madeiras.
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, 2019 edition.[5]
The following tags have been used to highlight some categories of occurrence. The (A) and (I) tags are from Bird Checklists of the World. The (D) and (E) tags are from SPEA. The notes of population status such as "endangered" apply to the world population and are also from Bird Checklists of the World.
- (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in mainland Portugal, the Azores, or Madeiras
- (I) Introduced - a species introduced to mainland Portugal, the Azores, or Madeiras as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
- (D) Category D - "species found free but for which there are doubts as to the genuinely wild origin"
- (E) Category E - "birds found free [as a result of] deliberate introduction or escape from captivity, but which do not have breeding populations established, and there is no evidence that they are genuine wanderers"
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fulvous whistling-duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | (A) |
| Snow goose | Anser caerulescens | (A) Azores only |
| Bar-headed goose | Anser indicus | (D) |
| Graylag goose | Anser anser | |
| Greater white-fronted goose | Anser albifrons | (A) |
| Taiga bean-goose | Anser fabalis | (A) |
| Tundra bean-goose | Anser serrirostris | (A) |
| Pink-footed goose | Anser brachyrhynchus | (A) |
| Brant | Branta bernicla | (A) |
| Barnacle goose | Branta leucopsis | (A) |
| Canada goose | Branta canadensis | (A) (D) |
| Mute swan | Cygnus olor | (A) (D) |
| Tundra swan | Cygnus columbianus | (A) |
| Whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus | (A) |
| Egyptian goose | Alopochen aegyptiaca | (E) |
| Ruddy shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | (I) |
| Common shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | |
| Muscovy duck | Cairina moschata | (I) Madieras only |
| Wood duck | Aix sponsa | (A) Azores only |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | |
| Blue-winged teal | Spatula discors | (A) |
| Northern shoveler | Spatula clypeata | |
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera | |
| Falcated duck | Mareca falcata | (A) (D) near threatened |
| Eurasian wigeon | Mareca penelope | |
| American wigeon | Mareca americana | (A) |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | |
| American black duck | Anas rubripes | Azores only |
| Northern pintail | Anas acuta | |
| Green-winged teal | Anas crecca | |
| Marbled teal | Marmaronetta angustirostris | (A) vulnerable |
| Red-crested pochard | Netta rufina | |
| Common pochard | Aythya ferina | vulnerable |
| Ring-necked duck | Aythya collaris | (A) |
| Ferruginous duck | Aythya nyroca | near threatened |
| Tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | |
| Greater scaup | Aythya marila | |
| Lesser scaup | Aythya affinis | (A) |
| King eider | Somateria spectabilis | (A) Azores only |
| Common eider | Somateria mollissima | (A) near threatened |
| Surf scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | (A) |
| Velvet scoter | Melanitta fusca | |
| Common scoter | Melanitta nigra | |
| Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | (A) vulnerable |
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | (A) |
| Common goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | (A) |
| Smew | Mergellus albellus | (A) |
| Hooded merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | (A) Azores only |
| Common merganser | Mergus merganser | (A) |
| Red-breasted merganser | Mergus serrator | |
| Ruddy duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | (A) |
| White-headed duck | Oxyura leucocephala | endangered |
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 | |
| Red-legged partridge | Alectoris rufa | |
| Ring-necked pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | (I) (E on mainland) |
| Gray partridge | Perdix perdix | extirpated |
| Western capercaillie | Tetrao urogallus | extirpated |
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 | |
| Lesser flamingo | Phoeniconaias minor | (A) (D) near threatened |
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 | (A) |
| Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus | (A) |
| Red-necked grebe | Podiceps grisegena | (A) Azores only |
| 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 | |
| Trocaz pigeon | Columba trocaz | Endemic to the island of Madeira |
| European turtle-dove | Streptopelia turtur | vulnerable |
| Eurasian collared-dove | Streptopelia decaocto | |
| Laughing dove | Spilopelia senegalensis | (A) (I) (D) |
| Zenaida dove | Zenaida aurita | (A) Azores only |
| Mourning dove | Zenaida macroura | (A) Azores only |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pin-tailed sandgrouse | Pterocles alchata | |
| Black-bellied sandgrouse | Pterocles orientalis |
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 | Vulnerable |
| Little bustard | Tetrax tetrax | near threatened |
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 | |
| Black-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | (A) Azores only |
| Yellow-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus americanu | (A) Azores only |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Common nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | (A) Azores and Madeiras only |
| Red-necked nightjar | Caprimulgus ruficollis | |
| European 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney swift | Chaetura pelagica | (A) vulnerable |
| Alpine swift | Apus melba | |
| Common swift | Apus apus | |
| Pallid swift | Apus pallidus | |
| Little swift | Apus affinis | (A) |
| Plain swift | Apus unicolor | Madeiras only |
| White-rumped swift | Apus caffer |
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 | Azores and Madeiras only |
| Corn crake | Crex crex | (A) |
| Sora | Porzana carolina | (A) |
| Spotted crake | Porzana porzana | |
| Eurasian moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | |
| Lesser moorhen | Gallinula angulata | (A) |
| Eurasian coot | Fulica atra | |
| Red-knobbed coot | Fulica cristata | (A) |
| American coot | Fulica americana | (A) |
| Allen's gallinule | Porphyrio alleni | (A) |
| Purple gallinule | Porphyrio martinica | (A) |
| Western swamphen | Porphyrio porphyrio | |
| Little crake | Zapornia parva | (A) |
| Baillon's crake | Zapornia pusilla | (A) |
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 | (A) (D) |
| Sandhill crane | Antigone canadensis | (A) Azores only |
| 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 | |
| Canarian oystercatcher | Haematopus meadewaldoi | Madeiras only, extinct |
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 | (A) |
| Pacific golden-plover | Pluvialis fulva | (A) Azores and Madeiras only |
| Northern lapwing | Vanellus vanellus | near threatened |
| Sociable lapwing | Vanellus gregarius | (A) critically endangered |
| Lesser sand-plover | Charadrius mongolus | (A) |
| Caspian plover | Charadrius asiaticus | (A) Azores only |
| Kentish plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | |
| Common ringed plover | Charadrius hiaticula | |
| Semipalmated plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | (A) Azores only |
| Little ringed plover | Charadrius dubius | |
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | (A) |
| Eurasian dotterel | Charadrius morinellus | (A) |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Upland sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | (A) |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | |
| Slender-billed curlew | Numenius tenuirostris | (A) critically endangered |
| Eurasian curlew | Numenius arquata | near threatened |
| Bar-tailed godwit | Limosa lapponica | near threatened |
| Black-tailed godwit | Limosa limosa | (A) near threatened |
| Hudsonian godwit | Limosa haemastica | (A) Azores only |
| Ruddy turnstone | Arenaria interpres | |
| Red knot | Calidris canutus | near threatened |
| Ruff | Calidris pugnax | |
| Broad-billed sandpiper | Calidris falcinellus | (A) |
| Sharp-tailed sandpiper | Calidris acuminata | (A) |
| Stilt sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | (A) |
| Curlew sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | near threatened |
| Temminck's stint | Calidris temminckii | |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | (A) |
| Purple sandpiper | Calidris maritima | |
| Baird's sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | (A) |
| Little stint | Calidris minuta | |
| Least sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | (A) Azores only |
| White-rumped sandpiper | Calidris fuscicollis | (A) |
| Buff-breasted sandpiper | Calidris subruficollis | (A), near threatened |
| Pectoral sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | |
| Semipalmated sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | (A) near threatened |
| Western sandpiper | Calidris mauri | (A) Azores and Madeiras only |
| Short-billed dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | (A) Azores only |
| Long-billed dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | (A) |
| Jack snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus | |
| Eurasian woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | |
| Great snipe | Gallinago media | (A) near threatened |
| Common snipe | Gallinago gallinago | |
| Wilson's snipe | Gallinago delicata | (A) |
| Terek sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | (A) |
| Wilson's phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | (A) |
| Red-necked phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | (A) |
| Red phalarope | Phalaropus fulicarius | |
| Common sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | |
| Spotted sandpiper | Actitis macularius | (A) |
| Green sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | |
| Solitary sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | (A) |
| Gray-tailed tattler | Tringa brevipes | (A) Azores only, near threatened |
| Spotted redshank | Tringa erythropus | |
| Greater yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | (A) |
| Common greenshank | Tringa nebularia | |
| Willet | Tringa semipalmata | (A) |
| Lesser yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | (A) |
| Marsh sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis | (A) |
| Wood sandpiper | Tringa glareola | |
| Common redshank | Tringa totanus |
Buttonquail
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Small buttonquail | Turnix sylvaticus | Extirpated |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cream-colored courser | Cursorius cursor | (A) |
| Collared pratincole | Glareola pratincola |
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 | |
| South polar skua | Stercorarius maccormicki | (A) |
| Pomarine jaeger | Stercorarius pomarinus | |
| Parasitic jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus | |
| Long-tailed jaeger | Stercorarius longicaudus | (A) |
Auks, murres, and puffins
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae
Auks 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 | (A) |
| Common murre | Uria aalge | |
| Thick-billed murre | Uria lomvia | (A) |
| Razorbill | Alca torda | near threatened |
| Black guillemot | Cepphus grylle | (A) |
| Atlantic puffin | Fratercula arctica | vulnerable |
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 | vulnerable |
| Ivory gull | Pagophila eburnea | (A) near threatened |
| Sabine's gull | Xema sabini | (A) |
| Slender-billed gull | Chroicocephalus genei | |
| Bonaparte's gull | Chroicocephalus philadelphia | (A) |
| Black-headed gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | |
| Little gull | Hydrocoloeus minutus | |
| Ross's gull | Rhodostethia rosea | (A) |
| Laughing gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | (A) |
| Franklin's gull | Leucophaeus pipixcan | (A) |
| Mediterranean gull | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus | |
| Pallas's gull | Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus | (A) Madeiras only |
| Audouin's gull | Ichthyaetus audouinii | |
| Mew gull | Larus canus | |
| Ring-billed gull | Larus delawarensis | |
| Herring gull | Larus argentatus | |
| Yellow-legged gull | Larus michahellis | |
| Caspian gull | Larus cachinnans | (A) |
| Iceland gull | Larus glaucoides | |
| Lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus | |
| Glaucous gull | Larus hyperboreus | (A) |
| Great black-backed gull | Larus marinus | (A) |
| Kelp gull | Larus dominicanus | (A) |
| Brown noddy | Anous stolidus | (A) Azores only |
| Sooty tern | Onychoprion fuscatus | (A) |
| Bridled tern | Onychoprion anaethetus | (A) Azores only |
| 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 | (A) |
| Common tern | Sterna hirundo | |
| Arctic tern | Sterna paradisaea | |
| Forster's tern | Sterna forsteri | (A) |
| Royal tern | Thalasseus maximus | (A) |
| Sandwich tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | |
| Elegant tern | Thalasseus elegans | (A) near threatened |
| Lesser crested tern | Thalasseus bengalensis | (A) |
Tropicbirds
Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed tropicbird | Phaethon lepturus | (A) |
| Red-billed tropicbird | Phaeton aethereus | (A) |
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 | (A) |
| Arctic loon | Gavia arctica | (A) |
| Common loon | Gavia immer | (A) |
Albatrosses
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are among the largest flying birds, with long, narrow wings for gliding. The majority are found in the Southern Hemisphere with only vagrants occurring in the North Atlantic.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black-browed albatross | Thalassarche melanophris | (A) |
| Wandering albatross | Diomedea exulans |
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 | |
| White-faced storm-petrel | Pelagodroma marina | (A) |
| Black-bellied storm-petrel | Fregetta tropica | (A) |
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 | Oceanodroma leucorhoa | vulnerable |
| Swinhoe's storm-petrel | Oceanodroma monorhis | (A) near threatened |
| Band-rumped storm-petrel | Oceanodroma castro | (A) |
| Monteiro's storm-petrel | Oceanodroma monteiroi | Azores only, vulnerable |
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 | (A) |
| Kermadec petrel | Pterodroma neglecta | (A) Azores only |
| Trindade petrel | Pterodroma arminjoniana | (A) Azores only, vulnerable |
| Zino's petrel | Pterodroma Madeiras | Azores and Madeiras only, endangered |
| Fea's petrel | Pterodroma feae | |
| Bermuda petrel | Pterodroma cahow | (A) Azores only, endangered |
| Black-capped petrel | Pterodroma hasitata | (A) Azores and Madeiras only |
| Bulwer's petrel | Bulweria bulwerii | (A) |
| Cory's shearwater | Calonectis diomedea | |
| Cape Verde shearwater | Calonectris edwardsii | (A) Madeiras only |
| Great shearwater | Ardenna gravis | |
| Sooty shearwater | Ardenna griseus | near threatened |
| Manx shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | |
| Balearic shearwater | Puffinus mauretanicus | critically endangered |
| Barolo shearwater | Puffinus baroli |
Storks
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 | |
| Marabou stork | Leptoptilos crumenifer | (D) |
| Yellow-billed stork | Mycteria ibis | (A) |
Frigatebirds
Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds 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 colored 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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Magnificent frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | (A) Azores only |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Masked booby | Sula dactylatra | (A) Azores only |
| Brown booby | Sula leucogaster | (A) |
| Red-footed booby | Sula sula | (A) Azores only |
| Northern gannet | Morus bassanus | |
| Cape gannet | Morus capensis | (A) Azores only, endangered |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Great cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | |
| European shag | Phalacrocorax aristotelis | |
| Double-crested cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | (A) Azores only |
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 | (D) |
| Pink-backed pelican | Pelecanus rufescens | (D) |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| American bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | (A) Azores only |
| Great bittern | Botaurus stellaris | |
| Little bittern | Ixobrychus minutus | |
| Least bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | (A) Azores and Madeiras only |
| Great blue heron | Ardea herodias | (A) Azores only |
| Gray heron | Ardea cinerea | |
| Purple heron | Ardea purpurea | |
| Great egret | Ardea alba | |
| Little egret | Egretta garzetta | |
| Western reef-heron | Egretta gularis | (A) |
| Snowy egret | Egretta thula | (A) Azores only |
| Little blue heron | Egretta caerulea | (A) Azores only |
| Tricolored heron | Egretta tricolor | (A) Azores only |
| Cattle egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
| Squacco heron | Ardeola ralloides | |
| Green heron | Butorides virescens | (A) Azores only |
| Black-crowned night-heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | |
| Yellow-crowned night-heron | Nyctanassa violacea | (A) Azores and Madeiras only |
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 | |
| African sacred ibis | Threskiornis aethiopicus | (A) (D) |
| Northern bald ibis | Geronticus eremita | (A) Azores only, endangered |
| 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 | extirpated, near threatened |
| Egyptian vulture | Neophron percnopterus | endangered |
| European honey-buzzard | Pernis apivorus | |
| Cinereous vulture | Aegypius monachus | near threatened |
| White-backed vulture | Gyps africanus | (A) (D) critically endangered |
| Rüppell's griffon | Gyps rueppelli | (A) critically endangered |
| Eurasian griffon | Gyps fulvus | |
| Short-toed snake-eagle | Circaetus gallicus | |
| Lesser spotted eagle | Clanga pomarina | |
| Greater spotted eagle | Clanga clanga | (A) vulnerable |
| Booted eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus | |
| Tawny eagle | Aquila rapax (A) vulnerable | |
| Steppe eagle | Aquila nipalensis | (E) endangered |
| Spanish eagle | Aquila adalberti | vulnerable |
| Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | |
| Bonelli's eagle | Aquila fasciata | |
| Eurasian marsh-harrier | Circus aeruginosus | |
| Hen harrier | Circus cyaneus | |
| Northern harrier | Circus hudsonius | (A) Azores only |
| Pallid harrier | Circus macrourus | (A) near threatened |
| Montagu's harrier | Circus pygargus | |
| Eurasian sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | |
| Northern goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | |
| Red kite | Milvus milvus | near threatened |
| Black kite | Milvus migrans | |
| White-tailed eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | extirpated |
| Rough-legged hawk | Buteo lagopus | (A) Azores only |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Barn owl | Tyto alba | (A) |
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 | (A) Azores only, vulnerable |
| Little owl | Athene noctua | |
| Tawny owl | Strix aluco | |
| Long-eared owl | Asio otus | |
| Short-eared owl | Asio flammeus | |
| Marsh owl | Asio capensis | (A) |
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 | |
| Belted kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | (A) Azores only |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue-cheeked bee-eater | Merops persicus | (A) |
| 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 | |
| Yellow-bellied sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | (A) Azores only |
| Middle spotted woodpecker | Dryobates medius | (A) |
| Great spotted woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | |
| Lesser spotted woodpecker | Dendrocopos minor | |
| Iberian green woodpecker | Picus sharpei | |
| Northern flicker | Colaptes auratus | (A) Azores only |
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 | |
| American kestrel | Falco sparverius | (A) Azores only |
| Red-footed falcon | Falco vespertinus | near threatened |
| Amur falcon | Falco amurensis | (A) Azores only |
| Eleonora's falcon | Falco eleonorae | |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | |
| Eurasian hobby | Falco subbuteo | |
| Lanner falcon | Falco biarmicus | (A) |
| Saker falcon | Falco cherrug | (A) endangered |
| Gyrfalcon | Falco rusticolus | (D) |
| Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus |
Cockatoos
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Cacatuidae
The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable headcrest.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cockatiel | Nymphicus hollandicus | (I) (E) |
Old World parrots
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rose-ringed parakeet | Psittacula krameri | (I) |
African and New World parrots
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
These species have established itself after being introduced by humans.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Senegal parrot | Poicephalus senegalus | (I) (E) |
| Monk parakeet | Myiopsitta monachus | (I) (A) |
| Blue-crowned parakeet | Thectocercus acuticaudatus | (I) (E) |
Tyrant flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern wood-pewee | Contopus virens | (A) Azores only |
| Western kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | (A) Azores only |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| White-eyed vireo | Vireo griseus | (A) Azores only |
| Yellow-throated vireo | Vireo flavifrons | (A) Azores only |
| Philadelphia vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | (A) Azores only |
| Red-eyed vireo | Vireo olivaceus | (A) Azores only |
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
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 | |
| Red-tailed shrike | Lanius phoenicuroides | (A) |
| Northern shrike | Lanius borealis | (A) Azores only |
| Iberian gray shrike | Lanius meridionalis | |
| Great gray shrike | Lanius excubitor | |
| Lesser gray shrike | Lanius minor | (A) |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eurasian jay | Garrulus glandarius | |
| Iberian magpie | Cyanopica cooki | |
| Eurasian magpie | Pica pica | |
| Eurasian nutcracker | Nucifraga caryocatactes | (A) |
| Red-billed chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | |
| Eurasian jackdaw | Corvus monedula | |
| Rook | Corvus frugilegus | (A) |
| Carrion crow | Corvus corone | |
| Hooded crow | Corvus cornix | (A) |
| Pied crow | Corvus albus | (A) |
| Common raven | Corvus corax | |
| Brown-necked raven | Corvus ruficollis | (A) |
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 | Periparus ater | |
| Crested tit | Lophophanes cristatus | |
| Marsh tit | Poecile palustris | (A) |
| Eurasian blue tit | Cyanistes caeruleus | |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greater short-toed lark | Calandrella brachydactyla | |
| Calandra lark | Melanocorypha calandra | |
| Dupont's lark | Chersophilus duponti | extirpated |
| Lesser short-toed lark | Alaudala rufescens | |
| Wood lark | Lullula arborea | |
| Eurasian skylark | Alauda arvensis | |
| Thekla's lark | Galerida theklae | |
| Crested lark | Galerida cristata |
Cisticolas and allies
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 grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Zitting cisticola | Cisticola juncidis |
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 | (A) |
| Eastern olivaceous warbler | Iduna pallida | |
| Western olivaceous warbler | Iduna opaca | |
| Melodious warbler | Hippolais polyglotta | |
| Icterine warbler | Hippolais icterina | (A) |
| Aquatic warbler | Acrocephalus paludicola | (A) vulnerable |
| Moustached warbler | Acrocephalus melanopogon | (A) |
| Sedge warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | |
| Paddyfield warbler | Acrocephalus agricola | (A) |
| Blyth's reed warbler | Acrocephalus dumetorum | (A) |
| Marsh warbler | Acrocephalus palustris | (A) |
| Eurasian reed warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | |
| African reed warbler | Acrocephalus baeticatus | Azores and Madeiras only |
| 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 | Locustella certhiola | (A) |
| River warbler | Locustella fluviatilis | (A) Madeiras only |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Purple martin | Progne subis | (A) Azores only |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | (A) Azores only |
| Plain martin | Riparia paludicola | (A) Azores only |
| Bank swallow | Riparia riparia | |
| Eurasian crag-martin | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | |
| Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | |
| Red-rumped swallow | Cecropis daurica | |
| Cliff swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | (A) Azores only |
| 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 greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wood warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix | (A) |
| 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) |
| Willow warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | |
| Common chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | |
| Iberian chiffchaff | Phylloscopus ibericus | |
| Greenish warbler | Phylloscopus trochiloides | (A) Madeiras only |
| Two-barred warbler | Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus | (A) Madeiras only |
| Arctic warbler | Phylloscopus borealis | (A) |
Bush warblers and allies
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.[6]
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cetti's warbler | Cettia cetti |
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 | Sylvia nisoria | (A) Azores only |
| Lesser whitethroat | Sylvia curruca | (A) |
| Western Orphean warbler | Sylvia hortensis | |
| Menetries's warbler | Sylvia mystacea | (A) |
| Subalpine warbler | Sylvia cantillans | |
| Sardinian warbler | Sylvia melanocephala | |
| Greater whitethroat | Sylvia communis | |
| Spectacled warbler | Sylvia conspicillata | |
| Dartford warbler | Sylvia undata | near threatened |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby-crowned kinglet | Regulus calendula | (A) Azores only |
| Goldcrest | Regulus regulus | |
| Madeira firecrest | Regulus madeirensis | Endemic to the island of Madeira |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Spotless starling | Sturnus unicolor | |
| Rosy starling | Pastor roseus | (A) |
| Common myna | Acridotheres tristis | (I) (E) |
| Crested myna | Acridotheres cristatellus | (I) |
| Greater blue-eared starling | Lamprotornis chalybaeus | (A) Madeiras only |
Mockingbirds and thrashers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae
The mimids are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull grays and browns in their appearance.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gray catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | (A) Azores only |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | (A) Azores only |
| Gray-cheeked thrush | Catharus minimus | (A) |
| Swainson's thrush | Catharus ustulatus | (A) Azores only |
| Hermit thrush | Catharus guttatus | (A) Azores only |
| Wood thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | (A) Azores and Madeiras only, near threatened |
| Mistle thrush | Turdus viscivorus | |
| Song thrush | Turdus philomelos | |
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus | near threatened |
| Eurasian blackbird | Turdus merula | |
| American robin | Turdus migratorius | (A) Azores only |
| Eyebrowed thrush | Turdus obscurus | (A) |
| Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | |
| Ring ouzel | Turdus torquatus | |
| Black-throated thrush | Turdus atrogularis | (A) Madeiras only |
| Red-throated thrush | Turdus ruficollis | (A) Madeiras only |
| Dusky thrush | Turdus eunomus | (A) Azores only |
| Naumann's thrush | Turdus naumanni | (A) Azores only |
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 | |
| Rufous-tailed scrub-robin | Cercotrichas galactotes | |
| European robin | Erithacus rubecula | |
| Thrush nightingale | Luscinia luscinia | (A) |
| Common nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | |
| Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica | |
| Red-flanked bluetail | Tarsiger cyanurus | (A) |
| Red-breasted flycatcher | Ficedula parva | |
| European pied flycatcher | Ficedula hypoleuca | |
| Collared flycatcher | Ficedula albicollis | (A) |
| Moussier's redstart | Phoenicurus moussieri | (A) |
| Common redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | |
| Black redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | |
| Rufous-tailed rock-thrush | Monticola saxatilis | |
| Blue rock-thrush | Monticola solitarius | |
| Whinchat | Saxicola rubetra | |
| European stonechat | Saxicola rubicola | |
| Siberian stonechat | Saxicola maurus | (A) |
| Northern wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | |
| Isabelline wheatear | Oenanthe isabellina | (A) |
| Desert wheatear | Oenanthe deserti | (A) |
| Black-eared wheatear | Oenanthe hispanica | |
| Black wheatear | Oenanthe leucura | |
| White-crowned wheatear | Oenanthe leucopyga | (A) |
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 | (A) |
| Cedar waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | (A) Azores only |
Weavers and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Ploceidae
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black-headed weaver | Ploceus melanocephalus | (I) |
| Yellow-crowned bishop | Euplectes afer | (I) |
Waxbills and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Common waxbill | Estrilda astrild | (I) |
| Red avadavat | Amandava amandava | (I) |
| Scaly-breasted munia | Lonchura punctulata | (I) (E) |
| Chestnut munia | Lonchura atricapilla | (I) |
| Pin-tailed whydah | Vidua macroura | (I) |
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 | |
| 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 | |
| Spanish sparrow | Passer hispaniolensis | |
| Eurasian tree sparrow | Passer montanus | |
| Rock sparrow | Petronia petronia | |
| White-winged snowfinch | Montifringilla nivalis | (A) |
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 | (A) |
| Citrine wagtail | Motacilla citreola | (A) |
| White wagtail | Motacilla alba | |
| Richard's pipit | Anthus richardi | |
| Blyth's pipit | Anthus godlewskii | (A) |
| Tawny pipit | Anthus campestris | |
| Berthelot's pipit | Anthus berthelotii | (A) Madeiras only |
| Meadow pipit | Anthus pratensis | near threatened |
| 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) |
| American pipit | Anthus rubescens | (A) Azores only |
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 | (A) |
| Azores bullfinch | Pyrrhula murina | endemic to San Miguel in the Azores, vulnerable |
| Eurasian bullfinch | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | |
| Trumpeter finch | Bucanetes githagineus | (A) |
| European greenfinch | Chloris chloris | |
| Twite | Linaria flavirostris | |
| Eurasian linnet | Linaria cannabina | |
| Common redpoll | Acanthis flammea | (A) |
| Hoary redpoll | Acanthis hornemanni | (A) Azores only |
| Parrot crossbill | Loxia pytyopsittacus | Madeiras only |
| Red crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | |
| European goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | |
| Citril finch | Carduelis citrinella | |
| European serin | Serinus serinus | |
| Island canary | Serinus canaria | Azores and Madeiras only |
| 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 longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | (A) |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Corn bunting | Miliaria calandra | |
| Rock bunting | Emberiza cia | |
| Cirl bunting | Emberiza cirlus | |
| Yellowhammer | Emberiza citrinella | |
| Ortolan bunting | Emberiza hortulana | |
| Pallas's bunting | Emberiza pallasi | (A) |
| Reed bunting | Emberiza schoeniclus | |
| Yellow-breasted bunting | Emberiza aureola | (A) critically endangered |
| Little bunting | Emberiza pusilla | (A) |
| Rustic bunting | Emberiza rustica | (A) vulnerable |
New World sparrows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passerellidae
The New World sparrows (or American sparrows) are a large family of seed-eating passerine birds with distinctively finch-like bills.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Dark-eyed junco | Junco hyemalis | (A) Azores only |
| White-crowned sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | (A) Azores only |
| White-throated sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | (A) Azores only |
| Savannah sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | (A) Azores only |
| Lincoln's sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | (A) Azores only |
Troupials and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae
Icterids make up a family of small- to medium-sized, often colorful, New-World passerine birds. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The species in the family vary widely in size, shape, behavior and coloration.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | (A) Azores only |
| Baltimore oriole | Icterus galbula | (A) Azores only |
New World warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae
The New World warblers are a group of small often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | (A) Azores only |
| Northern waterthrush | Parkesia noveboracensis | (A) Azores only |
| Golden-winged warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | (A) Azores only, near threatened |
| Blue-winged warbler | Vermivora cyanoptera | (A) Azores only |
| Black-and-white warbler | Mniotilta varia | (A) Azores only |
| Tennessee warbler | Oreothlypis peregrina | (A) Azores only |
| Common yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | (A) |
| Hooded warbler | Setophaga citrina | (A) Azores only |
| American redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | (A) Azores and Madeiras only |
| Northern parula | Setophaga americana | (A) Azores only |
| Magnolia warbler | Setophaga magnolia | (A) Azores only |
| Bay-breasted warbler | Setophaga castanea | (A) Azores only |
| Blackburnian warbler | Setophaga fusca | (A) Azores only |
| Yellow warbler | Setophaga petechia | (A) Azores and Madeiras only |
| Chestnut-sided warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | (A) Azores only |
| Blackpoll warbler | Setophaga striata | (A) Azores only |
| Black-throated blue warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | (A) Azores only |
| Yellow-rumped warbler | Setophaga coronata | (A) Azores only |
| Yellow-throated warbler | Setophaga dominica | (A) Azores only |
| Prairie warbler | Setophaga discolor | (A) Azores only |
| Black-throated green warbler | Setophaga virens | (A) Azores only |
| Canada warbler | Cardellina canadensis | (A) Azores only |
| Wilson's warbler | Cardellina pusilla | (A) Azores only |
Cardinals and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae
The 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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Summer tanager | Piranga rubra | (A) Azores only |
| Scarlet tanager | Piranga olivacea | (A) Azores only |
| Rose-breasted grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | (A) Azores only |
| Blue grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | (A) Azores only |
| Indigo bunting | Passerina cyanea | (A) Azores only |
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | (A) Azores only |
References
- "Aves em Portugal". Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- Lepage, Denis (December 22, 2019). "Checklist of birds of Portugal". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- Lepage, Denis (June 15, 2019). "Checklist of birds of Açores". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- Lepage, Denis (March 30, 2019). "Checklist of birds of Madeiras". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved August 15, 2019
- 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
See also
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