Birds Guide

In this article, Europe refers to the geographical continent, not the somewhat larger Western Palearctic, which includes parts of the Middle East and north Africa.

There are about 700 species of bird in the area, and in general the avifauna is similar to Asia north of the Himalayas, which shares the same ecozone. There are also many groups shared with North America.

Conversely, many of the southern hemisphere groups, including the ancient flightless Struthioniformes (ostrich family), and their relatives the tinamous are not represented at all.

The order follows the Voous Order, with the revision of the Anseriformes and Galliformes brought to the start of the list, adopted by all European countries.

European birds include the following families:

Anseriformes

• Anatidae swans, geese and ducks

Galliformes

• Tetraonidae grouse
• Phasianidae partridges, pheasants, quails etc.

Gaviiformes

• Gaviidae divers

Podicipediformes

• Podicepidae grebes

Procellariiformes

• Diomedeidae albatross rare vagrant
• Procellariidae fulmars, shearwaters, gadfly and other petrels.
• Hydrobatidae storm-petrels

Pelecaniformes

• Phaethontidae tropicbirds very rare vagrant
• Sulidae gannets
• Phalacrocoracidae cormorants
• Pelecanidae pelicans
• Fregatidae frigatebirds very rare vagrant

Ciconiiformes (American taxonomists often include all the raptors in this family.)

• Ardeidae herons and bitterns
• Ciconiidae: storks
• Threskiomithidae ibises and spoonbills
• Phoenicopteridae flamingos

Accipitriformes (Some classifications also include the Falconidae.)

• Accipitridae hawks, eagles, buzzards and Old World vultures, harriers, kites and allies
• Pandionidae Osprey

Falconiformes (Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes.)

• Falconidae falcons

Gruiformes

• Rallidae rails and crakes
  Turnicidae buttonquails very marginal in Europe
  Gruidae cranes
  Otidae bustards

Charadriformes

• Haematopodidae oystercatchers
• Recurvirostridae avocets and stilts
• Burhinidae thick-knees
• Glareolidae coursers and pratincoles
• Charadrfidae plovers
• Scolopacidae typical waders or shorebirds
• Stercoraracidae skuas
• Laridae gulls
• Sternidae terns
• Alcidae auks

Pterocliformes

• Pteroclidae sandgrouse

Columbiformes

• Columbidae pigeons and doves

Psittaciformes

• Psittacidae parrots introduced only

Cuculiformes

• Cuculidae cuckoos

Strigiformes

• Tytonidae barn owls
• Strigidae owls

Caprimulgiformes

• Caprimulgidae nightjars

Apodiformes

• Apodidae swifts

Coraciiformes

• Alcedinidae kingfishers
• Meropidae bee-eaters
• Coraciidae rollers
• Upupidae Hoopoe

Piciformes

• Picidae woodpeckers

Passeriformes perching birds

• Alaudidae larks
  Hirundinidae swallows and martins
  Motacillidae wagtails and pipits
  Bombycillidae waxwings
  Cinclidae dippers
  Troglodytidae wrens
  Prunellidae accentors
  Turdidae thrushes and chats
  Sylviidae Old World warblers
  Regulidae kinglets
  Muscicapidae Old World flycatchers
  Timaliidae Bearded Tit (and babblers, not in Europe)
  Aegithalidae long-tailed tits
  Paridae tits
  Sittidae nuthatches
  Tichodromadidae Wallcreeper
  Certhiidae treecreepers
  Remizidae penduline tits
  Oriolidae orioles
  Laniidae shrikes
  Corvidae crows and jays
  Sturnidae starlings
  Passeridae sparrows
  Estrildidae waxbills etc introduced
  Vireonidae vireos very rare vagrant
  Fringillidae finches
  Parulidae New World warblers very rare vagrant
  Thraupidae tanagers very rare vagrant
  Emberizidae buntings and American sparrows
  Icteridae icterids very rare vagrant

The links above lead to family accounts and hence to individual species. Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so other arrangements may be found.

See also

• List of Australian birds