European birds

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.

European birds include the following families:

Gaviiformes

• Gaviidae divers

Podicepiformes

• Podicepidae grebes

Procellariiformes

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

Pelecaniformes

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

Anseriformes

• Anatidae swans, geese and ducks

Accipitriformes (Some classifications also include the Falconidae.)

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

Falconiformes (Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes.)

• Falconidae falcons

Galliformes

• Tetraonidae grouse
• Phasianidae partridges, pheasants, quails etc.
• Turnicidae buttonquails very marginal in Europe

Gruiformes

• Gruidae cranes
• Rallidae rails and crakes
• Otidae bustards

Charadriformes

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

Pterocliformes

• Pteroclidae sandgrouse

Columbiformes (Worldwide; 300 species.)

• 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
• Corvidae crows
• Sylviidae Old World warblers
• Regulidae kinglets
• Muscicapidae Old World flycatchers
• Aegithalidae long-tailed tits
• Remizidae penduline tits
• Paridae titmice
• Tichodromadidae Wallcreeper
• Sittidae nuthatches
• Certhiidae treecreepers
• Laniidae shrikes
• Corvidae crows and jays
• Emberizidae buntings and American sparrows
• Thraupidae tanagers very rare vagrant
• Vireonidae vireos very rare vagrant
• Parulidae New World warblers very rare vagrant
• Icteridae icterids very rare vagrant
• Fringillidae finches
• Estrildidae waxbills[?] etc introduced
• Ploceidae weavers[?] and sparrows
• Sturnidae starlings
• Oriolidae orioles

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 Australian birds, British birds