This list of the bird species of Norway comprises all bird species that have been recorded in a wild state in Norway. It follows the official list of Birdlife Norge, formerly Norsk Ornitologisk Forening (NOF). Bird species admitted are those in categories A, B or C:
A: species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950. B: species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently. C: species that, although originally introduced by humans, either deliberately or accidentally, have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, which maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.
Categories D and E (not listed here) are used for record keeping only, and species in these categories are not included in the list: D: species that would otherwise appear in categories A or B except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state. E: species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees, or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are not believed to be self-sustaining.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of AviList, 2025 edition.AviList Core Team. 2025. AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025 The Norwegian (bokmål) names in parentheses are from the BirdLife Norge list.
The following tags have been used to highlight some categories of occurrence as noted by the NOF. (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Norway (I) Introduced - a species introduced directly or indirectly to Norway and which has an established population (Ex) Extirpated - a species which no longer occurs in Norway, but other populations still exist elsewhere
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Ruddy duck (), Oxyura jamaicensis (I)
Mute swan (), Cygnus olor Tundra swan (), Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan (), Cygnus cygnus Brant (), Branta bernicla Red-breasted goose (), Branta ruficollis (A) (vulnerable) Canada goose (), Branta canadensis Barnacle goose (), Branta leucopsis Cackling goose (), Branta hutchinsii (A) Bar-headed goose (), Anser indicus (I) Ross's goose (), Anser rossii (A) Snow goose (), Anser caerulescens (A) Graylag goose (), Anser anser Lesser white-fronted goose (), Anser erythropus (vulnerable) Greater white-fronted goose (), Anser albifrons Tundra bean-goose (), Anser serrirostris Pink-footed goose (), Anser brachyrhynchus Taiga bean-goose (), Anser fabalis Mandarin duck (), Aix galericulata (A) (I) Egyptian goose (), Alopochen aegyptiaca (A) (I) Common shelduck (), Tadorna tadorna Ruddy shelduck (), Tadorna ferruginea (A) Long-tailed duck (), Clangula hyemalis Steller's eider (), Polysticta stelleri Spectacled eider (), Somateria fischeri (A) King eider (), Somateria spectabilis Common eider (), Somateria mollissima (near-threatened) Harlequin duck (), Histrionicus histrionicus (A) Common scoter (), Melanitta nigra Black scoter (), Melanitta americana (A) Surf scoter (), Melanitta perspicillata (A) Velvet scoter (), Melanitta fusca (vulnerable) Stejneger's scoter (), Melanitta stejnegeri (A) White-winged scoter (), Melanitta deglandi (A) Bufflehead (), Bucephala albeola (A) (D) Barrow's goldeneye (), Bucephala islandica (A) Common goldeneye (), Bucephala clangula Smew (), Mergellus albellus Red-breasted merganser (), Mergus serrator Common merganser (), Mergus merganser Red-crested pochard (), Netta rufina (A) Ferruginous duck (), Aythya nyroca (A) (near-threatened) Common pochard (), Aythya ferina (vulnerable) Ring-necked duck (), Aythya collaris (A) Tufted duck (), Aythya fuligula Lesser scaup (), Aythya affinis (A) Greater scaup (), Aythya marila Baikal teal (), Sibirionetta formosa (A) Garganey (), Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal (), Spatula discors (A) Northern shoveler (), Spatula clypeata Gadwall (), Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon (), Mareca penelope American wigeon (), Mareca americana (A) Mallard (), Anas platyrhynchos American black duck (), Anas rubripes (A) Northern pintail (), Anas acuta Green-winged teal (), Anas crecca
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings.
Hazel grouse (), Tetrastes bonasia Rock ptarmigan (), Lagopus muta Willow ptarmigan (), Lagopus lagopus Western capercaillie (), Tetrao urogallus Black grouse (), Lyrurus tetrix Gray partridge (), Perdix perdix (Ex) Common quail (), Coturnix coturnix
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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.
Little grebe (), Tachybaptus ruficollis Pied-billed grebe (), Podilymbus podiceps (A) Horned grebe (), Podiceps auritus (vulnerable) Red-necked grebe (), Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe (), Podiceps cristatus Eared grebe (), Podiceps nigricollis (A)
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: 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.
Great bustard (), Otis tarda (A) Little bustard (), Tetrax tetrax (A)
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: 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.
Great spotted cuckoo (), Clamator glandarius (A) Yellow-billed cuckoo (), Coccyzus americanus (A) Common cuckoo (), Cuculus canorus
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: 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.
Pallas's sandgrouse (), Syrrhaptes paradoxus (A)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Oriental turtle-dove (), Streptopelia orientalis (A) European turtle-dove (), Streptopelia turtur (vulnerable) Eurasian collared-dove (), Streptopelia decaocto Common wood-pigeon (), Columba palumbus Rock pigeon (), Columba livia (I) Stock dove (), Columba oenas
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: 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".
Sandhill crane (), Antigone canadensis (A) Demoiselle crane (), Grus virgo (A) Common crane (), Grus grus
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: 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.
Water rail (), Rallus aquaticus Corn crake (), Crex crex Sora (), Porzana carolina (A) Spotted crake (), Porzana porzana Eurasian moorhen (), Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot (), Fulica atra Little crake (), Zapornia parva (A)
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes, and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Eurasian thick-knee (), Burhinus oedicnemus (A)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Pied avocet (), Recurvirostra avosetta Black-winged stilt (), Himantopus himantopus (A)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Eurasian oystercatcher (), Haematopus ostralegus
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Black-bellied plover (), Pluvialis squatarola European golden-plover (), Pluvialis apricaria American golden-plover (), Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden-plover (), Pluvialis fulva (A) Eurasian dotterel (), Eudromias morinellus Killdeer (), Charadrius vociferus (A) Common ringed plover (), Charadrius hiaticula (A) Semipalmated plover (), Charadrius semipalmatus (A) Little ringed plover (), Thinornis dubius Northern lapwing (), Vanellus vanellus Gray-headed lapwing (), Vanellus cinereus (A) White-tailed lapwing (), Vanellus leucurus (A) Caspian plover (), Charadrius asiaticus (A) Oriental plover (), Charadrius veredus (A) Tibetan sand plover (), Charadrius mongolus (A) Siberian sand plover (), Charadrius mongolus (A) Greater sand plover (), Charadrius leschenaultii (A) Kentish plover (), Charadrius alexandrinus (A)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Upland sandpiper (), Bartramia longicauda (A) Little curlew (), Numenius minutus (A) Hudsonian whimbrel (), Numenius hudsonicus (A) Eurasian whimbrel (), Numenius phaeopus Eurasian curlew (), Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit (), Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit (), Limosa limosa Hudsonian godwit (), Limosa haemastica (A) Long-billed dowitcher (), Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Short-billed dowitcher (), Limnodromus griseus (A) Jack snipe (), Lymnocryptes minimus Eurasian woodcock (), Scolopax rusticola Great snipe (), Gallinago media Common snipe (), Gallinago gallinago Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A) Terek sandpiper (), Xenus cinereus (A) Common sandpiper (), Actitis hypoleucos Spotted sandpiper (), Actitis macularia (A) Wilson's phalarope (), Phalaropus tricolor (A)