This is a list of the bird species recorded in Sweden. The avifauna of Sweden included a total of 562 confirmed species as of 2024, according to Birdlife Sverige (BLS). Of them, seven have been introduced by humans and one, the great auk, is globally extinct. This list does not include species whose origin (whether wild or human-assisted) is not known.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (Swedish, English and scientific names) are those of AviList, which the Swedish Taxonomic Committee follows as of June 2025.AviList Core Team. 2025. AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025
The following tags have been used to highlight some categories of occurrence as noted by Birdlife Sverige. (B) Breeding – regularly breeds in Sweden (b) Irregularly breeding – irregularly breeds in Sweden (M) Migrating or wintering – does not breed in Sweden but passes through on migration or regular non-breeding visitor (O) Occasional – annual but irregular, with more than 100 records in total (R) Rarity - less than 100 records (I) Introduced - a species introduced directly or indirectly to Sweden and which has an established population or is derived from such a population outside Sweden
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes geese, swans, and ducks. 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 (R) (I) Mute swan () Cygnus olor (B) Tundra swan () Cygnus columbianus (M) Whooper swan () Cygnus cygnus (B) Brant goose () Branta bernicla (M) Red-breasted goose () Branta ruficollis (O) Canada goose () Branta canadensis (B) (I) Barnacle goose () Branta leucopsis (B) Cackling goose () Branta hutchinsii (R) Bar-headed goose () Anser indicus (O) (I) Ross's goose () Anser rossi (R) Greylag goose () Anser anser (B) Lesser white-fronted goose () Anser erythropus (B) Greater white-fronted goose () Anser albifrons (M) Tundra bean goose () Anser serrirostris (b) Pink-footed goose () Anser brachyrhynchus (M) Taiga bean goose () Anser fabalis (B) Mandarin duck () Aix galericulata (B) (I) Egyptian goose () Alopochen aegyptiaca (O) (I) Common shelduck () Tadorna tadorna (B) Ruddy shelduck () Tadorna ferruginea (O) Long-tailed duck () Clangula hyemalis (B) Steller's eider () Polysticta stelleri (O) King eider () Somateria spectabilis (O) Common eider () Somateria mollissima (B) Harlequin duck () Histrionicus histrionicus (R) Common scoter () Melanitta nigra (B) Black scoter () Melanitta americana (R) Surf scoter () Melanitta perspicillata (O) Velvet scoter () Melanitta fusca (B) White-winged scoter () Melanitta deglandi (R) Stejneger's scoter () Melanitta stejnegeri (R) Common goldeneye () Bucephala clangula (B) Smew () Mergellus albellus (B) Red-breasted merganser () Mergus serrator (B) Common merganser () Mergus merganser (B) Red-crested pochard () Netta rufina (O) Ferruginous duck () Aythya nyroca (R) Common pochard () Aythya ferina (B) Ring-necked duck () Aythya collaris (R) Tufted duck () Aythya fuligula (B) Lesser scaup () Aythya affinis (R) Greater scaup () Aythya marila (B) Baikal teal () Sibirionetta formosa (R) Garganey () Spatula querquedula (B) Blue-winged teal () Spatula discors (R) Northern shoveler () Spatula clypeata (B) Gadwall () Mareca strepera (B) Eurasian wigeon () Mareca penelope (B) American wigeon () Mareca americana (O) Mallard () Anas platyrhynchos (B) American black duck () Anas rubripes (R) Northern pintail () Anas acuta (B) Green-winged teal () Anas crecca (B) Eurasian green-winged teal () Anas crecca crecca (B) American green-winged teal () Anas crecca carolinensis (O)
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 (B) Rock ptarmigan () Lagopus muta (B) Willow ptarmigan () Lagopus lagopus (B) Western capercaillie () Tetrao urogallus (B) Black grouse () Lyrurus tetrix (B) Grey partridge () Perdix perdix (B) Common pheasant () Phasianus colchicus (B) (I) Common quail () Coturnix coturnix (B)
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 (B) Horned grebe () Podiceps auritus (B) Red-necked grebe () Podiceps grisegena (B) Great crested grebe () Podiceps cristatus (B) Black-necked grebe () Podiceps nigricollis (B)
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 (R) Asian houbara () Chlamydotis macqueenii (R) Little bustard () Tetrax tetrax (R)
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 (R) Common cuckoo () Cuculus canorus (B)
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 (R)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Mourning dove () Zenaida macroura (R) Oriental turtle dove () Streptopelia orientalis (R) European turtle dove () Streptopelia turtur (O) Eurasian collared dove () Streptopelia decaocto (B) Common wood pigeon () Columba palumbus (B) Rock dove / feral pigeon () Columba livia (B) (I) Stock dove () Columba oenas (B)
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 (R) Demoiselle crane () Grus virgo (R) Common crane () Grus grus (B)
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 (B) Corn crake () Crex crex (B) Sora () Porzana carolina (R) Spotted crake () Porzana porzana (B) Common moorhen () Gallinula chloropus (B) Eurasian coot () Fulica atra (B) Little crake () Zapornia parva (O) Baillon's crake () Zapornia pusilla (R)
Stone-curlews Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The stone-curlews 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 stone-curlew () Burhinus oedicnemus (R)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the stilts and avocets. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills.
Pied avocet () Recurvirostra avosetta (B) Black-winged stilt () Himantopus himantopus (R)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs and probing for worms.
Eurasian oystercatcher () Haematopus ostralegus (B)
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.
Grey plover () Pluvialis squatarola (M) European golden plover () Pluvialis apricaria (B) Pacific golden plover () Pluvialis fulva (R) American golden plover () Pluvialis dominica (R) Eurasian dotterel () Eudromias morinellus (B) Common ringed plover () Charadrius hiaticula (B) Little ringed plover () Thinornis dubius (B) Northern lapwing () Vanellus vanellus (B) Grey-headed lapwing () Vanellus cinereus (R) Sociable lapwing () Vanellus gregarius (R) White-tailed lapwing () Vanellus leucurus (R) Caspian plover () Anarhynchus asiaticus (R) Oriental plover () Anarhynchus veredus (R) Tibetan sand plover () Anarhynchus atrifrons (R) Siberian sand plover () Anarhynchus mongolus (R) Greater sand plover () Anarhynchus leschenaultii (R) Kentish plover () Anarhynchus alexandrinus (O)
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 (R) Little curlew () Numenius minutus (R) Eurasian whimbrel () Numenius phaeopus (B) Eurasian curlew () Numenius arquata (B) Bar-tailed godwit () Limosa lapponica (B) Black-tailed godwit () Limosa limosa (B) Hudsonian godwit () Limosa haemastica (R) Long-billed dowitcher () Limnodromus scolopaceus (R) Short-billed dowitcher () Limnodromus griseus (R) Jack snipe () Lymnocryptes minimus (B) Eurasian woodcock () Scolopax rusticola (B) Great snipe () Gallinago media (B) Wilson's snipe () Gallinago delicata (R) Common snipe () Gallinago gallinago (B) Terek sandpiper () Xenus cinereus (O) Common sandpiper () Actitis hypoleucos (B) Spotted sandpiper () Actitis macularius (R) Wilson's phalarope () Phalaropus tricolor (R) Red phalarope () Phalaropus fulicarius (O) Red-necked phalarope () Phalaropus lobatus (B) Green sandpiper () Tringa ochropus (B) Solitary sandpiper () Tringa solitaria (R) Grey-tailed tattler () Tringa brevipes (R) Marsh sandpiper () Tringa stagnatilis (O) Wood sandpiper () Tringa glareola (B) Common redshank () Tringa totanus (B) Lesser yellowlegs () Tringa flavipes (R) Spotted redshank () Tringa erythropus (B) Common greenshank () Tringa nebularia (B) Greater yellowlegs () Tringa melanoleuca (R) Ruddy turnstone () Arenaria interpres (B) Red knot () Calidris canutus (M) Great knot () Calidris tenuirostris (R) Ruff () Calidris pugnax (B) Sharp-tailed sandpiper () Calidris acuminata (R)