This is a list of the bird species recorded in Denmark. The avifauna of Denmark included a total of 504 species recorded in the wild by according to the Dansk Ornitologisk Forening (DOF; Danish Ornithological Society)'s DK listen (this list uses only Danish names, with the English names below abstracted from the DOF's Western Palaearctic list.) This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of the IOC World Bird List, 2022 edition.
Bird species admitted to the Danish List are included in the following categories A, B or C, with the same definitions as the British and other Western Palaearctic bird lists: 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 introduced by humans, and have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, which maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction. Species marked with a * are rare species which require acceptance by the (SU; the Danish Rarities Committee).
Grouse, pheasants, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
These are terrestrial species of game birds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings.
Common quail () Coturnix coturnix A Black grouse () Lyrurus tetrix A* Grey partridge () Perdix perdix A Common pheasant () Phasianus colchicus C
Geese, swans, and ducks 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.
Brant goose () Branta bernicla A Red-breasted goose () Branta ruficollis A Canada goose () Branta canadensis C Barnacle goose () Branta leucopsis A Bar-headed goose () Anser indicus C Ross's goose () Anser rossii A* Greylag goose () Anser anser A Taiga bean goose () Anser fabalis A Pink-footed goose () Anser brachyrhynchus A Tundra bean goose () Anser serrirostris A Greater white-fronted goose () Anser albifrons A Lesser white-fronted goose () Anser erythropus A Black swan () Cygnus atratus C Mute swan () Cygnus olor A Tundra swan () Cygnus columbianus A Whooper swan () Cygnus cygnus A Egyptian goose () Alopochen aegyptiacus C Common shelduck () Tadorna tadorna A Ruddy shelduck () Tadorna ferruginea A Mandarin duck () Aix galericulata C Baikal teal () Sibirionetta formosa A* Garganey () Spatula querquedula A Blue-winged teal () Spatula discors A* Northern shoveler () Spatula clypeata A Gadwall () Mareca strepera A Eurasian wigeon () Mareca penelope A American wigeon () Mareca americana A* Mallard () Anas platyrhynchos A American black duck () Anas rubripes A* Northern pintail () Anas acuta A Eurasian teal () Anas crecca A Green-winged teal () Anas carolinensis A Red-crested pochard () Netta rufina A Common pochard () Aythya ferina A Ferruginous duck () Aythya nyroca A* Ring-necked duck () Aythya collaris A* Tufted duck () Aythya fuligula A Greater scaup () Aythya marila A Lesser scaup () Aythya affinis A* Steller's eider () Polysticta stelleri A* King eider () Somateria spectabilis A Common eider () Somateria mollissima A Surf scoter () Melanitta perspicillata A* Velvet scoter () Melanitta fusca A White-winged scoter () Melanitta deglandi A* Stejneger's scoter () Melanitta stejnegeri A* Common scoter () Melanitta nigra A Black scoter () Melanitta americana A* Long-tailed duck () Clangula hyemalis A Common goldeneye () Bucephala clangula A Smew () Mergellus albellus A Goosander () Mergus merganser A Red-breasted merganser () Mergus serrator A Ruddy duck () Oxyura jamaicensis C* White-headed duck () Oxyura leucocephala A*
Nightjars Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
Eurasian nightjar () Caprimulgus europaeus A Egyptian nightjar () Caprimulgus aegyptius A*
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. They have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent.
White-throated needletail () Hirundapus caudacutus A* Alpine swift () Tachymarptis melba A* Common swift () Apus apus A Pallid swift () Apus pallidus A* Pacific swift () Apus pacificus A* Little swift () Apus affinis A* White-rumped swift () Apus caffer 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* MacQueen's bustard () Chlamydotis macqueenii B* Little bustard () Tetrax tetrax A*
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos and allies. 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 B* Black-billed cuckoo () Coccyzus erythropthalmus A* Common cuckoo () Cuculus canorus A
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.
Rock dove () Columba livia C Stock dove () Columba oenas A Common wood pigeon () Columba palumbus A European turtle dove () Streptopelia turtur A Oriental turtle dove () Streptopelia orientalis A* Eurasian collared dove () Streptopelia decaocto A Mourning dove () Zenaida macroura A*
Rails, moorhens, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and moorhens. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. Many 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 A Corn crake () Crex crex A Little crake () Zapornia parva A* Baillon's crake () Zapornia pusilla A* Spotted crake () Porzana porzana A Allen's gallinule () Porphyrula alleni B* Common moorhen () Gallinula chloropus A Eurasian coot () Fulica atra A
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.
Sandhill crane () Antigone canadensis A* Demoiselle crane () Anthropoides virgo A* Common crane () Grus grus A
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are placed far back on the body, making them ungainly on land.
Little grebe () Tachybaptus ruficollis A Red-necked grebe () Podiceps grisegena A Great crested grebe () Podiceps cristatus A Slavonian grebe () Podiceps auritus A Black-necked grebe () Podiceps nigricollis A
Stone-curlews Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
Stone-curlews and thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some 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 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 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.
Black-winged stilt () Himantopus himantopus A* Pied avocet () Recurvirostra avosetta A
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.
Northern lapwing () Vanellus vanellus A Sociable lapwing () Vanellus gregarius A* White-tailed lapwing () Vanellus leucurus A* European golden plover () Pluvialis apricaria A Pacific golden plover () Pluvialis fulva A* American golden plover () Pluvialis dominica A* Grey plover () Pluvialis squatarola A Common ringed plover () Charadrius hiaticula A Little ringed plover () Charadrius dubius A Kentish plover () Charadrius alexandrinus A Siberian sand plover () Charadrius mongolus A* Tibetan sand plover () Charadrius atrifrons A* Greater sand plover () Charadrius leschenaultii A* Caspian plover () Charadrius asiaticus A* Eurasian dotterel () Charadrius morinellus A
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, woodcocks, snipe, 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* Eurasian whimbrel () Numenius phaeopus A Eurasian curlew () Numenius arquata A Bar-tailed godwit () Limosa lapponica A Black-tailed godwit () Limosa limosa A Hudsonian godwit () Limosa haemastica A* Ruddy turnstone () Arenaria interpres A Red knot () Calidris canutus A Ruff () Calidris pugnax A Broad-billed sandpiper () Calidris falcinellus A Sharp-tailed sandpiper () Calidris acuminata A* Stilt sandpiper () Calidris himantopus A* Curlew sandpiper () Calidris ferruginea A Temminck's stint () Calidris temminckii A Red-necked stint () Calidris ruficollis A* Sanderling () Calidris alba A Dunlin () Calidris alpina A Purple sandpiper () Calidris maritima A Baird's sandpiper () Calidris bairdii A* Little stint () Calidris minuta A White-rumped sandpiper () Calidris fuscicollis A* Buff-breasted sandpiper () Calidris subruficollis A* Pectoral sandpiper () Calidris melanotos A Semipalmated sandpiper () Calidris pusilla A* Long-billed dowitcher () Limnodromus scolopaceus A*