This is a list of the bird species recorded in Finland. The avifauna of Finland included a total of 501 confirmed species as of October 2024, according to BirdLife Suomi. Of them, six have been introduced by humans, and six have not been reported in Finland since 1950.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English, Finnish and scientific names) are from the BirdLife Suomi list.
The following tags have been used to highlight some categories of occurrence:
(A) Accidental – a species which is rare in Finland, requiring submission to the Finnish Rarities Committee (Rariteettikomitea) for acceptance (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Finland as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (H) Historical – a species that has not occurred in Finland since 1950
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.
Mute swan (), Cygnus olor Bewick's swan (), Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan (), Cygnus cygnus Taiga bean goose (), Anser fabalis Pink-footed goose (), Anser brachyrhynchus Greater white-fronted goose (), Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose (), Anser erythropus Greylag goose (), Anser anser Bar-headed goose (), Anser indicus (I) Canada goose (), Branta canadensis (I) Cackling goose (), Branta hutchinsii (A) Barnacle goose (), Branta leucopsis Brant goose (), Branta bernicla Red-breasted goose (), Branta ruficollis Ruddy shelduck (), Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck (), Tadorna tadorna Mandarin duck (), Aix galericulata (I) Eurasian wigeon (), Mareca penelope American wigeon (), Mareca americana (A) Gadwall (), Mareca strepera Baikal teal (), Sibirionetta formosa (A) Eurasian teal (), Anas crecca Green-winged teal (), Anas carolinensis (A) Mallard (), Anas platyrhynchos American black duck (), Anas rubribes (A) Northern pintail (), Anas acuta Garganey (), Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal (), Spatula discors (A) Northern shoveler (), Spatula clypeata Red-crested pochard (), Netta rufina (A) Common pochard (), Aythya ferina Ring-necked duck (), Aythya collaris (A) Ferruginous duck (), Aythya nyroca (A) Tufted duck (), Aythya fuligula Greater scaup (), Aythya marila Lesser scaup (), Aythya affinis (A) Common eider (), Somateria mollissima King eider (), Somateria spectabilis Steller's eider (), Polysticta stelleri Harlequin duck (), Histrionicus histrionicus (A) Long-tailed duck (), Clangula hyemalis Common scoter (), Melanitta nigra Black scoter (), Melanitta americana (A) Surf scoter (), Melanitta perspicillata (A) Velvet scoter (), Melanitta fusca White-winged scoter (), Melanitta deglandi (A) Common goldeneye (), Bucephala clangula Smew (), Mergellus albellus Red-breasted merganser (), Mergus serrator Goosander (), Mergus merganser Ruddy duck (), Oxyura jamaicensis (I) '
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 Willow ptarmigan (), Lagopus lagopus Rock ptarmigan (), Lagopus muta Western capercaillie (), Tetrao urogallus Black grouse (), Lyrurus tetrix Grey partridge (), Perdix perdix Common pheasant (), Phasianus colchicus (I) 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 Slavonian grebe (), Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe (), Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe (), Podiceps cristatus Black-necked grebe (), Podiceps nigricollis (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 (I) Stock dove (), Columba oenas Common wood pigeon (), Columba palumbus European turtle dove (), Streptopelia turtur Oriental turtle dove (), Streptopelia orientalis (A) Eurasian collared dove (), Streptopelia decaocto
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)
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) (H) MacQueen's bustard (), Chlamydotis macqueenii (A) (H) 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) Himalayan cuckoo (), Cuculus saturatus (A) Common cuckoo (), Cuculus canorus Oriental cuckoo (), Cuculus optatus (A)
Nightjars and allies 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
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
White-throated needletail (), Hirundapus caudacutus (A) Alpine swift (), Apus melba (A) Common swift (), Apus apus Pallid swift (), Apus pallidus (A) White-rumped swift (), Apus caffer (A)
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. They are generally shy and secretive birds making them difficult to observe, but some are bold and conspicuous. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and appear to be weak fliers, though many are capable of long-distance migration and dispersal.
Water rail (), Rallus aquaticus Corn crake (), Crex crex Spotted crake (), Porzana porzana Eurasian moorhen (), Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot (), Fulica atra Allen's gallinule (), Porphyrio alleni (A) Little crake (), Zapornia parva Baillon's crake (), Zapornia pusilla (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 or "dances".
Demoiselle crane (), Anthropoides virgo (A) Sandhill crane (), Antigone canadensis (A) Common crane (), Grus grus
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 (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
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.
Grey plover (), Pluvialis squatarola European golden plover (), Pluvialis apricaria American golden plover (), Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden plover (), Pluvialis fulva (A) Northern lapwing (), Vanellus vanellus Sociable lapwing (), Vanellus gregarius (A) White-tailed lapwing (), Vanellus leucurus (A) Lesser sand plover (), Charadrius mongolus (A) Greater sand plover (), Charadrius leschenaultii (A) Caspian plover (), Charadrius asiaticus (A) Kentish plover (), Charadrius alexandrinus (A) Common ringed plover (), Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover (), Charadrius dubius Oriental plover (), Charadrius veredus (A) Eurasian dotterel (), Charadrius morinellus
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including 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) Eurasian whimbrel (), Numenius phaeopus Little curlew (), Numenius minutus (A) Eurasian curlew (), Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit (), Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit (), Limosa limosa Ruddy turnstone (), Arenaria interpres Great knot (), Calidris tenuirostris (A) Red knot (), Calidris canutus Ruff (), Calidris pugnax Broad-billed sandpiper (), Calidris falcinellus Sharp-tailed sandpiper (), Calidris acuminata (A) Stilt sandpiper (), Calidris himantopus (A) Curlew sandpiper (), Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint (), Calidris temminckii Long-toed stint (), Calidris subminuta (A) Red-necked stint (), Calidris ruficollis (A) Sanderling (), Calidris alba Dunlin (), Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper (), Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper (), Calidris bairdii (A) Little stint (), Calidris minuta Least sandpiper (), Calidris minutilla (A) (H) White-rumped sandpiper (), Calidris fuscicollis (A) Buff-breasted sandpiper (), Calidris subruficollis (A) Pectoral sandpiper (), Calidris melanotos Long-billed dowitcher (), Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Jack snipe (), Lymnocryptes minimus Eurasian woodcock (), Scolopax rusticola Great snipe (), Gallinago media Common snipe (), Gallinago gallinago Wilson's snipe (), Gallinago delicata (A) Swinhoe's snipe (), Gallinago megala (A) Terek sandpiper (), Xenus cinereus Wilson's phalarope (), Phalaropus tricolor (A) Red-necked phalarope (), Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope (), Phalaropus fulicarius