The avifauna of Ireland included a total of 522 species as of the end of 2019 according to the Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC). Of them, 183 are rare, and 14 of the rarities have not been seen in Ireland since 1950. Three species were either introduced to Ireland or came to Ireland from another introduced population.

Ireland has a relatively low diversity of breeding birds due to its isolation. Several species such as the tawny owl, Eurasian nuthatch and willow tit which breed in Great Britain have not been recorded. However, there are large colonies of seabirds including important populations of European storm-petrels, northern gannets, and roseate terns. Other notable breeding birds include corn crakes and red-billed choughs. There are no endemic species but there are endemic subspecies of white-throated dipper, coal tit, and Eurasian jay.

Large numbers of wildfowl and waders winter in Ireland, attracted by its mild climate. About half the world population of the Greenland race of greater white-fronted geese spend the winter there. During autumn, many migrating seabirds can be seen off the coasts including several species of skuas, shearwaters, and petrels. Ireland's westerly position means that North American birds are regularly recorded in autumn.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) as of July 2021. Many of the Irish names are taken from the National Terminology Database for Irish.

The following A, B, and C tags are used by the IRBC to define the status of species. "R" is used here for rare species. The list does not include species placed in "Category D" by the IRBC. These are species where there is doubt as to whether they have occurred in a wild state (Category D1), they have arrived by human assistance such as on board a ship (D2), they have only been recorded dead on the tideline (D3), or they are feral species whose populations may not be self-sustaining (D4). Some species have records of individuals in more than one category; the "highest" category is listed here in those cases.

A - "Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state in Ireland at least once since 1st January 1950". B - "Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state in Ireland at least once up to 31st December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently", i.e. old vagrant records and/or regionally extinct species. C - "Species that, although originally introduced by man, have established feral breeding populations in Ireland which apparently maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction [and species] that have occurred, but are considered to have originated from established naturalised populations outside Ireland". R - Species on IRBC Appendix 1, those "requiring substantiating details", i.e. rarities.

Ducks, geese, swans

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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Brent goose Branta bernicla A Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis A R Canada goose Branta canadensis A R Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis / A Cackling goose Branta hutchinsii A R Snow goose Anser caerulescens A Greylag goose Anser anser / / A Taiga bean goose Anser fabalis A R Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus A Tundra bean goose Anser serrirostris A R Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons A Lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus / A R Mute swan Cygnus olor A Bewick's swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii A Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus A Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna A Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea / B Mandarin duck Aix galericulata C Baikal teal Sibirionetta formosa A R Garganey Spatula querquedula A Blue-winged teal Spatula discors A R 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 R Northern pintail Anas acuta A Eurasian teal Anas crecca A Green-winged teal Anas carolinensis A Red-crested pochard Netta rufina A Redhead Aythya americana A R Common pochard Aythya ferina / A Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca A R Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris A Tufted duck Aythya fuligula A Greater scaup Aythya marila A Lesser scaup Aythya affinis A R King eider Somateria spectabilis / A R Common eider Somateria mollissima A Surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata A Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca A White-winged scoter Melanitta deglandi A R Common scoter Melanitta nigra / A Black scoter Melanitta americana A R Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis A Bufflehead Bucephala albeola A R Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula A Barrow's goldeneye Bucephala islandica A R Smew Mergellus albellus A Hooded merganser Lophodytes cucullatus A R Goosander Mergus merganser / A Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator A Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis C

Pheasants and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus B Red grouse Lagopus scotica A Grey partridge Perdix perdix A Common quail Coturnix coturnix / A Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus C

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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status European nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus A Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor A R

Swifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus A R Chimney swift Chaetura pelagica A R Alpine swift Tachymarptis melba A Common swift Apus apus A Pallid swift Apus pallidus A R Little swift Apus affinis A R

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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Great bustard Otis tarda B R Little bustard Tetrax tetrax B 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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius A R Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus A R Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus B R 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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Pallas's sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus A 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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Rock dove Columba livia A Stock dove Columba oenas A Common wood pigeon Columba palumbus A European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur A Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto A Mourning dove Zenaida macroura A R

Rails, crakes 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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Water rail Rallus aquaticus / A Corn crake Crex crex A Sora Porzana carolina A R Spotted crake Porzana porzana A Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus / / A Eurasian coot Fulica atra A American coot Fulica americana A R Allen's gallinule Porphyrio alleni A R Purple gallinule Porphyrio martinica A R Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla A R Little crake Zapornia parva B R

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". Common name Binomial Irish name Status Sandhill crane Antiogne canadensis B R 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, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis / A Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps A R 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, thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae

The stone-curlews or 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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Eurasian stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus A R

Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus / / A

Stilts, 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. Common name Binomial Irish name Status Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus A Pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta A

Plovers

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.