This is a list of the bird species recorded in Austria. The avifauna of Austria included a total of 458 species as of July 2023 according to the Avifaunistic Commission of BirdLife Austria (Avifaunistische Kommission, AFK) with supplemental additions from Avibase. Of them, 9 have been introduced by humans. Eighteen species have not been recorded in the wild since 1950.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved October 25, 2022.
The following tags are used in the status column to define several categories of occurrence; the definitions are those of the AFK.
A: Accidental – species having "either less than 15 records in total or a maximum of 5 records [since 1997] irrespective of the total number of records" H: Historical – "Recorded in a wild state in Austria only between 1800 and 31 December 1949." I: Introduced – "Established in Austria as self-sustaining breeding species by man."
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.
Common name Binomial Status Graylag goose Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus A Taiga bean-goose Anser fabalis Tundra bean-goose Anser serrirostris Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus A Brant Branta bernicla A Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis Cackling goose Branta hutchinsii A Canada goose Branta canadensis I Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis A Mute swan Cygnus olor Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiacus I Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea H I Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna Wood duck Aix sponsa I Mandarin duck Aix galericulata I Baikal teal Sibirionetta formosa A Garganey Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal Spatula discors A Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata Gadwall Mareca strepera Falcated duck Mareca falcata A H Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope American wigeon Mareca americana A Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail Anas acuta Green-winged teal Anas crecca Marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris A Red-crested pochard Netta rufina Common pochard Aythya ferina Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris A Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Greater scaup Aythya marila Common eider Somateria mollissima Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus A Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca Common scoter Melanitta nigra Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula Smew Mergellus albellus Common merganser Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator A Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis A I White-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala A
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.
Common name Binomial Status Hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia Rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta Western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Black grouse Lyrurus tetrix Gray partridge Perdix perdix Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus I Common quail Coturnix coturnix Rock partridge Alectoris graeca
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Common name Binomial Status Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
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 Status Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Horned grebe Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus Eared grebe Podiceps nigricollis
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 Status Rock pigeon 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.
Common name Binomial Status Pallas's sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus A H
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 Status Great bustard Otis tarda MacQueen's bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii A Little bustard Tetrax tetrax extirpated
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 Status Great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius A Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus
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.
Common name Binomial Status 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.
Common name Binomial Status Alpine swift Apus melba Common swift Apus apus Pallid swift Apus pallidus 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. 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 Status Water rail Rallus aquaticus Corn crake Crex crex Spotted crake Porzana porzana Eurasian moorhen Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot Fulica atra Western swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio A H 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".
Common name Binomial Status Demoiselle crane Anthropoides virgo A Common crane Grus grus
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.
Common name Binomial Status Eurasian thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus
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.
Common name Binomial Status Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus 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.
Common name Binomial Status 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.
Common name Binomial Status Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola A European golden-plover Pluvialis apricaria A 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 Greater sand-plover Charadrius leschenaultii A Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius Eurasian dotterel Charadrius morinellus
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.