This is a list of the bird species recorded in Estonia. The avifauna of Estonia include a total of 404 species.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Accidental species are included in the total species count for Estonia.
The following tags highlight several categories of occurrence other than regular migrants and residents.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Estonia (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Estonia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
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.
Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Ross's goose, Anser rossii (A) Greylag goose, Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis Canada goose, Branta canadensis (I) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis Mute swan, Cygnus olor Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Wood duck, Aix sponsa (I) Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (I) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca 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 Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri King eider, Somateria spectabilis Common eider, Somateria mollissima Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A) Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri (A) Common scoter, Melanitta nigra Black scoter, Melanitta americana (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Gray partridge, Perdix perdix Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
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 Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Eared 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 pigeon, Columba livia 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) 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.
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.
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.
Alpine swift, Apus melba (A) 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.
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus Corn crake, Crex crex Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra 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
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are 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 thick-knee, 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.
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.
Black-bellied 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) Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A) Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (A) Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A)
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.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres 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 Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Little stint, Calidris minuta Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A) Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (A) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Great snipe, Gallinago media Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A) Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius (A) Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola Common redshank, Tringa totanus
Pratincoles and coursers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.
Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola (A) Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
Great skua, Stercorarius skua (A) Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus
Auks, murres and puffins Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.
Dovekie, Alle alle (A) Common murre, Uria aalge Razorbill, Alca torda Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle
Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae