This is a list of the bird species recorded in Serbia. The avifauna of Serbia include a total of 376 species, of which 2 have been introduced by humans.
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. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Serbia.The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.The conservation status shown is local.
(A) Accidental – a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Serbia (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Serbia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated – a species that no longer occurs in Serbia although populations exist elsewhere (EX) Globally extinct - a species that no longer exists anywhere in the world
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Common quail(Coturnix coturnix) Breeding summer visitor Rock partridge(Alectoris graeca) Rare localized breeding resident Common pheasant(Phasianus colchicus) (I) Abundant introduced breeding resident Grey partridge(Perdix perdix) Fairly common breeding resident Hazel grouse(Tetrastes bonasia) Scarce localized breeding resident Western capercaillie(Tetrao urogallus) Rare and highly localized breeding resident Black grouse(Lyrurus tetrix) (Ex) Extirpated breeding resident; vanished mid-20th century
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Snow goose(Anser caerulescens) (A) Accidental winter vagrant Greylag goose(Anser anser) Fairly common resident and winter visitor Greater white-fronted goose(Anser albifrons) Common winter visitor Lesser white-fronted goose(Anser erythropus) (A) Rare winter vagrant Taiga bean goose(Anser fabalis) (A) Rare winter vagrant Tundra bean goose(Anser serrirostris) (A) Scarce winter vagrant Pink-footed goose(Anser brachyrhynchus) (A) Accidental winter vagrant Brant goose(Branta bernicla) (A) Accidental winter vagrant Barnacle goose(Branta leucopsis) (A) Accidental winter vagrant Canada goose(Branta canadensis) (I) Rare introduced species Red-breasted goose(Branta ruficollis) Rare winter visitor Mute swan(Cygnus olor) Fairly common resident breeder Tundra swan(Cygnus columbianus) Scarce winter visitor Whooper swan(Cygnus cygnus) Regular winter visitor Egyptian goose(Alopochen aegyptiacus) (A) Accidental vagrant Ruddy shelduck(Tadorna ferruginea) (A) Rare vagrant Common shelduck(Tadorna tadorna) Fairly common migrant and winter visitor Wood duck(Aix sponsa) (I) Rare introduced species Mandarin duck(Aix galericulata) (A) Accidental vagrant Garganey(Spatula querquedula) Common summer visitor and breeding resident Northern shoveler(Spatula clypeata) Scarce resident breeder; common winter visitor Gadwall(Mareca strepera) Scarce resident breeder; common winter visitor Eurasian wigeon(Mareca penelope) Common winter visitor Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos) Abundant resident breeder and winter visitor Northern pintail(Anas acuta) Scarce resident breeder; common winter visitor Common teal(Anas crecca) Rare resident breeder; abundant winter visitor Red-crested pochard(Netta rufina) Scarce breeder and migrant Common pochard(Aythya ferina) Common resident breeder and winter visitor Ring-necked duck(Aythya collaris) (A) Accidental winter vagrant Ferruginous duck(Aythya nyroca) Fairly common resident breeder Tufted duck(Aythya fuligula) Scarce resident breeder; common winter visitor Greater scaup(Aythya marila) Scarce winter visitor Common eider(Somateria mollissima) (A) Accidental winter vagrant Velvet scoter(Melanitta fusca) Rare winter visitor Common scoter(Melanitta nigra) (A) Rare winter vagrant Long-tailed duck(Clangula hyemalis) Rare winter visitor Common goldeneye(Bucephala clangula) Common winter visitor Smew(Mergellus albellus) Fairly common winter visitor Goosander(Mergus merganser) Rare resident breeder; common winter visitor Red-breasted merganser(Mergus serrator) Regular winter visitor White-headed duck(Oxyura leucocephala) (Ex) Extirpated breeding resident; vanished mid-20th century
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Little grebe(Tachybaptus ruficollis) Common resident breeder and winter visitor Horned grebe(Podiceps auritus) Rare winter visitor Red-necked grebe(Podiceps grisegena) Scarce resident breeder; fairly common migrant Great crested grebe(Podiceps cristatus) Common resident breeder and winter visitor Black-necked grebe(Podiceps nigricollis) Fairly common resident breeder and migrant
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, 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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Greater flamingo(Phoenicopterus roseus) (A) Accidental vagrant
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Rock dove(Columba livia) Abundant feral resident; native wild populations are exceptionally rare or functionally extinct. Stock dove(Columba oenas) Fairly common resident breeder and migrant Common wood pigeon(Columba palumbus) Common resident breeder and migrant European turtle dove(Streptopelia turtur) Common summer visitor and breeding resident Oriental turtle dove(Streptopelia orientalis) (A) Accidental vagrant Eurasian collared dove(Streptopelia decaocto) Abundant resident breeder
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Pallas's sandgrouse(Syrrhaptes paradoxus) (A) Accidental vagrant; historically irruptive visitor
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status European nightjar(Caprimulgus europaeus) Fairly common summer visitor and breeding resident
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.
Common and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Alpine swift(Apus melba) Fairly common summer visitor and breeding resident Common swift(Apus apus) Common summer visitor and breeding resident Pallid swift(Apus pallidus) Rare summer visitor and breeding resident
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Great spotted cuckoo(Clamator glandarius) (A) Accidental vagrant Common cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) Common summer visitor and breeding resident
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Water rail(Rallus aquaticus) Fairly common resident breeder and migrant Corn crake(Crex crex) Fairly common summer visitor and breeding resident Spotted crake(Porzana porzana) Scarce summer visitor and breeding resident Common moorhen(Gallinula chloropus) Common resident breeder and migrant Eurasian coot(Fulica atra) Abundant resident breeder and winter visitor Little crake(Zapornia parva) Fairly common summer visitor and breeding resident Baillon's crake(Zapornia pusilla) (A) Accidental migrant and vagrant
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Common crane(Grus grus) Abundant localized autumn migrant; historically an extirpated breeder
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 and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Great bustard(Otis tarda) Rare and critically threatened resident breeder; localized strictly to northern plains. Little bustard(Tetrax tetrax) (Ex) Extirpated breeder; completely vanished as a nesting species during the 20th century.
Divers Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Divers, known as loons in North America, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of the arctic and cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.
Common and binomial names Image Status in Serbia Conservation status Red-throated diver(Gavia stellata) Rare winter visitor Black-throated diver(Gavia arctica) Regular winter visitor and migrant Great northern diver(Gavia immer) (A) Accidental winter vagrant White-billed diver(Gavia adamsii) (A) Accidental winter vagrant
Storks Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae