This is a list of the bird species recorded in Greece. The avifauna of Greece included a total of 462 species according to the Hellenic Rarities Committee of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (Ελληνική Ορνιθολογική Εταιρεία). Of them, four have not been recorded since 1950 and 7 have been introduced by humans. This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of the Hellenic Ornithological Society.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence. Species without tags are regularly occurring residents, migrants, or seasonal visitors which have been recorded since 1 January 1950.
(*) Rare in Greece; reports of these 117 species require submission to the Hellenic Rarities Committee for inclusion in the official record. (B) Species which have not occurred in Greece since 1 January 1950. (C) Species that do not occur naturally in Greece, although breeding populations have been introduced by humans. (Ex) Extinct in Greece - a species that no longer occurs in Greece although populations exist elsewhere.
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 Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca Chukar partridge, Alectoris chukar Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa (C) Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus (B Ex) Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (C) Grey partridge, Perdix perdix Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix (*)
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.
White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala Mute swan, Cygnus olor Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (*) Brent goose, Branta bernicla (*) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (*) Greylag goose, Anser anser Bean goose, Anser fabalis (*) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Common eider, Somateria mollissima (*) Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca Common scoter, Melanitta nigra (*) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus Goosander, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (*) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (*) Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
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 Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
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.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
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 Stock dove, Columba oenas Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis (*) Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis (*)
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 (B) (*) Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis (*) Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata (*)
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.
European 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, Tachymarptis melba Little swift, Apus affinis (*) Pallid swift, Apus pallidus Common swift, Apus apus
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos and allies. 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 Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
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 Little crake, Zapornia parva Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio (*) Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (*) Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
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 (*) Common crane, Grus grus
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.
Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (*) Great bustard, Otis tarda (*) African houbara, Chlamydotis undulata (B) (*)
Loons Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.
Red-throated diver, Gavia stellata Black-throated diver, Gavia arctica Great northern diver, Gavia immer (*)
Northern storm petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
The northern storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
European storm petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus (*)
Shearwaters and petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized petrels and shearwaters, characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Scopoli's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (*) Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus (*)
Storks Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
Black stork, Ciconia nigra White stork, Ciconia ciconia
Ibises and spoonbills Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wetland birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
Herons, egrets, and bitterns Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Eurasian bittern, Botaurus stellaris Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax Striated heron, Butorides striata (*) Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis Grey heron, Ardea cinerea Purple heron, Ardea purpurea Great egret, Ardea alba Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca (*) Little egret, Egretta garzetta Western reef heron, Egretta gularis (*)
Pelicans Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.
Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
Boobies and gannets Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Northern gannet, Morus bassanus
Cormorants and shags Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colour varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus European shag, Gulosus aristotelis Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Stone-curlews Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The stone-curlews 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 stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae