This is a list of the bird species recorded in Russia. The avifauna of Russia include a total of 810 species, 3 of which are endemic, 68 species are globally threatened, and 2 species are extinct.
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 Russia.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Russia (Ext) Extirpated - a species which no longer occurs in Russia, but other populations still exist elsewhere (Ex) Extinct - a species which no longer exists (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Russia (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Russia 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.
Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus Emperor goose, Anser canagica Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii (A) Graylag goose, Anser anser Swan goose, Anser cygnoides 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 Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (I) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis Mute swan, Cygnus olor Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Crested shelduck, Tadorna cristata (A) Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri Spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri King eider, Somateria spectabilis Common eider, Somateria mollissima Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A) Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (A) Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri Common scoter, Melanitta nigra Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (A) Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Scaly-sided merganser, Mergus squamatus Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (I) White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
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.
Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Chukar, Alectoris chukar Caucasian snowcock, Tetraogallus caucasicus Altai snowcock, Tetraogallus altaicus Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus Gray partridge, Perdix perdix Daurian partridge, Perdix dauurica Black-billed capercaillie, Tetrao urogalloides Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix Caucasian grouse, Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia Siberian grouse, Dendragapus falcipennis (E) Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta
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
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
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 Hill pigeon, Columba rupestris Stock dove, Columba oenas Yellow-eyed pigeon, Columba eversmanni (A) Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto Red collared dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica (A) Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (A) White-bellied green-pigeon, Treron sieboldii
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 Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata (A) Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis
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 MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax
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.
Northern hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx hyperythrus Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus
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.
Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka 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.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba Common swift, Apus apus Pacific swift, Apus pacificus
Hummingbirds Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (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 Brown-cheeked rail, Rallus indicus Corn crake, Crex crex Sora, Porzana carolina Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A) Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus (A) Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Band-bellied crake, Zapornia paykullii Little crake, Zapornia parva Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla Swinhoe's rail, Coturnicops exquisitus
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 Siberian crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis White-naped crane, Antigone vipio Common crane, Grus grus Hooded crane, Grus monacha Red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis
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
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.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Ibisbill Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Ibidorhynchidae
Ibisbill, Ibidorhyncha struthersii (A)
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 Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani
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 Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Gray-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus (A) Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus (A) Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus