This is a list of the bird species recorded in Cyprus. The avifauna of Cyprus include a total of 422 species. Of these, 22 species are globally threatened.
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 Cyprus.
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 Cyprus (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Cyprus (Ex) Extirpated - a species no longer found in Cyprus but found elsewhere
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, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Greylag goose, Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (A) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A) Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A) Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus (A) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Eurasian teal, Anas crecca Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (Ex) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Common scoter, Melanitta nigra (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (A) Smew, Mergellus albellus (A) Goosander, Mergus merganser (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (A) White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala (A)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Chukar, Alectoris chukar Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos (genus Phoenicopterus monotypic in family Phoenicopteridae) 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 Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor (A)
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 Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus (A) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A) Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Black-necked 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 dove, Columba livia Stock dove, Columba oenas (A) Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A) Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto RB Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (A)
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon-like heads and necks and sturdy compact bodies. The adults are sexually dimorphic with the males being slightly larger and more brightly coloured than the females. They have eleven strong primary feathers and long pointed wings giving them a fast direct flight. The muscles of the wings are powerful and the birds are capable of rapid take off and sustained flight. There is a dense layer of under down which helps insulate the bird from extremes of heat and cold. The feathers of the belly are specially adapted for absorbing water and retaining it, allowing adults, particularly males, to carry water to chicks that may be many miles away from watering holes.
Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata (Ex) Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis (Ex)
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 (Ex) MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (Ex) Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (Ex)
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.
Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius (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 cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.
Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
The 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 Common swift, Apus apus Pallid swift, Apus pallidus Little swift, Apus affinis
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. The most typical family members occupy 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 (A) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A) Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus (A) 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 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
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
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious 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.
Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius (A) White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus (A) Greater sand plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus (A) Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius (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. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Eurasian whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A) Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (A) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus (A) Ruff, Calidris pugnax Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus (A) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A) Little stint, Calidris minuta Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A) Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Great snipe, Gallinago media (A) Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A) Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos 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
Pratincoles have short legs, very long pointed wings and long forked tails. Their most unusual feature for birds classed as waders is that they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground. Their short bills are an adaptation to aerial feeding.
Cream-coloured courser, Cursorius cursor