This is a list of the bird species recorded in Portugal. The avifauna of mainland Portugal, the Azores, and Madeira islands included a total of 632 species as of October 2024 according to Avibase. Of them, 16 have been introduced by humans. 3 are endemic to islands, one is extinct.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of IOC World Bird List.
The following tags have been used to highlight some categories of occurrence. The notes such as "Azores only" and the notes of population status such as "endangered" are from Bird Checklists of the World. The latter notes apply to the worldwide population, not just that in Portugal.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in mainland Portugal, the Azores, or Madeiras (I) Introduced - a species introduced to mainland Portugal, the Azores, or Madeiras 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.
Common name Binomial Status Fulvous whistling duck Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Snow goose Anser caerulescens (A) Azores only Greylag goose Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons (A) Taiga bean goose Anser fabalis Tundra bean goose Anser serrirostris (A) Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus (A) Brent goose Branta bernicla (A) Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis (A) Cackling goose Branta hutchinsii (A) Canada goose Branta canadensis Mute swan Cygnus olor (A) Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus (A) Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus (A) Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca (I) Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea (A) Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna Muscovy duck Cairina moschata (I) Madeiras only Wood duck Aix sponsa (A) Azores only Garganey Spatula querquedula Blue-billed teal Spatula hottentota (A) 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 American black duck Anas rubripes (A) Azores only Northern pintail Anas acuta Eurasian teal Anas crecca Green-winged teal Anas carolinensis (A) Marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris (A) vulnerable Red-crested pochard Netta rufina Redhead Aythya americana (A) Common pochard Aythya ferina vulnerable Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris (A) Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca near-threatened Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Greater scaup Aythya marila Lesser scaup Aythya affinis (A) King eider Somateria spectabilis (A) Azores only Common eider Somateria mollissima (A) near-threatened Surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata (A) Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca White-winged scoter Melanitta deglandi (A) Common scoter Melanitta nigra Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis (A) vulnerable Bufflehead Bucephala albeola (A) Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula (A) Smew Mergellus albellus (A) Hooded merganser Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Azores only Common merganser Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis (A) White-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala (A) endangered
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 name Binomial Status Western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Present in country according to source, but not listed as present in other sources. Grey partridge Perdix perdix Possibly extinct in Portugal Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus (I) Common quail Coturnix coturnix Red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa
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 name Binomial Status 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.
Common name Binomial Status Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (S) Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps (A) Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus (A) vulnerable 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.
Common name Binomial Status Rock dove Columba livia Stock dove Columba oenas Common wood pigeon Columba palumbus Trocaz pigeon Columba trocaz endemic to the island of Madeira European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur vulnerable Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto Mourning dove Zenaida macroura (A) Azores only
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 name Binomial Status Pin-tailed sandgrouse Pterocles alchata 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.
Common name Binomial Status Great bustard Otis tarda vulnerable Little bustard Tetrax tetrax near-threatened
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 name Binomial Status Great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus (A) Azores only Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A) Azores only 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.
Common name Binomial Status Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor (A) Azores and Madeiras only Red-necked nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis 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.
Common name Binomial Status Chimney swift Chaetura pelagica (A) vulnerable Alpine swift Apus melba Common swift Apus apus Plain swift Apus unicolor Madeiras only Pallid swift Apus pallidus Little swift Apus affinis (A) White-rumped swift Apus caffer
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 name Binomial Status Water rail Rallus aquaticus Azores and Madeiras only Corn crake Crex crex (A) African crake Crex egregia (A) Sora Porzana carolina (A) Spotted crake Porzana porzana Lesser moorhen Paragallinula angulata (A) Common gallinule Gallinula galeata (A) Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot Fulica atra Red-knobbed coot Fulica cristata (A) American coot Fulica americana (A) Allen's gallinule Porphyrio alleni (A) Purple gallinule Porphyrio martinica (A) Western swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Little crake Zapornia parva (A) 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".
Common name Binomial Status Demoiselle crane Anthropoides virgo (A) Sandhill crane Antigone canadensis (A) Azores only Common crane Grus grus
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.
Common name Binomial Status Eurasian stone-curlew 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.
Common name Binomial Status Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus 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.
Common name Binomial Status Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus near-threatened
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.
Common name Binomial Status Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola European golden plover Pluvialis apricaria American golden plover Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva (A) Azores and Madeiras only Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus near-threatened Sociable lapwing Vanellus gregarius (A) critically endangered Lesser sand plover Charadrius mongolus (A) Greater sand plover Charadrius leschenaultii (A) Caspian plover Charadrius asiaticus Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula Semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus (A) Azores only Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius Killdeer Charadrius vociferus (A) Eurasian dotterel Charadrius morinellus (A)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae