As of 2021, some 350 species of bird have been recorded in the wild on the Isle of Man, a self-governing island in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. Over 100 species breed there, including significant populations of red-billed chough, peregrine falcon and hen harrier.Fitzpatrick, Mark. Isle of Man, fatbirder.com. Retrieved 7 August 2012.

A variety of seabirds breed on the coastal cliffs such as Atlantic puffin, black guillemot, black-legged kittiwake, European shag and northern fulmar.Garrad, Larch S. (1972) The Naturalist in the Isle of Man, David & Charles, Newton Abbot. The island gives its name to the Manx shearwater which formerly nested in large numbers on the Calf of Man. The colony disappeared following the arrival of rats but the shearwaters began to return in the 1960s. The Ayres in the north of the island have colonies of little tern, Arctic tern and common tern.

Moorland areas on the island are home to red grouse, Eurasian curlew, and northern raven. Woodland birds include long-eared owl, common treecreeper, Eurasian blackcap and common chiffchaff. There is little native woodland on the island and several species found in Great Britain, such as tawny owl, European green woodpecker and Eurasian jay, do not breed on the isle of Man.

Many birds visit the island during the winter and migration seasons including waders such as purple sandpiper, ruddy turnstone, and European golden plover. Wintering wildfowl include small numbers of whooper swan. A bird observatory was established on the Calf of Man in 1959 to study the migrating and breeding birds. By the end of 2001, 99,042 birds of 134 species had been ringed there.Manx National Heritage (2012) The Work of the Observatory. Retrieved 7 August 2012. Numerous rarities have been recorded there including mourning dove and white-throated robin.

The scientific names are those recommended by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC), version 15.1, 2025. English names follow the Manx Ornithological Society (MOS) list. Species marked as A are those for which the MOS requires a written description in order to accept a record.Manx Birdlife (2009) The Manx List 2009 - Categories A, B and C . Retrieved 17 January 2026.

(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs on the Isle of Man (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Isle of Man as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.

Failed introductions such as black grouse or escapee species which were briefly established in the wild such as red-winged laughingthrush are not included on the list.

Ducks, geese, and swans

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

Brent goose, Branta bernicla Canada goose, Branta canadensis Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii I Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Greylag goose, Anser anser Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis A Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Mute swan, Cygnus olor Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca A Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea A Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata A Garganey, Spatula querquedula 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 Northern pintail, Anas acuta Eurasian teal, Anas crecca Green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis A Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina A Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca A Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris A Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila King eider, Somateria spectabilis A Common eider, Somateria mollissima Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata A Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca Common scoter, Melanitta nigra Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus A Goosander, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis I

Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings.

Red grouse, Lagopus scotica Grey partridge, Perdix perdix Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus I Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Red-legged partridge, Alectorix rufa I

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: ApodiformesFamily: 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, Apus melba A Common swift, Apus apus

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.

Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius A Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus A Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

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 A

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 (feral pigeon), Columba livia Stock dove, Columba oenas Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur A Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura 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 Corn crake, Crex crex Spotted crake, Porzana porzana A Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Baillon's crake, Porzana 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 crane, Grus grus 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 Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena A Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus A Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis A

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 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

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 A Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta A

Plovers and lapwings

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae include 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.

Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica A Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius A Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus A Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus A

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. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Eurasian whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus A Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus A Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii A Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii A Little stint, Calidris minuta White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis A Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis A Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos A Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus A Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus Great snipe, Gallinago minima A Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor A Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus A Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius A Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus A Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes A Common redshank, Tringa totanus Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola A Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus A Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae