This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Falkland Islands. The avifauna of the Falkland Islands include a total of 219 confirmed species, of which two are endemic, two have been introduced by humans, two have become locally extinct, and 122 are rare or vagrants. Twenty-eight additional species are unconfirmed (see below).Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 31 July 2025. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved 31 July 2025
The entries on this list and the list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) are those of the IOC World Bird List.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence in addition to non-endemic resident species and regular visitors.
(V) Vagrant - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the Falklands (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the Falklands (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Falklands as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extinct - a species which formerly occurred in the Falklands (U) Unconfirmed - a species recorded in the Falklands but with "no tangible evidence" according to the SACC
Swans, geese and ducks 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-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata (V) Greylag goose, Anser anser (I) Black-necked swan, Cygnus melancoryphus Coscoroba swan, Coscoroba coscoroba Upland goose, Chloephaga picta Kelp goose, Chloephaga hybrida Ashy-headed goose, Chloephaga poliocephala (V) Ruddy-headed goose, Chloephaga rubidiceps Flying steamer duck, Tachyeres patachonicus Falkland steamer duck, Tachyeres brachypterus (E) Crested duck, Lophonetta specularioides Spectacled duck, Speculanas specularis (U) Silver teal, Spatula versicolor Red shoveler, Spatula platalea (V) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (V) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Chiloe wigeon, Mareca sibilatrix White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (V) Yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica Yellow-billed teal, Anas flavirostris Rosy-billed pochard, Netta peposaca (V) Black-headed duck, Heteronetta atricapilla (U) Lake duck, Oxyura vittata (V)
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.
Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis (V)
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.
White-tufted grebe, Rollandia rolland Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (V) Great grebe, Podiceps major (V) Silvery grebe, Podiceps occipitalis
Pigeons Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Picazuro pigeon, Patagioenas picazuro (V) Chilean pigeon, Patagioenas araucana (V) Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata (V) Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa (U) Black-winged ground dove, Metriopelia melanoptera (V) Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti (V)
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.
Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus (V) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (V)
Nightjars 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.
Band-winged nightjar, Systellura longirostris (V)
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.
White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (V) Sick's swift, Chaetura meridionalis (V)
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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.
Green-backed firecrown, Sephanoides sephaniodes (V)
Rails 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.
Austral rail, Rallus antarcticus (V) Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (V) Speckled rail, Coturnicops notatus (U) Plumbeous rail, Pardirallus sanguinolentus (V) Red-fronted coot, Fulica rufifrons (V) Red-gartered coot, Fulica armillata (V) White-winged coot, Fulica leucoptera
Plovers 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 (V) American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica (V) Tawny-throated dotterel, Oreopholus ruficollis (V) Rufous-chested dotterel, Zonibyx modestus Southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis (V) Two-banded plover, Anarynchus falklandicus
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Blackish oystercatcher, Haematopus ater Magellanic oystercatcher, Haematopus leucopodus
Avocets and stilts 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.
White-backed stilt, Himantopus melanurus (V)
Sheathbills Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Chionididae
The sheathbills are scavengers of the Antarctic regions. They have white plumage and look plump and dove-like but are believed to be similar to the ancestors of the modern gulls and terns.
Snowy sheathbill, Chionis alba
Magellanic plover Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Pluvianellidae
The Magellanic plover is a rare wader found only in southernmost South America. In its build and habits it is similar to a turnstone. Its upperparts and breast are pale grey, and the rest of the underparts are white. It has short red legs, a black bill and a red eye. In young birds, the eyes and legs are yellowish.
Magellanic plover, Pluvianellus socialis (U)
Sandpipers 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.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (V) Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (U) (believed extinct) Hudsonian whimbrel, Numenius hudsonicus Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (V) Red knot, Calidris canutus (U) Surfbird, Calidris virgata (U) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (V) Sanderling, Calidris alba Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (U) Magellanic snipe, Gallinago magellanica Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (V) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (V) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius (V) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (V) Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (V)
Seedsnipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Thinocoridae
The seedsnipes are a small family of birds that superficially resemble small partridges. They have short legs and long wings and are herbivorous waders.
White-bellied seedsnipe, Attagis malouinus (V) Least seedsnipe, Thinocorus rumicivorus (V)
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipe are short-legged long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
South American painted-snipe, Rostratula semicollaris (V)
Skuas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
Chilean skua, Stercorarius chilensis South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki Brown skua, Stercorarius antarctica Arctic skua, Stercorarius parasiticus Long-tailed skua, Stercorarius longicaudus
Gulls Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, and terns. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.
Black noddy, Anous minutus (U) Brown-hooded gull, Chroicocephalus maculipennis Grey-hooded gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus (U) Dolphin gull, Leucophaeus scoresbii Grey gull, Leucophaeus modestus (U) Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (V) Olrog's gull, Larus atlanticus (U) Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (V) Common tern, Sterna hirundo (V) Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (V) South American tern, Sterna hirundinacea Antarctic tern, Sterna vittata Snowy-crowned tern, Sterna trudeaui (V) Cabot's tern, Thalasseus acuflavidus (V)
Penguins Order: SphenisciformesFamily: Spheniscidae
The penguins are a group of flightless aquatic birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater.
King penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus Emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri (V) Gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papua Adelie penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae (V) Chinstrap penguin, Pygoscelis antarctica (V) Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus Erect-crested penguin, Eudyptes sclateri (V) Macaroni penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus Northern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes moseleyi (V) Rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome Snares penguin, Eudyptes robustus (V)
Albatrosses