This is a list of the bird species recorded in Northern Ireland. The avifauna of Northern Ireland include a total of 371 species, of which 10 have been introduced by humans.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) as of July 2021.
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 Northern Ireland (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Northern Ireland as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
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.
Brant goose, Branta bernicla Canada goose, Branta canadensis (I) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Greylag goose, Anser anser Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis (A) Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus Tundra bean goose, Anser serrirostris (A) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Egyptian goose, Aloochen aegyptiaca (I) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A) Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (I) Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula 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) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Eurasian teal, Anas crecca Green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) 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 Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (A) Smew, Mergellus albellus Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Common merganser, 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.
Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (A) Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus (I) Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (I) 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.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A) European nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (A)
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 Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (A)
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) Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (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, Columba livia Stock dove, Columba oenas Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
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 Corncrake, Crex crex Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
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".
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 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
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 Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (A) Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (A) 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. 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 (A) 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 Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (A) White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (A) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus Great snipe, Gallinago media Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius (A) Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A) Common redshank, Tringa totanus Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (A)
Pratincoles and coursers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings, and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings, and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.
Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola (A) Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A)
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, 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-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea (A) Sabine's gull, Xema sabini Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (A) Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (A) Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea (A) Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (A) Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Common gull, Larus canus Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (A) Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus