Birds in Europe during Focus On Nature Tours from Grouse to Puffin

PO Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-800-721-9986
or 302/529-1876

Birds in EUROPE

from Grouse to Puffin

Noting those found during
Focus On Nature Tours
with an (*)

1992 thru 2011

(including
the Canary Islands off Africa,
and Turkey, in Asia Minor)

Part 1 of a Europe Bird List compiled by Armas Hill,
with some photos

Photo at right: ATLANTIC PUFFINS
as during FONT tours in the late spring in Iceland

442 birds have cumulatively been seen during FONT European tours. A few of the birds in the following list are distinctive subspecies.

There have been 55 FONT birding tours in Europe, with 25 in Spain, and 17 in Iceland.

Link:

Part #2 of this list of Birds in Europe: Sandgrouse to Buntings

Codes (in following list):

In the list that follows, relating to sightings during FONT tours, the country & the months are noted.
BU: Bulgaria
CI: Canary Islands (Spain)
HU: Hungary
IC: Iceland
PO: Poland
RM: Romania (inc. "Transylvania")
SK: Slovakia
SP: Spain,
including nearby Andorra: AN, France: FR, Gibraltar: GR, Morocco: MR, & Portugal: PG
SW: Sweden
TU: Turkey

The following 2 sets of designations by Birdlife International:

(t): a globally threatened or rare species
(t1): critical
(t2): endangered
(t3): vulnerable
(nt): a near-threatened species globally

(Ee): endangered in Europe
(Ev): vulnerable in Europe
(Er): rare in Europe
(Ed): has recently declined in Europe
(El): localized in Europe

(i): an introduced species

(Vme): vagrant from the Middle East
(Vna): vagrant from North America
(Vsib): vagrant from Siberia

(ph): species with a photo in the FONT website

Links:

Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours in Europe

FONT Past Tour Highlights

A List of European Mammals (with photos)

Directory of Photos in this Website

Links to Bird-Lists for particular European countries:

Bulgaria

the Canary Islands

Iceland: a complete bird-list with some interesting text

Spain

Sweden

Bird-List:

Rock Ptarmigan (*) ______ IC:may,jun,oct
Lagopus muta islandorum (one of 24 subspecies worldwide)

A Rock Ptarmigan photographed during a FONT tour in Iceland
(photo by Alan Brady)
Hazel Grouse (*) ______ PO:apr SK:may
Bonasa bonasia styriacus
"Northern" Black Grouse (Ev) (*) ______ PO:apr,may
Tetrao t. tetrix
Western Capercaille (*) ______ RM:may SW
Tetrao u. urogallus (SW)
Tetrao urogallus rudolfi (RM)
Chukar Partridge (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may TU:aug
Alectoris chukar kleini
Red-legged Partridge (Ev) (*) ______ SP:jan,apr,jun,sep
Alectorus rufa hispanica (in northern Spain)
Alectorus rufa intercedens (in central & southern Spain)
Barbary Partridge (Ee) (*) ______ CI:jun GR
Alectoris barbara koenigi
Grey Partridge (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may PO:apr,may SP SW:sep (has also been called Hungarian Partridge)
Perdix p. perdix (except SP)
Perdix p. hispaniensis (SP)
Common Quail (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:may SP TU:aug
Coturnix c. coturnix
Common Pheasant (i) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SK:may SP:jan SW:sep (includes "Ring-necked Pheasant", Phasinus c. torquatus, from China, with a white neck-ring, and Phasinus c. colchicus from Russia, lacking neck-ring)
Phasinus colchicus
Mute Swan (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:jun SW:sep
Cygnus olor (monotypic)

Mute Swans are common during FONT tours in Sweden,
where they are native residents.
Whooper Swan (*) ______ BU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SW
Cygnus cygnus (now monotypic, with islandicus merged)

Whooper Swans photographed during a FONT Tour in Iceland
(photo by Cheryl Pearce)
"Bewick's" Tundra Swan (*) ______ SW (conspecific with the "Whistling" Tundra Swan of North America)
Cygnus columbianus bewickii
Greylag Goose (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,dec SW:sep
Anser a. anser

Greylag Geese photographed during a FONT tour in Iceland
(photo by Cheryl Pearce)
Pink-footed Goose (*) ______ IC:jun,sep,oct
Anser brachyhynchus (monotypic)
Bean Goose (*) ______ PO:apr SW
(includes "Taiga" Bean Goose, Anser f. fabalis, and "Tundra" Bean Goose, Anser fabalis rossicus)
Greater White-fronted Goose (*) ______ BU:may HU IC:oct PO:apr SW:sep
Anser a. albifrons
Lesser White-fronted Goose (t3) (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU
Anser erythropus (monotypic)
Brant Goose (Ev) (*) ______ IC:sep,oct SW:sep (has been called Brent Goose in Europe & Brant in North America)
Branta bernicla
Branta b. bernicla: Dark-bellied Brent Goose (in Sweden)
Branta benicla hrota: Pale-bellied Brent Goose (in Iceland)

Brant Geese on Oland Island during the FONT tour on Oland Island
in September 2007
(photo by James Scheib)
Barnacle Goose (El) (*) ______ IC:sep,oct SW:sep
Branta leucopsis (monotypic)

Just one of the many Barnacle Geese seen
during the FONT Sweden Tour in September 2007
(photo by James Scheib)
Red-breasted Goose (t3) (El) (*) ______ BU:may SW
Branta ruficollis (monotypic)

Red-breasted Geese
Canada Goose (i) (*) ______ SW:sep
Branta canadensis
Snow Goose (Vna) (*) ______ IC:sep(rare)
Anser caerulescens atlanticus
Egyptian Goose (i) (*) ______ SW:sep
Alopochen aegyptiaca (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
Common Shelduck (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:may SP:jun,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Tadorna tadorna (monotypic)
Ruddy Shelduck (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may CI:jun TU:aug
Tadorna ferruginea (monotypic)
Mallard (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may RM:may SK:may SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Anas p. platyrhynchos
American Black Duck (Vna) (*) ______ IC;sep,oct(rare)
Anas rubripes

The American Black Duck is one of the vagrants
that has been seen in Iceland during a FONT tour.
Gadwall (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:jun,oct PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,sep,oct,dec SW:sep
Anas strepera (now monotypic)
Eurasian Teal (*) ______ BU:may HU IC:may,jun,oct PO:apr,may SP:jun,sep,dec SW:sep TU:aug (was conspecific with the Green-winged Teal of North America, Anas carolinensis)
Anas c. crecca
Green-winged Teal (Vna) (*) ______ IC:jun(rare)
Anas carolinensis (monotypic)

A male Green-winged Teal was a vagrant from North America
that we saw during our Iceland tour in June 2006
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Garganey (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:jun(rare) PO:apr,may RM:may SP TU:aug
Anas querquedula (monotypic)
Northern Pintail (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:jun PO:apr,may SP:dec SW:sep
Anas acuta (monotypic)
Eurasian Wigeon (*) ______ BU:may HU IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:dec SW:sep
Anas penelope (monotypic)
American Wigeon (Vna) (*) ______ IC:oct(rare)
Anas americana
Northern Shoveler (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP;sep,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Anas clypeata (monotypic)
Marbled Duck (t3) (Ee) (*) ______ SP
Marmaronetta angustirostris (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
Red-crested Pochard (Ed) (*) ______ BU:may SP:apr,jun,oct
Netta rufina (monotypic)
Common Pochard (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Aythya ferina (monotypic)

A Common Pochard photographed during a FONT tour in Sweden
(photo by James Scheib)
Tufted Duck (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:dec SW:sep
Aythya fuligula (monotypic)
Greater Scaup (El) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:jun,oct RM:may SW:sep
Aythya m. marila
Ferruginous Duck (t3) (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may SP:jun,dec TU:aug (has also been called White-eyed Pochard)
Aythya nyroca (monotypic)
Common Goldeneye (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:jun(rare) PO:apr,may SW:sep
Bucephala c. clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye (Ee) (*) ______ IC:jun,sep,oct
Bucephala islandica (monotypic)
Common Eider (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SW:sep
Somateria m. mollissima

In Iceland, Common Eiders with ducklings, and a Ruddy Turnstone
(photo during a FONT tour by Cheryl Pearce)

A female Common Eider
King Eider (*) ______ IC:jun(rare)
Somateria spectabilis (monotypic)

King Eiders, above: a female; below: an adult male in breeding plumage,
as seen during FONT tours in Iceland
(upper photo by Alan Brady; lower photo by Howard Eskin)
Steller's Eider (*) ______ SW:sep
Polysticta stelleri (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)

An immature male Steller's Eider, photographed on Oland Island
during the FONT Sweden Tour in September 2006
(photo by Claude Bloch)
Long-tailed Duck (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct (has been called Oldsquaw in North America)
Clangula hyemalis (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)

Long-tailed Duck
(photo by Kim Steininger)
Harlequin Duck (Ev) (*) ______ IC:may,jun,oct
Histrionicus histrionicus (now monotypic, with pacificus merged) (the single member of its genus)

Above: a raft of male Harlequin Ducks.
Below: a female Harlequin Duck with young
The only place where this species normally occurs in Europe is Iceland.
Common Scoter (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SP (was considered conspecific with what's now the Black Scoter of North America, Melanitta americana)
Melanitta nigra
Velvet Scoter (El) (*) ______ SW (was considered conspecific with the White-winged Scoter of North America, Melanitta deglandi)
Melanitta fusca
Common Merganser (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SW (has been called Goosander in Europe)
Mergus m. merganser
Red-breasted Merganser (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SP:dec SW:sep
Mergus serrator (monotypic)

A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers
(photo by Howard Eskin)
White-headed Duck (t3) (Ee) (*) ______ SP:apr,jun,dec TU:aug
Oxyura leucocophala (monotypic)
Common Loon (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct (called Great Northern Diver in Europe)
Gavia immer (now monotypic)
Yellow-billed Loon (*) ______ IC:jun(rare) (called White-billed Diver in Europe)
Gavia adamsii (monotypic)
Red-throated Loon (Ev) (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SW:sep (called Red-throated Diver in Europe)
Gavia stellata (monotypic)

Red-throated Loon
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Black-throated Loon (Ev) (*) ______ PO:apr,may SP SW:sep (has been called Black-throated Diver in Europe & Arctic Loon in North America)
Gavia a. arctica
Northern Fulmar (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SW
Fulmarus glacialis auduboni

Northern Fulmar
Manx Shearwater (El) (*) ______ IC:jun
Puffinus puffinus (now monotypic)
Balearic Shearwater (*) ______ SP:jan (was part of Manx Shearwater)
Puffinus mauretanicus (monotypic)
Yelkouan (or Levantine) Shearwater (*) ______ TU:aug (was part of Manx Shearwater)
Puffinus yelkouan (monotypic)
Cory's Shearwater (*) ______ CI:jun,jul SP:jan
Calonectris d. diomedea (SP) ("Scoploi's Shearwater") (Ev)
Calonectris diomedea borealis (CI)

Cory's Shearwater
(photo by Alan Brady)
Barolo (or Macaronesian) Shearwater (Ev) (*) ______ CI:jul (was included in what was a more wide-ranging Little Shearwater; now, this species of the Azores & Canary Islands is said to be more closely related to the Audubon's Shearwater. There was a race of the Audubon's Shearwater in the eastern Atlantic, breeding on Cape Verde Island, that is now called the Boyd's Shearwater, Puffinus boydi. With new taxonomy, the Little Shearwater now has a range restricted to the Indian and southwestern Pacific oceans, near Australia & New Zealand.)
Puffinus baroli (monotypic)
Bulwer's Petrel (Ev) (*) ______ CI:jun,jul
Bulweria b. bulwerii

The Bulwer's Petrel has been seen from ferries during all FONT tours in the Canary Islands
Great Crested Grebe (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may(rare) PO:apr,may SK:may SP:apr,jun,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Podiceps c. cristatus
Red-necked Grebe (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SW
Podiceps g. grisegena
Black-necked Grebe (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,dec TU:aug (called Eared Grebe in North America)
Podiceps n. nigricollis
Horned Grebe (*) ______ IC:jun,oct SW:sep (called Slavonian Grebe in Europe)
Podiceps a. auritus

Above: A Horned Grebe, in its breeding attire, photographed during a FONT tour in Iceland
(photo by Cheryl Pearce)
Below: A Horned Grebe, in non-breeding plumage, as seen during our tours in September/October.
(photo by Kim Steininger)
Little Grebe (or "Dabchick") (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Tachybaptus r. ruficollis

Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo (El) (*) ______ SP:apr,jun,jul,oct,dec TU:aug (was considered conspecific with what's now the American Flamingo)
Phoenicopterus roseus (monotypic)

Greater Flamingos
(photo by Jens Bruun)
White Stork (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SK:may SP:jan,apr,jun,sep,oct,dec TU:aug
Ciconia c. ciconia

White Storks in Spain photographed during a FONT tour
Black Stork (Er) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,sep TU:aug
Ciconia nigra (monotypic)

Black Storks in Bulgaria
Glossy Ibis (Ed) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may SP:jun,dec TU:aug
Plegadis falcinellus (now monotypic)
Eurasian Spoonbill (Ee) (*) ______ BU:may CI:jul HU:may SP:apr,jun,dec TU:aug
Platalea l. leucorodia

Eurasian Spoonbill
Grey Heron (*) ______ BU:may CI:jul HU:may IC:jun,sep,oct(rare) PG:sep PO:apr,may RM:may SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Ardea c. cinerea

Grey Heron
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Purple Heron (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may SP:jun,jul,oct TU:aug
Ardea p. purpurea
Great Egret (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:may SP:jun,oct SW TU:aug
Casmerodius (has been Ardea) a. alba
Little Egret (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PG:sep SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec TU:aug
Egretta g. garzetta

Little Egret
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Western Cattle Egret (*) ______ CI:jun PG:sep SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec TU:aug
Bubulcus ibis

Western Cattle Egret
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Squacco Heron (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may SP:apr,jun,jul TU:aug
Ardeola ralloides (monotypic)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Ed) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may SP:jun,jul,sep,oct TU:aug
Nycticorax n. nycticorax
Little Bittern (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may SP:apr,jun,jul TU:aug
Ixobrychus m. minutus
Eurasian Bittern (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may TU:aug
Botaurus s. stellaris
Great White Pelican (Er) (*) ______ BU:may TU:aug
Pelecanus onocrotalus (monotypic)

Great White Pelicans in eastern Europe
Dalmatian Pelican (nt) (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may TU:aug
Pelecanus crispus (monotypic)
Northern Gannet (El) (*) ______ CI:jun IC:jun,sep,oct GR:jun SP:jan,jun,dec
Morus (formerly Sula) bassena (monotypic)

A Northern Gannet photographed during a FONT tour
(photo by Andy Smith)
European Shag (*) ______ BU:may IC:may,jun,sep GR SP
Phalacrocorax a. aristotelis

A European Shag photographed during a FONT tour in Iceland,
Note the green eye.
Great Cormorant (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:jul,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Phalacrocorax c. carbo
Pygmy Cormorant (nt) (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may TU:aug
Phalacrocorax pygmeus (monotypic)

Pygmy Cormorant
Gyrfalcon (Ev) (*) ______ IC:may,jun(seen at nest site),oct(as many as 3 during 1 tour) (the "Iceland Falcon" is a pale grey morph)
Falco rusticolus (monotypic, but with a variation in color)

A light-morph Gyrfalcon in Iceland
Saker Falcon (Ee) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may TU:aug
Falco cherrug
Lanner Falcon (Ee) (*) ______ TU:aug
Falco biarmicus
Peregrine Falcon (Er) (*) ______ BU:may FR:jun HU:may RM:may SP:jan,apr,jun,sep,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Falco p. peregrinus
Barbary Falcon (Er) (*) ______ CI:jun,jul
Falco p. pelegrinoides
Northern Hobby (*) ______ BU:may FR HU:may PO:apr,may SK:may SP:sep SW:sep TU:aug
Falco s. subbuteo
Red-footed Falcon (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:may RM:may TU:aug (closely related to, and was considered conspecific with the Amur Falcon of Asia, Falco amurensis)
Falco vespertinus
Eleonora's Falcon (Er) (*) ______ CI:jun TU:aug
Falco eleonorae

A close-up of a young Eleonora's Falcon
Lesser Kestrel (t3) (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may SP:apr,jun,sep TU:aug
Falco naumanni
Merlin (*) ______ IC:jun,sep,oct SP:sep SW:sep
Falco columbarius subaesalon (IC)
Falco columbarius aesalon (SW)
Eurasian Kestrel (Ed) (*) ______ AN:jun BU:may CI:jun,jul(both endemic subspecies) FR:jun HU:may IC:sep,oct(rare) PG:sep PO:apr,may RM:may SK:may SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Falco t. tinnunculus (except CI)
Falco tinnunculus canariensis (subspecies endemic in the western Canary Islands)
Falco tinnunculus dacotiae (subspecies endemic in the eastern Canary Islands)
Osprey (Er) (*) ______ BU:may PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,dec SW TU:aug
Pandion h. haliaetus (the single member of its genus)
Red Kite (*) ______ BU:may SP:apr,jun,sep,dec SW:sep
Milvus m. milvus (the other subspecies is in the Cape Verde islands)

Red Kite
(photo by Jens Bruun)
Black Kite (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may PO:apr,may SK:may SP:apr,jun,dec SW TU:aug
Milvus m. migrans
Black-winged Kite (Ev) (*) ______ SP:apr,jun
Elanus c. caeruleus
Egyptian Vulture (Ee) (*) ______ BU:may CI:jun,jul FR SP:apr,jun,dec TU:aug
Neophron p. percnopterus (the single member of its genus)
Bearded Vulture (Ee) (*) ______ AN:jun BU:may SP TU:aug (has also been called Lammergeier)
Gypaetus b. barbatus (the single member of its genus)
Cinereous Vulture (nt) (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may SP:apr,jun.sep TU:aug (has also been called Eurasian Black Vulture; another name: Monk Vulture)
Aegypius monachus (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
Griffon Vulture (Er) (*) ______ AN:jun BU:may FR:jun SP:jan,apr,jun,sep,oct
Gyps f. fulvus
Levant Sparrowhawk (Er) (*) ______ BU:may TU:aug
Accipiter brevipes (monotypic)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (*) ______ BU:may CI:jun,jul PO:apr,may RM:may SP:jul,sep,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Accipiter n. nisus (except CI)
Accipiter n. granti (CI)

Eurasian Sparrowhawk
(photo by Jens Bruun)
Northern Goshawk (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:may SK:may SP SW:sep
Accipiter g. gentilis
Rough-legged Buzzard (*) ______ SW (called Rough-legged Hawk in North America) (in Europe, no dark morph)
Buteo l. lagopus

A light-morph Rough-legged Buzzard
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Common Buzzard (*) ______ AN:jun BU:may CI:jun,jul FR HU:may PG:sep PO:apr,may RM:may SK:may SP:jan,apr,jun,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Buteo b. buteo (except CI)
Buteo b. insularum (CI)

A dark-morph Common Buzzard photographed in flight over Falsterbo
during the FONT Sweden Tour in September 2007
(photo by James Scheib)
Long-legged Buzzard (Ee) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may TU:aug
Buteo r. rufinus
European Honey Buzzard (*) ______ BU:may FR HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SP SW:sep TU:aug
Pernis apivorus (monotypic)
White-tailed Eagle (nt) (Er) (*) ______ BU:may HU IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SW:sep (has also been called White-tailed Fish-Eagle)
Haliaeetus a. albicilla (the other subspecies is in Greenland)

Above & below: adult White-tailed Eagles
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Er) (*) ______ AN:jun BU:may HU:may SP:apr,jun TU:aug
Circaetus gallicus (monotypic)
Bonelli's Eagle (Ee) (*) ______ BU:may FR:jun SP
Hieraaetus f. fasciatus
Booted Eagle (Er) (*) ______ BU:may PG:sep SP:jan,apr,jun,dec (dimorphic, pale & dark)
Hieraaetus pennatus
Golden Eagle (Er) (*) ______ AN:jun BU:may FR:jun HU PO:apr,may RM SP:apr,jun,sep SW TU:aug
Aquila c. chrysaetos (except SP)
Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri (SP)
Asian Imperial Eagle (t3) (Ee) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may SK:may TU:aug
Aquila heliaca (monotypic)

The Asian Imperial Eagle in eastern Europe
Spanish Imperial Eagle (t3) (Ee) (*) ______ SP:jan,jun,sep (has also been called Adalbert's Eagle)
Aquila adalberti (monotypic)
Greater Spotted Eagle (t3) (Ee) (*) ______ PO:apr,may SW
Aquila clanga (monotypic)
Lesser Spotted Eagle (Er) (*) ______ BU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SK:may SW:sep
Aquila p. pomarina (the other subspecies is in India & Burma)
Steppe Eagle (Ev) (*) ______ HU:may TU:aug (has been considered as conspecific with Tawny Eagle)
Aquila nipalensis orientalis
Western Marsh Harrier (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SK:may SP:jan,apr,jun,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug (was conspecific with the Eastern Marsh Harrier of Asia, and when so it was called Northern Marsh Harrier)
Circus aeruginosus
Hen Harrier (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may PO:apr,may SP:jan,apr SW:sep TU:aug (was conspecific with the Northern Harrier of North America)
Circus cyaneus
Pallid Harrier (Ee) (*) ______ BU:may PO:apr TU:aug
Circus macrourus (monotypic)
Montagu's Harrier (*) ______ BU:may FR:jun HU:may PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun TU:aug
Circus pygargus (monotypic)
Water Rail (*) ______ BU:may HU PO:apr SP:apr,jun TU:aug
Rallus aquaticus
Baillon's Crake (Er) (*) ______ BU:may SP:apr,jun
Porzana pusilla intermedia
Spotted Crake (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr SW:oct
Porzana porzana (monotypic)

A Spotted Crake, seen during FONT's Sweden tour in October 2000
(photo by Tommy Holmgren on a video through a telescope.)
At the time, this was the first Spotted Crake in that part of Sweden since 1985!
Little Crake (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may TU:aug
Porzana parva (monotypic)
Corncrake (t3) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may
Crex crex (monotypic)

Corncrake
(photo by Przemyslaw Kunysz)
Common Moorhen (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec SW TU:aug
Gallinula c. chloropus
Purple Swamphen (Er) (*) ______ SP:apr,jun,oct,dec
Porphyrio p. porphyrio
Eurasian Coot (*) ______ BU:may CI:jul HU:may IC:jun(rare) PO:apr,may SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Fulica a. atra
Red-knobbed Coot (*) ______ SP:apr (has also been called Crested Coot)
Fulica cristata (monotypic)
Common Crane (Ev) (*) ______ HU:may PO:apr,may SP:jan SW:sep
Grus g. grus

A family of Common Cranes in flight at Oland Island,
with a single young bird following the adults
(photo by James Scheib during the Sept 2007 FONT Sweden tour)
Great Bustard (t3) (Ed) (*) ______ HU:may SP:apr,jun,sep
Otis t. tarda

Great Bustard
Little Bustard (nt) (Ev) (*) ______ SP:apr,jun,sep
Tetrax tetrax (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
Houbara Bustard (Ee) (*) ______ CI:jun,jul
Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae
Eurasian Stone Curlew (Ev) ______ BU:may CI:jun,jul HU SP:apr,jun
Burhinus o. oedicnemus
Eurasian Oystercatcher ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct RM:may SP:jun,jul,dec SW
Haematopus o. ostralegus (in western Europe)
Haematopus ostralegus longipes (in eastern Europe)
Pied Avocet (El) ______ BU:may HU:may SP:jun,jul,oct SW:sep TU:aug
Recurvirostra avosetta (monotypic)
Black-winged Stilt ______ BU:may HU:may SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,oct,dec TU:aug
Himantopus h. himantopus
Eurasian Dotterel (*) ______ SP:oct SW
Charadrius (formerly Eudromias) morinellus (monotypic)

Eurasian Dotterel
(photo by Janos Olah, Jr.)
Grey Plover (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:jun,sep(rare) PO:may SP:jun,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug (has been called Black-bellied Plover in the Americas)
Pluvialis s. squatarola
European Golden Plover (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SP:jan SW:sep
Pluvialis a. apricaria (except IC)
Pluvialis apricaria altifrons (IC)

A European Golden Plover photographed during the FONT tour in Iceland in June 2009
(photo by Gerin Hood)
Little Ringed Plover (*) ______ BU:may CI:jul HU:may PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,sep,oct TU:aug
Charadrius dubius curonicus
Common Ringed Plover (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,oct(rare in oct) PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun(rare),dec SW TU:aug
Charadrius h. hiaticula
Charadrius hiaticula tundrae
(these 2 subspecies overlap. with C.h.tundrae most easterly)
Kentish Plover (Ed) (*) ______ BU:may CI:jun SP:apr,jun,jul,oct,dec TU:aug (was conspecific with the Snowy Plover of North America & South America)
Charadrius a. alexandrinus
Northern Lapwing (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SK:may SP:jan,apr,jun,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Vanellus vanellus (monotypic)

Northern Lapwing
(photo by Matt Orsie)
White-tailed Lapwing (Vme) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may (was called White-tailed Plover)
Vanellus (formerly Chettusia) leucura (monotypic)

A White-tailed Lapwing photographed during a FONT tour in Hungary in 2001
(photo by Alan Brady)
Spur-winged Lapwing (Ee) (*) ______ TU (was called Spur-winged Plover)
Vanellus (formerly Hoplopterus) spinosus (monotypic)
Ruddy Turnstone (*) ______ BU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:may SP:jan,oct,dec
Arenaria i. interpres
Purple Sandpiper (*) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct
Calidris maritima littoralis (endemic subspecies in IC)

Purple Sandpiper
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Dunlin (Ev) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:may SP:apr,oct,dec SW:sep
Calidris a. alpina
Calidris alpina schrinzii
(the 2 subspecies overlap in migration)
Curlew Sandpiper (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr SP:apr,oct SW TU:aug
Calidris ferruginea (monotypic)

2 photos of Curlew Sandpipers.
The upper photo of a male in breeding plumage.
(photos by Howard Eskin)
Red Knot (El) (*) ______ IC:jun SP:jun SW:sep
Calidris c. canutus
Sanderling (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep SP:jan,dec TU:aug
Calidris a. alba
White-rumped Sandpiper (Vna) (*) ______ IC:oct(rare)
Calidris fuscicollis (monotypic)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Vna) (*) ______ HU:may
Calidris pusilla (monotypic)
Little Stint (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:may SP:oct SW TU:aug
Calidris minuta (monotypic)
Temminck's Stint (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:jun
Calidris temminckii (monotypic)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Vna) (*) ______ SW:sep TU:aug
Calidris melanotos (monotypic)
Wood Sandpiper (Ed) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:jun,sep,oct,dec TU:aug
Tringa glareola (monotypic)

Wood Sandpiper
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Common Greenshank (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr SP:apr,jun,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Tringa nebularia (monotypic)
Common Redshank (Ed) (*) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:apr,jun,jul,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Tringa t. totanus (except IC)
Tringa totanus robusta (IC)

A Common Redshank in Iceland
(photo by Cheryl Pearce during a FONT tour)
Spotted Redshank (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr SP:oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Tringa erythropus (monotypic)
Marsh Sandpiper (*) ______ BU:may HU:may TU:aug
Tringa stagnatilis (monotypic)
Green Sandpiper (*) ______ BU:may PO:apr,may SP:jan,apr,jun,sep,oct,dec TU:aug
Tringa ochropus (monotypic)
Common Sandpiper (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SP:jan,apr,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Actitis hypoleucos (monotypic)
Ruff / Reeve (*) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SP:oct SW:sep
Philomachus pugnax (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)

Above: Two photos of a Reeve, from the back & front
(both photos above by Howard Eskin)
Below: Ruffs displaying in breeding plumage.
During FONT tours in Poland in the spring, hundreds have been seen at leks.
"Eurasian" Whimbrel ______ HU:may IC:may,jun PO:apr(rare) SP:jul,oct SW:sep
Numenius p. phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew (Ed) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:jan,jul,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Numenius a. arquata
Black-tailed Godwit (Ev) ______ BU:may HU:may IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:jun,jul,oct,dec TU:aug
Limosa l. limosa (except IC)
Limosa limosa islandica (endemic breeder in IC)
Bar-tailed Godwit (El) ______ IC:sep,oct SP:oct,dec SW
Limosa l. lapponica
Long-billed Dowitcher (Vna) ______ IC:sep(rare)
Limnodromus scolopaceus (monotypic)
Eurasian Woodcock (Ev) ______ BU:may PO:apr,may RM:may
Scolopax rusticola (monotypic)
Great Snipe (nt) (Ev) ______ PO:apr,may
Gallinago media (monotypic)
Common Snipe ______ BU:may HU IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:jun,sep,oct,dec SW TU:aug (was conspecific with the Wilson's Snipe of North America, Gallinago delicata)
Gallinago g. gallinago (except IC)
Gallinago gallinago faeroeensis (IC)
Jack Snipe (Ev) ______ SW
Lymnocryptes minimus (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
Red-necked Phalarope ______ BU:may IC:may,jun TU:aug
Phalaropus lobatus (monotypic)
Red Phalarope ______ IC:jun(at breeding site; uncommon breeder in IC) (has been called Grey Phalarope in Europe)
Phalaropus fulicarius (monotypic)
Cream-colored Courser (Ev) ______ CI:jun,jul
Cursorius cursor bannermani
Collared Pratincole (Ee) ______ BU:may HU:may SP:apr,jun,jul
Glareola p. pratincola
Audouin's Gull (nt) (El) ______ SP:jan,jun,jul,oct,dec
Larus audouinii (monotypic)
Slender-billed Gull ______ BU:may SP:jun,jul,oct,dec TU:aug
Chroicocephalus (formerly Larus) genei (monotypic)
Black-headed Gull ______ BU:may HU:may GR:jun IC:may,jun,sep,oct PG:sep PO:apr,may RM:may SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Chroicocephalus (formerly Larus) ridibundus (monotypic)

A Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage
(photo by Armas Hill)
Mediterranean Gull ______ BU:may GR:jun SP:jun,oct TU:aug
Chroicocephalus (formerly Larus) melanocephalus (monotypic)
Little Gull (Ed) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SP:oct TU:aug
Hydrocoloeus (formerly Larus) minutus (monotypic)

Little Gull
(photo by Alan Brady)
"European" Herring Gull ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may SP:jun,oct SW:sep (by some considered distinct from "American" Herring Gull of North America, Larus argentatus smithsonianus, and the Vega Gull of Asia, Larus vegae)
Larus argentatus
Yellow-legged Gull ______ BU:may CI:jun,jul GR:jun HU:may RM:may SP:jan,apr,jun,jul,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Larus cachinnans michahellis (CI, SP)
Larus c. cachinnans (BU, HU, RM, SW, TU) ("Caspian, or Pontic Gull")

Yellow-legged Gull
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Lesser Black-backed Gull ______ BU:may HU IC:may,jun,sep PO:apr SP:jan,apr,jun,sep,oct,dec SW:sep TU:aug
Larus f. fuscus ("Baltic Gull")
Larus fuscus graellsii

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Great Black-backed Gull ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:may SP:oct,dec SW:sep
Larus marinus (monotypic)
Glaucous Gull ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct
Larus h. hyperboreus

Glaucous Gull
Iceland Gull ______ IC:may(rare),jun,sep,oct (by some considered distinct from the race of the Iceland Gull breeding in northern North America, the "Kumlien's Gull", Larus glaucoides kumlini)
Larus g. glaucoides

Iceland Gull
Mew Gull (Ed) ______ HU IC:may,jun,sep,oct PO:apr,may RM SP SW;sep (called Common Gull in Europe)
Larus c. canus
Sabine's Gull ______ IC:sep(rare) SW
Xema (formerly Larus) sabini (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)

A juvenile Sabine's Gull
(photo by Jens Bruun)
Black-legged Kittiwake ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SW
Rissa tridactyla (now said to be monotypic)

A juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake, with its striking wing pattern
(photo by Alan Brady)
Gull-billed Tern (Ee) ______ BU:may SP:apr,jun,jul TU:aug
Gelochelidon (formerly Sterna) n. nilotica
Caspian Tern (Ee) ______ BU:may SP:jun,oct,dec TU:aug
Hydroprogne (formerly Sterna) caspia

The Caspian Tern, the largest of the terns,
occurs, in separate populations, in both the Old & New Worlds.
(photo by Abram Fleishman)
Lesser Crested Tern (Er) ______ SP
Thalasseus (formerly Sterna) bengalensis
Sandwich Tern (Ed) ______ BU:may SP:jan,jun,jul,oct,dec SW;sep TU:aug
Thalasseus (formerly Sterna) s. sandvicensis
Common Tern ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may SP:jun,jul,oct SW TU:aug
Sterna h. hirundo
Arctic Tern ______ IC:may,jun,sep(rare in sep) SW
Sterna paradisaea (monotypic)
Little Tern (Ed) ______ BU:may PO:may SP:jun,jul
Sterna a. albifrons
Black Tern (Ed) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SP:apr,jun,jul,oct
Childonias n. niger
White-winged Tern ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may TU:aug
Childonias leucopterus (monotypic)
Whiskered Tern (Ed) ______ BU:may HU:may PO:apr,may RM:may SP:apr,jun,jul TU:aug
Childonias h. hybrida
Pomarine Skua ______ SW (called Pomarine Jaeger in North America)
Stercorarius pomarinus (monotypic)
Arctic Skua ______ BU:may IC:may,jun (called Parasitic Jaeger in North America)
Stercorarius parasiticus (monotypic)

An immature Arctic Skua, or Parasitic Jaeger
(photo by Jens Bruun)
Great Skua ______ IC:may,jun(many),sep(rare) SP:jan,dec
Stercorarius (formerly Catharacta) skua (monotypic)

A Great Skua at its breeding grounds in Iceland
(photographed during a FONT tour by Cheryl Pearce)
South Polar Skua (*) ______ CI:jul
Stercorarius (formerly Catharacta) maccormicki (monotypic)
Black Guillemot (Ed) ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SW:sep
Cepphus g. grylle

A Black Guillemot in breeding plumage photographed
during a FONT tour in Iceland in May. Its eggs were among the rocks.
(photo by Cheryl Pearce)
Common Murre ______ IC:may,jun,sep,oct SW (in Europe has been called Guillemot)
Uria a. aalge

Above: Two Common Murres (right) and a Razorbill (left)
Below: The bridled form of the Common Murre (or Guillemot)
These birds in Iceland.
Brunnich's Guillemot ______ IC:jun (called Thick-billed Murre in North America)
Uria l. lomvia

A Brunnich's Guillemot, also known as a Thick-billed Murre
(photo by Alan Brady)
Razorbill ______ IC:jun,oct SP:jan
Uria torda islandica

Razorbill
This species has been seen during FONT tours in Iceland.
Also it has been seen close to shore during a FONT Dec/Jan tour in southern Spain.
(photo by Kim Steininger)
Atlantic Puffin (Ev) ______ IC:may,jun,sep
Fratercula a. arctica

Above: an Atlantic Puffin in flight.
Below: Atlantic Puffins by their burrows,
photographed during the FONT tour in Iceland in June 2009
(lower photo by Gerin Hood)

Excellent reference and guide books for the birds of Europe include:

"Complete Guide to the Birds of Europe", with text by Lars Svensson and Peter Grant, illustrated by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom, 1999. Harper Collins & Princeton Univ Press

"Birds of Europe with North Africa & the Middle East", by Lars Jonsson, 1993, Princeton Univ Press

Other related books:

"Raptors of the World", by James Ferguson-Lee & David Christie, 2001, Houghton Mifflin

"Icelandic Bird Guide", by Oli Johann, 2000, Prentsmidjan Oddi hf.

"Owls - A Guide to the Owls of the World", by C. Konig, Friedhelm Weick, & Jan-Hendrik Becking, 1999, Yale University Press

"Owls of Europe", by Heimo Mikkola, 1983, T & A D Poyser

"Guia de las Aves de las Islas Canarias", by Jose manuel Moreno, 1988, Editorial Interinsular Canaria, S.A.

"La Guia de Incafo de las Aves de la Peninsula Iberica", by Ramon Saez-Royuela, 1980, Incafo.

"Woodpeckers - An Identification Guide to the Woodpeckers of the World", by Hans Winkler, David Christie, & David Nurney, 1995, Houghton Mifflin

To top of page