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List of birds of Austria

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Austria. The avifauna of Austria included a total of 430 species as of December 2017 according to the Avifaunistic Commission of BirdLife Austria (Avifaunistische Kommission, AFK). Between then and August 2019, two additional species have been added through eBird. Of the 432 species, 103 are accidental and six have been introduced by humans. Eighteen species have not been recorded in the wild since 1950.

This list’s taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2019 edition.

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

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 nameBinomialStatus
Bar-headed gooseAnser indicus
Graylag gooseAnser anser
Greater white-fronted gooseAnser albifrons
Lesser white-fronted gooseAnser erythropus
Taiga bean-gooseAnser fabalis
Tundra bean-gooseAnser serrirostris
Pink-footed gooseAnser brachyrhynchus
BrantBranta bernicla
Barnacle gooseBranta leucopsis
Canada gooseBranta canadensis
Red-breasted gooseBranta ruficollis
Mute swanCygnus olor
Tundra swanCygnus columbianus
Whooper swanCygnus cygnus
Egyptian gooseAlopochen aegyptiacus
Ruddy shelduckTadorna ferruginea
Common shelduckTadorna tadorna
Mandarin duckAix galericulata
GarganeySpatula querquedula
Blue-winged tealSpatula discors
Northern shovelerSpatula clypeata
GadwallMareca strepera
Falcated duckMareca falcata
Eurasian wigeonMareca penelope
American wigeonMareca americana
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Northern pintailAnas acuta
Green-winged tealAnas crecca
Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
Common pochardAythya ferina
Ring-necked duckAythya collaris
Ferruginous duckAythya nyroca
Tufted duckAythya fuligula
Greater scaupAythya marila
Common eiderSomateria mollissima
Harlequin duckHistrionicus histrionicus
Velvet scoterMelanitta fusca
Common scoterMelanitta nigra
Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalis
Common goldeneyeBucephala clangula
SmewMergellus albellus
Common merganserMergus merganser
Red-breasted merganserMergus serrator
Ruddy duckOxyura jamaicensis
White-headed duckOxyura leucocephala

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with the broad and relatively short win.

Common nameBinomialStatus
Common quailCoturnix coturnix
Rock partridgeAlectoris graeca
Ring-necked pheasantPhasianus colchicus
Gray partridgePerdix perdix
Western capercaillieTetrao urogallus
Black grouseTetrao tetrix
Hazel grouseBonasa bonasia
Rock ptarmiganLagopus muta

Flamingos

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (91 to 152 cm) high, 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 nameBinomialStatus
Greater flamingoPhoenicopterus roseus

Grebes

Common nameBinomialStatus
Little grebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Horned grebePodiceps auritus
Red-necked grebePodiceps grisegena
Great crested grebePodiceps cristatus
Eared grebePodiceps nigricollis

Pigeons and doves

Common nameBinomialStatus
Rock pigeonColumba livia
Stock doveColumba oenas
Common wood-pigeonColumba palumbus
European turtle-doveStreptopelia turtur
Oriental turtle-doveStreptopelia orientalis
Eurasian collared-doveStreptopelia decaocto

Sandgrouse

Sandgrouse has 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 nameBinomialStatus
Pallas’s sandgrouseSyrrhaptes paradoxus

Bustards

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 nameBinomialStatus
Great bustardOtis tarda
Macqueen’s bustardChlamydotis macqueeniiA
Little bustardTetrax tetrax

Cuckoos

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 nameBinomialStatus
Great spotted cuckooClamator glandarius
Common cuckooCuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies

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 nameBinomialStatus
Eurasian nightjarCaprimulgus europaeus

Swifts

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 nameBinomialStatus
Alpine swiftApus melba
Common swiftApus apus

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which include 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 nameBinomialStatus
Water railRallus aquaticus
Corn crakeCrex crex
Spotted crakePorzana porzana
Eurasian moorhenGallinula chloropus
Eurasian cootFulica atra
Western swamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
Little crakeZapornia parva
Baillon’s crakeZapornia pusilla

Cranes

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 nameBinomialStatus
Common craneGrus grus

Thick-knees

The thick-knees are a group of waders 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 nameBinomialStatus
Eurasian thick-kneeBurhinus oedicnemus
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