List of birds of Greece

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Greece. The avifauna of Greece included a total of 476 species according to the Hellenic Rarities Committee of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (Ελληνική Ορνιθολογική Εταιρεία) with supplemental additions from Avibase as of August 2021. Of them, four have not been recorded since 1950 and 7 have been introduced by humans.^[1][2]

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, 2021 edition.^[3]

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence. Species without tags are regularly occurring residents, migrants, or seasonal visitors which have been recorded since 1 January 1950.

• (*) Rare in Greece; reports of these 119 species require submission to the Hellenic Rarities Committee for inclusion in the official record.
• (B) Species which have not occurred in Greece since 1 January 1950.
• (C) Species that do not occur naturally in Greece, although breeding populations have been introduced by humans.
• (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Greece although populations exist elsewhere

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: 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.

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

• Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia
• Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
• Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix (*)
• Gray partridge, Perdix perdix
• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (C)
• Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus (B) (*)
• Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
• Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara (Ex)
• Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa (C)
• Chukar, Alectoris chukar
• Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca

Flamingos[]

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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.

• Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus

Grebes[]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: 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
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (*)
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
• Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Pigeons and doves[]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia
• Stock dove, Streptopelia decaocto
• Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus
• European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
• Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (*)
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
• Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis (*)
• Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (*)

Sandgrouse[]

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: 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 (B) (*)
• Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata (*)
• Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis (*)

Bustards[]

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

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.

• Great bustard, Otis tarda (*)
• Macqueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (B) (*)
• Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (*)

Cuckoos[]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: 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
• Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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.

• Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus

Swifts[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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
• Common swift, Apus apus
• Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
• Little swift, Apus affinis (*)

Rails, gallinules, and coots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: 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
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
• Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
• Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (*)
• Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio (*)
• Little crake, Zapornia parva
• Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Cranes[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: 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".

• Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (*)
• Common crane, Grus grus

Thick-knees[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees 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 thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus

Stilts and avocets[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Oystercatchers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

• Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Plovers and lapwings[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

Sandpipers and allies[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

Pratincoles and coursers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

• Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor (*)
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
• Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (*)

Skuas and jaegers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

• Great skua, Stercorarius skua (*)
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (*)
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (*)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

Loons[]

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (*)
• Arctic loon, Gavia arctica
• Common loon, Gavia immer (*)

Northern storm-petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The northern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

• European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus (*)

Shearwaters and petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
• Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (*)
• Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan
• Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus (*)

Storks[]

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

• Black stork, Ciconia nigra
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia

Boobies and gannets[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Cormorants and shags[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

• Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• European shag, Gulosus aristotelis

Pelicans[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

• Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
• Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus

Herons, egrets, and bitterns[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

• Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris
• Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
• Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
• Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
• Great egret, Ardea alba
• Little egret, Egretta garzetta
• Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis (*)
• Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca (*)
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
• Striated heron, Butorides striata (*)
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and spoonbills[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita (Ex)
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Osprey[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Barn-owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
• Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo
• Eurasian pygmy-owl, Glaucidium passerinum (*)
• Little owl, Athene noctua
• Tawny owl, Strix aluco
• Ural owl, Strix uralensis (*)
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
• Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus

Hoopoes[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

• Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
• White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis (*)
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis (*)

Bee-eaters[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

• Green bee-eater, Merops orientalis (*)
• Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (*)
• European bee-eater, Merops apiaster

Rollers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

• European roller, Coracias garrulus

Woodpeckers[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
• Eurasian three-toed woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus
• Middle spotted woodpecker, Dendrocoptes medius
• White-backed woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos
• Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
• Syrian woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus
• Lesser spotted woodpecker, Dryobates minor
• Gray-headed woodpecker, Picus canus
• Eurasian green woodpecker, Picus viridis
• Black woodpecker, Dryocopus martius

Falcons and caracaras[]

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
• Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
• Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus
• Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (*)
• Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
• Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
• Saker falcon, Falco cherrug
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Old World parrots[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

• Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria (C)
• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (C)

Old World orioles[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

• Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus

Shrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

• Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
• Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides (*)
• Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (*)
• Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
• Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
• Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
• Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Crows, jays, and magpies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
• Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
• Eurasian nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes
• Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
• Yellow-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
• Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula
• Rook, Corvus frugilegus
• Carrion crow, Corvus corone (A)
• Hooded crow, Corvus cornix
• Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, chickadees, and titmice[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• Coal tit, Periparus ater
• Crested tit, Lophophanes cristatus
• Sombre tit, Poecile lugubris
• Marsh tit, Poecile palustris
• Willow tit, Poecile montanus
• Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
• Great tit, Parus major

Penduline-tits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

• Eurasian penduline-tit, Remiz pendulinus

Larks[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
• Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
• Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata (*)
• Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
• Black lark, Melanocorypha yeltoniensis (*)
• Dupont's lark, Chersophilus duponti (*)
• Mediterranean short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens (*)
• Turkestan short-toed lark, Alaudala heinei
• Wood lark, Lullula arborea
• White-winged lark, Alauda leucoptera (*)
• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
• Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Bearded reedling[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Panuridae

This species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.

• Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus

Cisticolas and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

• Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis

Reed warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Grassbirds and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

• River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis
• Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
• Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia

Swallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Red-rumped swallow, Hirundo daurica
• Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum

Leaf warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

• Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
• Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli (*)
• Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis
• Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (*)
• Hume's warbler, Phylloscopus humei (*)
• Pallas's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus (*)
• Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (*)
• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
• Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
• Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus ibericus (*)
• Green warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus (*)
• Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides (*)
• Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis (*)

Bush warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.^[4]

• Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti

Long-tailed tits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.

• Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

• Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
• Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
• Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria
• Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
• Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris
• Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana (*)
• Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea (*)
• Rüppell's warbler, Curruca ruppeli
• Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala
• Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
• Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis
• Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata (*)
• Marmora's warbler, Curruca sarda (*)
• Dartford warbler, Curruca undata (*)

Kinglets[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

• Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
• Firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla

Wallcreeper[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tichodromidae

The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.

• Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria

Nuthatches[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.

• Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea
• Krüper's nuthatch, Sitta krueperi
• Western rock nuthatch, Sitta neumayer

Treecreepers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris
• Short-toed treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla

Wrens[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

• Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes

Dippers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.

• White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus

Starlings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
• Spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor (*)
• Rosy starling, Pastor roseus (*)

Thrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• White's thrush, Zoothera aurea (*)
• Scaly thrush, Zoothera dauma (*)
• Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
• Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
• Redwing, Turdus iliacus
• Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
• Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
• Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus

Old World flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Waxwings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus

Accentors[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.

• Alpine accentor, Prunella collaris
• Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Old World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus
• Italian sparrow, Passer italiae
• Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
• Dead Sea sparrow, Passer moabiticus (*)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
• Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
• Pale rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla (*)
• White-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis

Wagtails and pipits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

• Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
• Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
• Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola
• White wagtail, Motacilla alba
• Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi (*)
• Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii (*)
• Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
• Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
• Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
• Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
• Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta
• Rock pipit, Anthus petrosus (*)

Finches, euphonias, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
• Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
• Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
• Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus (*)
• Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
• Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githagineus (*)
• House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus (C)
• European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
• Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina
• Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
• European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
• European serin, Serinus serinus
• Fire-fronted serin, Serinus pusillus (*)
• Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus

Longspurs and snow buntings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds which had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis (*)

Old World buntings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

• Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
• Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
• Rock bunting, Emberiza cia
• Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus
• Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
• Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos (*)
• Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea
• Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
• Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia
• Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
• Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (*)
• Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (*)
• Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (*)

References[]

• Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of birds of Greece". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 August 2021.

See also[]

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

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