List of birds of Ireland

Atlantic puffins nest in colonies around the coast.

The northern lapwing

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Ireland. The avifauna of Ireland include a total of 466 species, of which two have been introduced by humans, 255 are rare or accidental and one occurs as both an introduced species and an accidental. Thirteen species are globally threatened. One is extinct.

Ireland has a relatively low diversity of breeding birds due to its isolation. Several species such as the tawny owl, Eurasian nuthatch and willow tit which breed in Great Britain have not been recorded. However, there are large colonies of seabirds including important populations of European storm petrels, northern gannets and roseate terns. Other notable breeding birds include corn crakes and red-billed choughs. There are no endemic species but there are endemic subspecies of white-throated dipper, coal tit and Eurasian jay.

Large numbers of wildfowl and waders winter in Ireland, attracted by its mild climate. About half the world population of Greenland white-fronted geese spend the winter there. During autumn, many migrating seabirds can be seen off the coasts including several species of skuas, shearwaters and petrels. Ireland's westerly position means that North American birds are regularly recorded in autumn.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) largely follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 5th edition although some names more commonly used by Irish birdwatchers are taken from the Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC) list. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect the Clements taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Ireland. The total includes three examples of birds that have been accepted onto the official list without being identified to species: frigatebird species, Fea's or Zino's petrel and black or white-tailed wheatear.

The total does not include species placed in Category D of the Irish list. These are species where there is doubt as to whether they have occurred in a wild state (Category D1), they have arrived by human assistance such as on board a ship (D2), they have only been recorded dead on the tideline (D3) or they are feral species whose populations may not be self-sustaining (D4).

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not, are commonly occurring native species.

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Ireland
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Ireland as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
• (E) Extirpated - a species which no longer exists in Ireland, but which exists elsewhere

Divers

Great northern diver, a winter visitor to coastal waters.

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Divers, also known as loons, 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 in shape when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-throated diver	Gavia stellata
Black-throated diver	Gavia arctica	(A)
Great northern diver	Gavia immer
White-billed diver	Gavia adamsii	(A)
Pacific diver	Gavia pacifica	(A)

Grebes

Great crested grebes breed on inland lakes.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Little grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Pied-billed grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	(A)
Red-necked grebe	Podiceps grisegena
Great crested grebe	Podiceps cristatus
Slavonian grebe	Podiceps auritus
Black-necked grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	(A)

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-browed albatross	Thalassarche melanophris	(A)

Shearwaters and petrels

Fulmars first bred in 1911 but are now widespread.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis
Fea's petrel/Zino's petrel	Pterodroma feae/Pterodroma madeira	(A)
Bermuda petrel	Pterodroma cahow	(A)
Bulwer's petrel	Bulweria bulwerii	(A)
Cory's shearwater	Calonectris diomedea
Great shearwater	Ardenna gravis
Sooty shearwater	Ardenna griseus
Manx shearwater	Puffinus puffinus
Balearic shearwater	Puffinus mauretanicus
Macaronesian shearwater	Puffinus baroli	(A)

Storm petrels

European storm petrel, Ireland has the world's largest breeding population.

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wilson's storm petrel	Oceanites oceanicus	(A)
European storm petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus
Band-rumped storm petrel	Oceanodroma castro	(A)
Leach's storm petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Swinhoe's storm petrel	Oceanodroma monorhis	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern gannet	Morus bassanus

Cormorants

Shags, common around the coast.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Double-crested cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	(A)
Great cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo
European shag	Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

• Frigatebird sp., probably magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (A)

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Little egret, first bred in 1997 and is increasingly common.

Cattle egret, a rare vagrant.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea	(A)
Great egret	Ardea alba	(A)
Little egret	Egretta garzetta
Squacco heron	Ardeola ralloides	(A)
Cattle egret	Bubulcus ibis	(A)
Green heron	Butorides virescens	(A)
Little blue heron	Egretta caerulea	(A)
Black-crowned night heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	(A)
American bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	(A)
Great bittern	Botaurus stellaris	(A)
Little bittern	Ixobrychus minutus	(A)

Ibises and spoonbills

Eurasian spoonbill, a rare visitor.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	(A)
Eurasian spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black stork	Ciconia nigra	(A)
White stork	Ciconia ciconia	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Greater flamingo	Phoenicopterus roseus	(Cat. D1)

Ducks, geese and swans

Mute swans on Lough Leane.

Barnacle goose, a winter visitor from Greenland.

Mallard, a very common resident.

Eiders, common on northern coasts.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Mute swan	Cygnus olor
Whooper swan	Cygnus cygnus
Bewick's swan	Cygnus columbianus
Bean goose	Anser fabalis
Pink-footed goose	Anser brachyrhynchus
Greater white-fronted goose	Anser albifrons
Lesser white-fronted goose	Anser erythropus	(A)
Greylag goose	Anser anser
Snow goose	Chen caerulescens	(A)
Brent goose	Branta bernicla
Barnacle goose	Branta leucopsis
Canada goose	Branta canadensis	(A, I)
Cackling goose	Branta hutchinsii	(A)
Red-breasted goose	Branta ruficollis	(Cat. D1)
Ruddy shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	(A)
Common shelduck	Tadorna tadorna
Mandarin duck	Aix galericulata	(I)
Eurasian wigeon	Anas penelope
American wigeon	Anas americana	(A)
Gadwall	Anas strepera
Baikal teal	Anas formosa	(Cat. D1)
Green-winged teal	Anas carolinensis	(A)
Common teal	Anas crecca
Falcated teal	Anas falcata	(A)
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
American black duck	Anas rubripes	(A)
Northern pintail	Anas acuta
Garganey	Anas querquedula
Blue-winged teal	Anas discors	(A)
Northern shoveler	Anas clypeata
Red-crested pochard	Netta rufina	(A)
Common pochard	Aythya ferina
Redhead	Aythya americana	(A)
Ring-necked duck	Aythya collaris	(A)
Ferruginous duck	Aythya nyroca	(A)
Tufted duck	Aythya fuligula
Greater scaup	Aythya marila
Lesser scaup	Aythya affinis	(A)
Common eider	Somateria mollissima
King eider	Somateria spectabilis	(A)
Long-tailed duck	Clangula hyemalis
Common scoter	Melanitta nigra
Surf scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	(A)
Velvet scoter	Melanitta fusca
Common goldeneye	Bucephala clangula
Barrow's goldeneye	Bucephala islandica	(A)
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	(A)
Smew	Mergellus albellus
Hooded merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	(A)
Red-breasted merganser	Mergus serrator
Goosander	Mergus merganser
Ruddy duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	(I)

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, kites and eagles

Hen harrier, a rare breeding bird.

Eurasian buzzard, increasing and spreading.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European honey buzzard	Pernis apivorus	(A)
Red kite	Milvus milvus
Black kite	Milvus migrans	(A)
White-tailed eagle	Haliaeetus albicilla	(A, being reintroduced)
Bald eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	(A)
Eurasian griffon	Gyps fulvus	(A)
Western marsh harrier	Circus aeruginosus
Hen harrier	Circus cyaneus
Montagu's harrier	Circus pygargus	(A)
Pallid harrier	Circus macrourus	(A)
Eurasian sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus
Northern goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	(A)
Eurasian buzzard	Buteo buteo
Rough-legged buzzard	Buteo lagopus	(A)
Greater spotted eagle	Clanga clanga	(A)
Golden eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	(A, being reintroduced)
Booted eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	(Cat. D1)

Falcons

Eurasian kestrel, a common resident.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Lesser kestrel	Falco naumanni	(A)
Eurasian kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
Red-footed falcon	Falco vespertinus	(A)
Merlin	Falco columbarius
Eurasian hobby	Falco subbuteo	(A)
Gyrfalcon	Falco rusticolus	(A)
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus

Grouse

File:Lagopus lagopus scoticus 2.jpg

Red grouse, scarce resident of moors and bogs.

Order: Galliformes   Family: Tetraonidae

Grouse are game birds, similar to quails and partridges.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red grouse	Lagopus lagopus
Eurasian capercaillie	Tetrao urogallus	(E)

Pheasants and partridges

The grey partridge has seriously declined and is now very rare.

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-legged partridge	Alectoris rufa	(Cat. D4)
Grey partridge	Perdix perdix
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix
Ring-necked pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	(I)

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".

Common name	Binomial	Status
Sandhill crane	Grus canadensis	(A)
Common crane	Grus grus	(A)

Rails, crakes, gallinules and coots

Corncrake, now a rare summer visitor but formerly very common.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Water rail	Rallus aquaticus
Corn crake	Crex crex
Little crake	Porzana parva	(A)
Baillon's crake	Porzana pusilla	(A)
Spotted crake	Porzana porzana	(A)
Sora	Porzana carolina	(A)
Common moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian coot	Fulica atra
American coot	Fulica americana	(A)
American purple gallinule	Porphyrio martinicus	(Cat:D3)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great bustard	Otis tarda	(A)
Little bustard	Tetrax tetrax	(A)

Oystercatchers

Eurasian oystercatcher, common around the coast.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus

Avocets and stilts

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-winged stilt	Himantopus himantopus	(A)
Pied avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Stone curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Cream-coloured courser	Cursorius cursor	(A)
Collared pratincole	Glareola pratincola	(A)
Black-winged pratincole	Glareola nordmanni	(A)

Plovers and lapwings

Northern lapwing, common in winter but less so in summer.

Grey plovers breed in Arctic regions.

Common ringed plover, winters in coastal areas south to Africa.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern lapwing	Vanellus vanellus
Sociable lapwing	Vanellus gregarius	(A)
Pacific golden plover	Pluvialis fulva	(A)
American golden plover	Pluvialis dominica	(A)
European golden plover	Pluvialis apricaria
Grey plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Common ringed plover	Charadrius hiaticula
Semipalmated plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	(A)
Little ringed plover	Charadrius dubius	(A)
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	(A)
Kentish plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	(A)
Eurasian dotterel	Charadrius morinellus	(A)

Sandpipers and allies

Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) depicted on the old fifty pence coin.

Eurasian curlew, widespread breeder with larger numbers in winter.

Turnstone, common on rocky coasts.

Pectoral sandpiper, a frequent vagrant from North America.

Red-necked phalarope, a former breeding species.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian woodcock	Scolopax rusticola
Jack snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus
Great snipe	Gallinago media	(A)
Common snipe	Gallinago gallinago
Wilson's snipe	Gallinago delicata	(A)
Short-billed dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus	(A)
Long-billed dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	(A)
Black-tailed godwit	Limosa limosa
Bar-tailed godwit	Limosa lapponica
Eskimo curlew	Numenius borealis	(A)
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian curlew	Numenius arquata
Upland sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda	(A)
Spotted redshank	Tringa erythropus
Common redshank	Tringa totanus
Marsh sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	(A)
Common greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Greater yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	(A)
Lesser yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	(A)
Green sandpiper	Tringa ochropus
Solitary sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	(A)
Wood sandpiper	Tringa glareola
Terek sandpiper	Xenus cinereus	(A)
Common sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Spotted sandpiper	Actitis macularia	(A)
Ruddy turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Great knot	Calidris tenuirostris	(A)
Red knot	Calidris canutus
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Semipalmated sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	(A)
Western sandpiper	Calidris mauri	(A)
Red-necked stint	Calidris ruficollis	(A)
Little stint	Calidris minuta
Temminck's stint	Calidris temminckii	(A)
Long-toed stint	Calidris subminuta	(A)
Least sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	(A)
White-rumped sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	(A)
Baird's sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	(A)
Pectoral sandpiper	Calidris melanotos
Sharp-tailed sandpiper	Calidris acuminata	(A)
Curlew sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea
Dunlin	Calidris alpina
Purple sandpiper	Calidris maritima
Stilt sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	(A)
Broad-billed sandpiper	Limicola falcinellus	(A)
Buff-breasted sandpiper	Tryngites subruficollis	(A)
Ruff	Philomachus pugnax
Wilson's phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor	(A)
Red-necked phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	(A, formerly bred)
Grey phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius

Skuas

Great skua, a passage migrant around the coast.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great skua	Stercorarius skua
Pomarine skua	Stercorarius pomarinus
Arctic skua	Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed skua	Stercorarius longicaudus

Gulls

Herring gull, very common resident.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common gull	Larus canus
Ring-billed gull	Larus delawarensis
Great black-backed gull	Larus marinus
Glaucous gull	Larus hyperboreus
Iceland gull	Larus glaucoides
Thayer's gull	Larus thayeri	(A)
Herring gull	Larus argentatus
Lesser black-backed gull	Larus fuscus
Yellow-legged gull	Larus michahellis
American herring gull	Larus smithsonianus	(A)
Caspian gull	Larus cachinnans	(A)
Slaty-backed gull	Larus schistisagus	(A)
Black-headed gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Bonaparte's gull	Chroicocephalus philadelphia	(A)
Mediterranean gull	Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Laughing gull	Leucophaeus atricilla	(A)
Franklin's gull	Leucophaeus pipixcan	(A)
Little gull	Hydrocoloeus minutus
Ivory gull	Pagophila eburnea	(A)
Ross's gull	Rhodostethia rosea	(A)
Sabine's gull	Xema sabini
Black-legged kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla

Terns

Roseate tern, a scarce summer visitor.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Sternidae

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Gull-billed tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	(A)
Caspian tern	Hydroprogne caspia	(A)
Elegant tern	Thalasseus elegans	(A)
Lesser crested tern	Thalasseus bengalensis	(A)
Sandwich tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis
Royal tern	Thalasseus maximus	(Cat. D3)
Roseate tern	Sterna dougallii
Common tern	Sterna hirundo
Arctic tern	Sterna paradisaea
Forster's tern	Sterna forsteri	(A)
Little tern	Sternula albifrons
Bridled tern	Onychoprion anaethetus	(Cat. D3)
Sooty tern	Onychoprion fuscatus	(A)
Whiskered tern	Chlidonias hybridus	(A)
White-winged tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	(A)
Black tern	Chlidonias niger

Auks

Black guillemot, found along rocky coasts and around harbours and piers.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits. However, they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Little auk	Alle alle	(A)
Guillemot	Uria aalge
Brunnich's guillemot	Uria lomvia	(A)
Razorbill	Alca torda
Great auk	Pinguinus impennis	(Extinct)
Black guillemot	Cepphus grylle
Atlantic puffin	Fratercula arctica

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pallas's sandgrouse	Syrrhaptes paradoxus	(A)

Pigeons and doves

Eurasian collared dove, first recorded in 1959 and now common.

Rock dove, usually lives on cliffs near the Atlantic Ocean.

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rock pigeon	Columba livia
Stock dove	Columba oenas
Common wood pigeon	Columba palumbus
European turtle dove	Streptopelia turtur
Eurasian collared dove	Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning dove	Zeanaida macroura	(A)

Cuckoos

Common cuckoo, a declining summer visitor.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great spotted cuckoo	Clamator glandarius	(A)
Common cuckoo	Cuculus canorus
Black-billed cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus	(A)
Yellow-billed cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Barn owl	Tyto alba

Typical owls

File:CRW 2987.jpg

Long-eared owl, a difficult-to-see resident.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European scops owl	Otus scops	(A)
Snowy owl	Bubo scandiacus	(A)
Little owl	Athene noctua	(A)
Long-eared owl	Asio otus
Short-eared owl	Asio flammeus
Tawny owl	Strix aluco	(D)

Nightjars

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	(A)
Eurasian nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus

Swifts

Common swift, a summer visitor.

Order: Apodiformes   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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White-throated needletail	Hirundapus caudacutus	(A)
Chimney swift	Chaetura pelagica	(A)
Alpine swift	Tachymarptis melba	(A)
Common swift	Apus apus
Pallid swift	Apus pallidus	(A)
Little swift	Apus affinis	(A)

Kingfishers

Common kingfisher, seen beside rivers and lakes.

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
Belted kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European bee-eater	Merops apiaster	(A)

Typical 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European roller	Coracias garrulus	(A)

Hoopoes

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Upupidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Hoopoe	Upupa epops

Woodpeckers and allies

Great spotted woodpecker, an occasional visitor which may have bred recently.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian wryneck	Jynx torquilla	(A)
Yellow-bellied sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	(A)
Great spotted woodpecker	Dendrocopos major
Northern flicker	Colaptes auratus	(Cat.D2)
European green woodpecker	Picus viridis	(A)

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eastern kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus	(A)

Larks

Eurasian skylark, a common resident.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Greater short-toed lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	(A)
Wood lark	Lullula arborea	(A)
Eurasian skylark	Alauda arvensis
Shore lark	Eremophila alpestris	(A)

Swallows and martins

Barn swallow, a very common summer visitor.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Purple martin	Progne subis	(Cat. D1)
Sand martin	Riparia riparia
American cliff swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	(A)
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica
Red-rumped swallow	Cecropis daurica	(A)
Common house martin	Delichon urbicum

Wagtails and pipits

Pied wagtail, a common and widespread resident.

Grey wagtail is slightly larger than pied wagtail.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pied wagtail	Motacilla alba
Citrine wagtail	Motacilla citreola	(A)
Western yellow wagtail	Motacilla flava
Grey wagtail	Motacilla cinerea
Richard's pipit	Anthus richardi	(A)
Tawny pipit	Anthus campestris	(A)
Tree pipit	Anthus trivialis
Olive-backed pipit	Anthus hodgsoni	(A)
Pechora pipit	Anthus gustavi	(A)
Meadow pipit	Anthus pratensis
Red-throated pipit	Anthus cervinus	(A)
Rock pipit	Anthus petrosus
Water pipit	Anthus spinoletta	(A)
Buff-bellied pipit	Anthus rubescens	(A)

Kinglets

Goldcrest, Ireland's smallest bird.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus
Common firecrest	Regulus ignicapillus
Ruby-crowned kinglet	Regulus calendula	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bohemian waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus
Cedar waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	(A)

Dippers

White-throated dipper, found along fast-flowing streams and rivers.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White-throated dipper	Cinclus cinclus

Wrens

Eurasian wren, "hunting the wren" is an old tradition in Ireland.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian wren	Troglodytes troglodytes

Mockingbirds and thrashers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

The mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalizations, especially their ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. Their colouring tends towards dull-greys and browns.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Grey catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	(A)

Accentors

Dunnock, a very common resident.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Dunnock	Prunella modularis

Thrushes and allies

Ring ouzel, a rare summer visitor to high mountains.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Siberian thrush	Geokichla sibirica	(A)
White's thrush	Zoothera dauma	(A)
Grey-cheeked thrush	Catharus minimus	(A)
Swainson's thrush	Catharus ustulatus	(A)
Hermit thrush	Catharus guttatus	(A)
Ring ouzel	Turdus torquatus
Eurasian blackbird	Turdus merula
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris
Redwing	Turdus iliacus
Song thrush	Turdus philomelos
Mistle thrush	Turdus viscivorus
American robin	Turdus migratorius	(A)

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Zitting cisticola	Cisticola juncidis	(A)

Cettid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cettiidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Cetti's warbler	Cettia cetti	(A)

Locustellid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common grasshopper warbler	Locustella naevia
Pallas's grasshopper warbler	Locustella certhiola	(A)
Savi's warbler	Locustella luscinioides	(A)

Acrocephalidid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Aquatic warbler	Acrocephalus paludicola	(A)
Sedge warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Paddyfield warbler	Acrocephalus agricola	(A)
Blyth's reed warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum	(A)
Eurasian reed warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Marsh warbler	Acrocephalus palustris	(A)
Great reed warbler	Acrocephalus arundinaceus	(A)
Booted warbler	Iduna caligata	(A)
Sykes's warbler	Iduna rama	(A)
Eastern olivaceous warbler	Iduna pallida	(A)
Melodious warbler	Hippolais polyglotta	(A)
Icterine warbler	Hippolais icterina	(A)

Phylloscopid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Willow warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus
Common chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita
Western Bonelli's warbler	Phylloscopus bonelli	(A)
Wood warbler	Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Dusky warbler	Phylloscopus fuscatus	(A)
Radde's warbler	Phylloscopus schwarzi	(A)
Pallas's leaf warbler	Phylloscopus proregulus	(A)
Yellow-browed warbler	Phylloscopus inornatus
Hume's leaf warbler	Phylloscopus humei	(A)
Arctic warbler	Phylloscopus borealis	(A)
Greenish warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides	(A)

Old World warblers

Eurasian blackcap, most places in Ireland have residents.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla
Garden warbler	Sylvia borin
Greater whitethroat	Sylvia communis
Lesser whitethroat	Sylvia curruca
Barred warbler	Sylvia nisoria	(A)
Subalpine warbler	Sylvia cantillans	(A)
Sardinian warbler	Sylvia melanocephala	(A)
Dartford warbler	Sylvia undata	(A)

Old World flycatchers and chats

Spotted flycatcher, one of the last summer visitors to arrive.

European robin, a common and familiar resident.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers and chats 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common rock thrush	Monticola saxatilis	(A)
Spotted flycatcher	Muscicapa striata
Pied flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca
Collared flycatcher	Ficedula albicollis	(A)
Red-breasted flycatcher	Ficedula parva	(A)
European robin	Erithacus rubecula
Thrush nightingale	Luscinia luscinia	(A)
Common nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos	(A)
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica	(A)
Rufous-tailed scrub robin	Cercotrichas galactotes	(A)
Red-flanked bluetail	Tarsiger cyanurus	(A)
Black redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros
Common redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra
European stonechat	Saxicola rubicola
Black wheatear/White-tailed wheatear	Oenanthe leucura/Oenanthe leucopyga	(A)
Northern wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe
Pied wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	(A)
Black-eared wheatear	Oenanthe hispanica	(A)
Desert wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	(A)
Isabelline wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	(A)

Bearded reedling

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Panuridae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bearded reedling	Panurus biarmicus	(A)

Long-tailed tits

Long-tailed tit, a common resident.

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. There are about 9 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Ireland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Long-tailed tit	Aegithalos caudatus

Tits

Coal tit, common in woods and gardens.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Marsh tit	Poecile palustris	(A)
Coal tit	Periparus ater
Great tit	Parus major
Eurasian blue tit	Cyanistes caeruleus

Treecreepers

Eurasian treecreeper, an inconspicuous resident.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian treecreeper	Certhia familiaris

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian golden oriole	Oriolus oriolus	(A)

Shrikes

Red-backed shrike, a rare passage migrant.

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 typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-backed shrike	Lanius collurio
Isabelline shrike	Lanius isabellinus	(A)
Brown shrike	Lanius cristatus	(A)
Northern shrike	Lanius excubitor
Lesser grey shrike	Lanius minor	(A)
Woodchat shrike	Lanius senator	(A)

Crows, jays, ravens and magpies

Hooded crow, a common resident in many habitats.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jackdaws, 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian jay	Garrulus glandarius
Eurasian magpie	Pica pica
Red-billed chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Eurasian jackdaw	Corvus monedula
House crow	Corvus splendens	(Cat.D2)
Rook	Corvus frugilegus
Carrion crow	Corvus corone
Common raven	Corvus corax
Hooded crow	Corvus cornix

Starlings

European starling, a common breeding bird with more arriving in winter.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rosy starling	Pastor roseus	(A)
European starling	Sturnus vulgaris

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Philadelphia vireo	Vireo philadelphicus	(A)
Red-eyed vireo	Vireo olivaceus	(A)

New World warblers

Blue-winged warbler, one on Cape Clear Island in 2000 was the first European record of this North American bird.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

The New World warblers are a group of small, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blue-winged warbler	Vermivora pinus	(A)
Northern parula	Setophaga americana	(A)
Yellow warbler	Setophaga petechia	(A)
Yellow-rumped warbler	Setophaga coronata	(A)
Blackpoll warbler	Setophaga striata	(A)
American redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	(A)
Black-and-white warbler	Mniotilta varia	(A)
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla	(A)
Northern waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis	(A)
Common yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	(A)
Canada warbler	Cardellina canadensis	(A)

Buntings and New World sparrows

Yellowhammer, a declining resident.

Snow bunting, small numbers occur in autumn and winter.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella
Pine bunting	Emberiza leucocephalos	(A)
Cirl bunting	Emberiza cirlus	(A)
Ortolan bunting	Emberiza hortulana	(A)
Little bunting	Emberiza pusilla	(A)
Rustic bunting	Emberiza rustica	(A)
Yellow-breasted bunting	Emberiza aureola	(A)
Black-headed bunting	Emberiza melanocephala	(A)
Red-headed bunting	Emberiza bruniceps	(Cat.D1)
Reed bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus
Corn bunting	Emberiza calandra	(A, formerly bred)
Fox sparrow	Passerella iliaca	(A)
White-crowned sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	(A)
White-throated sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	(A)
Dark-eyed junco	Junco hyemalis	(A)

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Lapland bunting	Calcarius lapponicus
Snow bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis

Cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rose-breasted grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	(A)
Indigo bunting	Passerina cyanea	(A)
Scarlet tanager	Piranga olivacea	(A)

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds and New World orioles. Most species have black as the predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus	(A)
Baltimore oriole	Icterus galbula	(A)

Finches

Common chaffinch, a very common resident.

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 name	Binomial	Status
Common chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs
Brambling	Fringilla montifringilla
Common rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	(A)
Common crossbill	Loxia curvirostra
Two-barred crossbill	Loxia leucoptera	(A)
European greenfinch	Chloris chloris
Common redpoll	Acanthis flammea
Arctic redpoll	Acanthis hornemanni	(A)
Eurasian siskin	Spinus spinus
American goldfinch	Spinus tristis	(Cat. D1)
European goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
Twite	Linaria flavirostris
Common linnet	Linaria cannabina
European serin	Serinus serinus	(A)
Eurasian bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes	(A)

Sparrows

House sparrow, common around human habitation.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

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. There are about 35 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Ireland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
House sparrow	Passer domesticus
Eurasian tree sparrow	Passer montanus

See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

References

• Dempsey, Eric & Michael O'Clery (1995) Pocket Guide to the Common Birds of Ireland, Gill & Macmillan Ltd, Dublin.
• Dempsey, Eric & Michael O'Clery (2007) Finding Birds in Ireland: the complete guide, Gill & Macmillan Ltd, Dublin.
• Irish Rare Birds Committee (2007) The Irish List. Accessed 6 April 2009.
• Irish Rare Birds Committee (2009) Irish Rare Bird Report 2007. Accessed 31 October 2009.

External links

• National Biodiversity Network [1] Distribution Maps (Ongoing)
• Oiseaux Ireland page. Many photos. Not all species.
• Irish Birding Latest sightings.
• Irish Rare Birds Committee
• NIBWA Northern Ireland Bird watchers Association.
• NIOC Northern Ireland Ornithologists Club. Excellent photographs
• Bird Guides Irish list, county lists, latest sightings and photos.