List of birds of Gibraltar

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition with a few changes to match the list of the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society.

These are birds adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

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.

Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies.

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World.

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground.

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying.

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

They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings.

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.

Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head.

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.

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long stout bills.

Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey.

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

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.

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters.

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.

Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights.

They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

[2] Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae The long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails.

They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia.

Large numbers of black kites and other birds of prey migrate via the Straits of Gibraltar .
Common quail, a scarce migrant.
Greater flamingo, irregular on passage.
Eared grebe, an occasional winter visitor.
Eurasian collared-dove, a recent colonist which is now common.
Common cuckoo, an occasional passage migrant.
European nightjar, occasional on passage.
Common swift, a very common summer visitor.
Common crane, occasional on migration.
Eurasian thick-knee, occasional passage migrant.
Eurasian oystercatcher, a scarce migrant.
Northern lapwing, an irregular winter visitor.
Common sandpiper, a passage migrant which sometimes overwinters.
Great skua, common offshore.
Razorbill, common at sea in winter.
A yellow-legged gull ( Larus michahellis ) on a guano encrusted rooftop in Gibraltar
Sandwich tern, regularly seen offshore.
European storm petrel, present offshore during the summer.
Cory's shearwater, can occur in large numbers offshore.
White stork, large flocks migrate across the straits.
Northern gannet, regular offshore.
European shag, a small population breeds on sea cliffs.
Osprey, a regular migrant.
European honey-buzzard, large numbers pass over in spring and autumn.
Eurasian eagle-owl, has recently returned as a breeding bird.
Eurasian hoopoe, common on passage.
European bee-eater, common in spring and autumn.
Peregrine falcon, a breeding resident.
Golden oriole, a scarce migrant.
Common raven, resident in very small numbers.
Blue tit, a common resident.
Greater short-toed lark, passes through in small numbers.
Zitting cisticola, common from autumn to spring with some staying to breed.
Barn swallow, a very common migrant which has bred in the past.
Eurasian blackcap, a resident and also a common winter visitor.
Short-toed treecreeper, an occasional visitor
Eurasian wren, a common breeding resident.
European starling, winter visitor in varying numbers.
Female blue rock thrush, breeds in dry, rocky areas
Spotted flycatcher, a common passage migrant.
Aplpine accentor, an occasional winter visitor.
House sparrow, a common resident in built-up areas.
White wagtail, regular from autumn to spring and has bred.
European serin, a breeding resident more common in winter.
Corn bunting, an occasional visitor.