List of birds of Ireland

The avifauna of Ireland included a total of 522 species as of the end of 2019 according to the Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC).

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.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) as of July 2021.

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.

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

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

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae The thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia.

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: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture, and some of their habits.

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae Loons, also known as divers, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe.

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

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

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.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World.

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.

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.

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

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

They mainly occur as breeding species, as another common name (Old World warblers) implies, in Europe, Asia, and, to a lesser extent, Africa.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Atlantic puffins nest in colonies around the coast.
The northern lapwing
Mute swans on Lough Leane .
Barnacle goose, a winter visitor from Greenland.
Mallard, a very common resident.
Eiders, common on northern coasts.
The grey partridge has seriously declined and is now very rare.
Common swift, a summer visitor.
Common cuckoo, a declining summer visitor.
Eurasian collared-dove, first recorded in 1959 and now common.
Rock dove, usually lives on cliffs near the Atlantic Ocean.
Corn crake, now a rare summer visitor but formerly very common.
Great crested grebes breed on inland lakes.
Eurasian oystercatcher, common around the coast.
Northern lapwing, common in winter but less so in summer.
Black-bellied plovers breed in Arctic regions.
Common ringed plover, winters in coastal areas south to Africa .
Eurasian curlew, widespread breeder with larger numbers in winter.
Ruddy turnstone, common on rocky coasts.
Pectoral sandpiper, a frequent vagrant from North America.
Red-necked phalarope, a former breeding species.
Herring gull, very common resident.
Roseate tern, a scarce summer visitor.
Great skua, a passage migrant around the coast.
Black guillemot, found along rocky coasts and around harbours and piers.
Common loon, a winter visitor to coastal waters.
European storm petrel; Ireland has the world's largest breeding population.
Northern fulmars first bred in 1911 but are now widespread.
European shags, common around the coast.
Eurasian spoonbill, a rare visitor.
Little egret, first bred in 1997 and is increasingly common.
Cattle egret, a rare vagrant.
Hen harrier, a rare breeding bird.
Common buzzard, increasing and spreading.
Long-eared owl, a difficult-to-see resident.
Common kingfisher, seen beside rivers and lakes.
Great spotted woodpecker, an occasional visitor which has bred recently.
Eurasian kestrel, a common resident.
Red-backed shrike, a rare passage migrant.
Hooded crow, a common resident in many habitats.
Coal tit, common in woods and gardens.
Eurasian skylark, a common resident.
Barn swallow, a very common summer visitor.
Long-tailed tit, a common resident.
Eurasian blackcap, most places in Ireland have residents.
Goldcrest, Ireland's smallest bird.
Eurasian wren, " hunting the wren " is an old tradition in Ireland.
Eurasian treecreeper, an inconspicuous resident.
European starling, a common breeding bird with more arriving in winter.
Ring ouzel, a rare summer visitor to high mountains.
Spotted flycatcher, one of the last summer visitors to arrive.
European robin, a common and familiar resident.
White-throated dipper, found along fast-flowing streams and rivers.
House sparrow, common around human habitation.
Dunnock, a very common resident.
Pied wagtail, a common and widespread resident.
Grey wagtail is slightly larger than white wagtail.
Eurasian chaffinch, a very common resident.
Yellowhammer, a declining resident.
Blue-winged warbler, one on Cape Clear Island in 2000 was the first European record of this North American bird.