This is a list of the bird species recorded in Italy. This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English, scientific, and Italian names) follow those of the Handbook of the Birds of the World & BirdLife International Checklist. The Italian sparrow is unofficially considered the national bird of Italy.
Bird species admitted to the Italian List are included in the following categories A, B or C, with the same definitions as the British and other Western Palaearctic bird lists: A: species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950. B: species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently. C: species introduced by humans, and have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, which maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The Odontophoridae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump and have broad, relatively short wings. One introduced species in Italy.
Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus Colino della Virginia – C
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: 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.
Common quail Coturnix coturnix Quaglia – A Rock partridge Alectoris graeca Coturnice – AC Chukar partridge Alectoris chukar Coturnice orientale – C Barbary partridge Alectoris barbara Pernice sarda – C Red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa Pernice rossa – AC Erckel's francolin Pternistis erckelii Francolino di Erckel – C Black francolin Francolinus francolinus Francolino nero – C Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus Fagiano comune – C Grey partridge Perdix perdix Starna – AC Hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia Francolino di monte – A Rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta Pernice bianca – A Western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Gallo cedrone – A Black grouse Lyrurus tetrix Fagiano di monte – A
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis Gobbo della Giamaica – C White-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala Gobbo rugginoso – A Black swan Cygnus atratus Cigno nero – C Mute swan Cygnus olor Cigno reale – AC Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus Cigno selvatico – A Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus Cigno minore – A Brent goose Branta bernicla Oca colombaccio – A Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis Oca facciabianca – AC Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis Oca collorosso – A Canada goose Branta canadensis Oca del Canada – C Snow goose Anser caerulescens Oca delle nevi – A Greylag goose Anser anser Oca selvatica – AC Bean goose Anser fabalis Oca granaiola – A Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus Oca zamperosee – A Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons Oca lombardella – A Lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus Oca lombardella minore – A Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis Moretta codona – A King eider Somateria spectabilis Re degli edredoni – A Common eider Somateria mollissima Edredone – A Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca Orco marino – A Common scoter Melanitta nigra Orchetto marino – A Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula Quattrocchi – A Smew Mergellus albellus Pesciaiola – A Goosander Mergus merganser Smergo maggiore – A Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator Smergo minore – A Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus Moretta arlecchino – B Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Oca egiziana – C Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna Volpoca – AC Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Casarca – AC Mandarin duck Aix galericulata Anatra mandarina – C Marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris Anatra marmorizzata – A Red-crested pochard Netta rufina Fistione turco – A Common pochard Aythya ferina Moriglione – AC Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca Moretta tabaccata – A Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris Moretta dal collare – A Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Moretta – A Greater scaup Aythya marila Moretta grigia – A Garganey Spatula querquedula Marzaiola – A Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata Mestolone – A Blue-winged teal Spatula discors Marzaiola americana – A Baikal teal Sibirionetta formosa Alzavola asiatica – A Gadwall Mareca strepera Canapiglia – A Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope Fischione – A Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Germano reale – AC Northern pintail Anas acuta Codone – A Eurasian teal Anas crecca Alzavola – A Green-winged teal Anas carolinensis Alzavola americana – A
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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 ungainly on land.
Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Tuffetto – A Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena Svasso collorosso – A Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus Svasso maggiore – A Horned grebe Podiceps auritus Svasso cornuto – A Black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricollis Svasso piccolo – A
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 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 Fenicottero – AC Lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor Fenicottero minore – A
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock dove Columba livia Piccione selvatico – AC Stock dove Columba oenas Colombella – A Common woodpigeon Columba palumbus Colombaccio – A European turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur Tortora selvatica – A Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Tortora orientale – A Eurasian collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto Tortora dal collare – A Laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis Tortora delle palme – A
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: 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. All the species recorded in Italy are vagrants.
Pallas's sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus Sirratte – A Spotted sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus Grandule del Senegal – B Pin-tailed sandgrouse Pterocles alchata Grandule – B
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
Red-necked nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis Succiacapre collorosso – A Eurasian nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Succiacapre – A Egyptian nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius Succiacapre isabellino – A
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
Alpine swift Tachymarptis melba Rondone maggiore – A Little swift Apus affinis Rondone indiano – A Pallid swift Apus pallidus Rondone pallido – A Common swift Apus apus Rondone comune – A
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos and relatives. 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 Cuculo dal ciuffo – A Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Cuculo americano – A Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus Cuculo occhirossi – B Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus Cuculo – A
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and moorhens. 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, though some are bold and conspicuous. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and appear to be weak fliers, though capable of long-distance migration.
Water rail Rallus aquaticus Porciglione – A Corn crake Crex crex Re di quaglie – A Spotted crake Porzana porzana Voltolino – A Little crake Zapornia parva Schiribilla – A Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla Schiribilla grigiata – A Striped crake Aenigmatolimnas marginalis Voltolino striato – A Western swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Pollo sultano – A Allen's gallinule Porphyrio alleni Pollo sultano di Allen – A Purple gallinule Porphyrio martinica Pollo sultano della Martinica – A Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus Gallinella d'acqua – A Red-knobbed coot Fulica cristata Folaga crestata – B Eurasian coot Fulica atra Folaga – A
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: 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 Grus virgo Damigella della Numidia – A Common crane Grus grus Gru – A
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: 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.
Little bustard Tetrax tetrax Gallina prataiola – A Great bustard Otis tarda Otarda – A Houbara bustard Chlamydotis undulata Ubara africana – B MacQueen's bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii Ubara asiatica – A
Loons Order: GaviiformesFamily: 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 Strolaga minore – A Arctic loon Gavia arctica Strolaga mezzana – A Common loon Gavia immer Strolaga maggiore – A Yellow-billed loon Gavia adamsii Strolaga beccogiallo – A
Southern storm petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
Southern storm petrels, are seabirds in the family Oceanitidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These very small seabirds feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Wilson's storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus Uccello delle tempeste di Wilson – A
Northern storm petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
The northern storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are very small seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.