This is a list of the bird species recorded in Poland. The avifauna of Poland includes 475 species, of which 5 have been introduced by humans and seven have not occurred since 1950.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of the Polish Fauna Commission (Komisja Faunistyczna), which follows the IOC World Bird List.
The Polish names of the birds, with their scientific names, can be seen in the Polish Wikipedia article.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(B) Historical - species that have not occurred in Poland since 1950 (C) Introduced - species introduced to Poland as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (*) Rare - species that are rare or accidental in Poland
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.
Common name Binomial Status White-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala * Mute swan Cygnus olor Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus Brent goose Branta bernicla Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis * Canada goose Branta canadensis C Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis Greylag goose Anser anser Lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus * Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons Tundra bean goose Anser serrirostris Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus Taiga bean goose Anser fabalis Mandarin duck Aix galericulata C Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca C Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea * C Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis Steller's eider Polysticta stelleri * King eider Somateria spectabilis * Common eider Somateria mollissima Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus * Common scoter Melanitta nigra Black scoter Melanitta americana * Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca Stejneger's scoter Melanitta stejnegeri * Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula Smew Mergus albellus Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator Goosander Mergus merganser Red-crested pochard Netta rufina Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca Common pochard Aythya ferina Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris * Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Lesser scaup Aythya affinis * Greater scaup Aythya marila Baikal teal Sibirionetta formosa * Garganey Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal Spatula discors * Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata Gadwall Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope American wigeon Mareca americana * Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail Anas acuta Eurasian teal Anas crecca Green-winged teal Anas (crecca) carolinensis
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 name Binomial Status Hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia Willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus B Western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Black grouse Lyrurus tetrix Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus C Grey partridge Perdix perdix Common quail Coturnix coturnix
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.
Common name Binomial Status Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus *
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 quite ungainly on land.
Common name Binomial Status Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps * Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus Black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricollis
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.
Common name Binomial Status Great bustard Otis tarda * MacQueen's bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii * Little bustard Tetrax tetrax *, extinct in Poland
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: 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 Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus
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.
Common name Binomial Status Pallas's sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus *
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common name Binomial Status Oriental turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis * European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto Common wood pigeon Columba palumbus Rock dove (Feral pigeon) Columba livia C Stock dove Columba oenas
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".
Common name Binomial Status Sandhill crane Antigone canadensis * Demoiselle crane Anthropoides virgo * Common crane Grus grus
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 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 appear to be weak fliers, though many are capable of long-distance migration.
Common name Binomial Status Water rail Rallus aquaticus Corn crake Crex crex Spotted crake Porzana porzana Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot Fulica atra Little crake Zapornia parva Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla *
Stone-curlews Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The stone-curlews or 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 Eurasian stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus *
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 Pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola European golden plover Pluvialis apricaria American golden plover Pluvialis dominica * Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva * Eurasian dotterel Charadrius morinellus * Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus Spur-winged lapwing Vanellus spinosus * Sociable lapwing Vanellus gregarius * White-tailed lapwing Vanellus leucurus * Caspian plover Anarhynchus asiaticus * Tibetan sand plover Anarhynchus atrifrons * Greater sand plover Anarhynchus leschenaultii * Kentish plover Anarhynchus alexandrinus *
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, 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 whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Slender-billed curlew Numenius tenuirostris * (extinct) Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa Long-billed dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus * Jack snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola Great snipe Gallinago media Common snipe Gallinago gallinago Terek sandpiper Xenus cinereus * Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularius * Red phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius * Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Green sandpiper Tringa ochropus Marsh sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola Common redshank Tringa totanus Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes * Spotted redshank Tringa erythropus Common greenshank Tringa nebularia Greater yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca * Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres Red knot Calidris canutus Great knot Calidris tenuirostris * Ruff Calidris pugnax Sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata * Broad-billed sandpiper Calidris falcinellus Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint Calidris temminckii Buff-breasted sandpiper Calidris subruficollis * Sanderling Calidris alba Dunlin Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper Calidris maritima * Baird's sandpiper Calidris bairdii * Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos * Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla * Little stint Calidris minuta Least sandpiper Calidris minutilla * White-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis *
Pratincoles and coursers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 Black-winged pratincole Glareola nordmanni * Collared pratincole Glareola pratincola *
146 Stercorarius parasiticus Parasitic Jaeger A P 147 Stercorarius longicaudus Long-tailed Jaeger A Z 148 Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarine Jaeger A Z 149 Stercorarius skua Great Skua A Z
Skuas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae