This list of birds species recorded in Metropolitan France. The avifauna of France includes a total of 671 species according to the Birds of France website (oiseaux.net). One is endemic to the island of Corsica.
Metropolitan France is the French mainland, adjacent islands, and Corsica. There is also a specific list for the birds of Corsica. For the birds in the French Overseas territories, see: List of birds of French Guiana, List of birds of French Polynesia, List of birds of Guadeloupe, List of birds of Martinique, List of birds of Réunion, and List of birds of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of the IOC World Bird List, Version 14.2 (2024).
Bird species admitted to the French List are included in the following categories A, B or C, with the same definitions as the British and other Western Palaearctic bird lists. These are sourced from the 2021 edition of the French list, which followed the IOC World Bird List, Version 11.1 (2021). 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.
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.
Fulvous whistling duck Dendrocygna bicolor () – C Brant Branta bernicla () – A Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis () – A Canada goose Branta canadensis () – C Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis () – AC Cackling goose Branta hutchinsii () – A Snow goose Anser caerulescens () – B Greylag goose Anser anser () – AC Taiga bean goose Anser fabalis () – A Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus () – A Tundra bean goose Anser serrirostris () – A Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons () – A Lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus () – A Mute swan Cygnus olor () – AC Black swan Cygnus atratus () – C Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus () – A Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus () – A Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca () – BC Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna () – A Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea () – BC Mandarin duck Aix galericulata () – C Baikal teal Sibirionetta formosa () – B Garganey Spatula querquedula () – A Blue-winged teal Spatula discors () – A Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata () – A Gadwall Mareca strepera () – A Falcated duck Mareca falcata () – A Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope () – A American wigeon Mareca americana () – A Mallard Anas platyrhynchos () – AC American black duck Anas rubripes () – A Northern pintail Anas acuta () – A Eurasian teal Anas crecca () – A Green-winged teal Anas carolinensis () – A Marbled duck Marmaronetta angustirostris () – A Red-crested pochard Netta rufina () – A Canvasback Aythya valisineria () – A Redhead Aythya americana () – A Common pochard Aythya ferina () – A Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca () – A Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris () – A Tufted duck Aythya fuligula () – A Greater scaup Aythya marila () – A Lesser scaup Aythya affinis () – A Steller's eider Polysticta stelleri () – A King eider Somateria spectabilis () – A Common eider Somateria mollissima () – A Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus () – A Surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata () – A Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca () – A Stejneger's scoter Melanitta stejnegeri () – B Common scoter Melanitta nigra () – A Black scoter Melanitta americana () – A Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis () – A Bufflehead Bucephala albeola () – A Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula () – A Barrow's goldeneye Bucephala islandica () – A Smew Mergellus albellus () – A Hooded merganser Lophodytes cucullatus () – A Goosander Mergus merganser () – A Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator () – A Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis () – C White-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala () – A
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World. Two have been introduced to France as gamebirds.
California quail Callipepla californica () – C Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus () – C
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings. In addition to the native species, several have been introduced for game shooting.
Hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia () – A Rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta () – A Western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus () – A Black grouse Lyrurus tetrix () – A Grey partridge Perdix perdix () – AC Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii () – C Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus () – C Common quail Coturnix coturnix () – A Barbary partridge Alectoris barbara () – C Red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa () – AC Chukar partridge Alectoris chukar () – C Rock partridge Alectoris graeca () – A
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.
Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor () – A Red-necked nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis () – A European nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus () – 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.
Chimney swift Chaetura pelagica () – A Alpine swift Tachymarptis melba () – A Common swift Apus apus () – A Pallid swift Apus pallidus () – A Little swift Apus affinis () – A White-rumped swift Apus caffer () – 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.
Great bustard Otis tarda () – A Macqueen's bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii () – B Little bustard Tetrax tetrax () – A
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.
Great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius () – A Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus () – A Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus () – A Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus () – 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.
Pallas's sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus () – A Pin-tailed sandgrouse Pterocles alchata () – 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 () – AC Stock dove Columba oenas () – A Common wood pigeon Columba palumbus () – A European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur () – A Oriental turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis () – A Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto () – A Laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis () – C Mourning dove Zenaida macroura () – 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. Many are shy and secretive birds, but 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 to be weak fliers, though many are capable of long-distance migration.
Water rail Rallus aquaticus () – A Corn crake Crex crex () – A Sora Porzana carolina () – A Spotted crake Porzana porzana () – A Lesser moorhen Paragallinula angulata () – A Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus () – A Eurasian coot Fulica atra () – A Red-knobbed coot Fulica cristata () – B Allen's gallinule Porphyrio alleni () – A Western swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio () – AC Grey-headed swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus () – C Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla () – A Little crake Zapornia parva () – 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".
Sandhill crane Antigone canadensis () – A Demoiselle crane Grus virgo () – A Common crane Grus grus () – 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 quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis () – A Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps () – A Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena () – A Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus () – A Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus () – A Black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricollis () – A
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious warm temperate to tropical wetland birds, usually high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shrimps 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 () – A Lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor () – A
Buttonquail Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which superficially resemble quail. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young. One species is cited on the current French list, but without details.
Common buttonquail Turnix sylvaticus () – ?
Stone-curlews Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The stone-curlews, also called thick-knees, are a group of waders 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.
Eurasian stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus () – A
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus () – A
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae