This list of birds of Svalbard includes 243 species as of October 2025, of which at least three are introduced.
Svalbard is an archipelago of islands in the North Sea. It currently is an unincorporated area of Norway. The largest island, Svalbard or Spitzbergen, is home to about 2,500 people. Other islands include Nordaustlandet, Bjørnøja and Edgeøya.
Breeding status
Abundant breeder (AB) – breeds annually, with >10,000 breeding pairs Common breeder (CB) – breeds annually, with <10,000 breeding pairs Irregular breeder (IB) – does not breed annually, and only a few pairs Dispersed breeder (DB) – breeds annually, but dispersedly Winter visitor (WV) – spends the winter months in Svalbard Annual (A) – found in small numbers every year Occasional (O) – rare, occasional visitor, not every year Vagrant (V) – rare, less than 20 records Rare vagrant (RV) – rare, less than 5 records Introduced (I) – either introduced purposely or accidentally by humans, or a bird that came to Svalbard with the assistance of humans
Ducks, geese, swans, and eiders Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae English name Norwegian name Scientific name Breeding status Yearly abundance (if any) PhotoBrent goose Branta bernicla CB April–September Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis RV Canada goose Branta canadensis I V Cackling goose Branta huchinsii V Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis AB WV? May–October Bar-headed goose Anser indicus I V Snow goose Anser caerulescens A Greylag goose Anser anser A, possibly IB May–August, seen year-round Taiga bean goose Anser fabalis V Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus AB Tundra bean goose Anser serrirostris O Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons A Mute swan Cygnus olor RV Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus V Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus A, IB (Bjørnøya) June–July, seen year round Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna V Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea RV Mandarin duck Aix galericulata I RV Baikal teal Sibirionetta formosa RV Garganey Spatula querquedula RV Blue-winged teal Spatula discors RV Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata V Year round, usually May–August Gadwall Mareca strepera V Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope O, probably IB May–August Mallard Anas platyrhynchos A, probably IB Northern pintail Anas acuta A IB May-August Common teal Anas crecca A IB May-September Green-winged teal Anas carolinensis RV Common pochard Aythya ferina RV Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris RV Tufted duck Aythya fuligula A May-September Greater scaup Aythya marila V Steller's eider Polysticta stelleri O May-July Spectacled eider Somateria fischeri RV King eider Somateria spectabilis CB April-September Common eider Somateria mollissima AB March-September, seen year round Harlequin Histrionicus histrionicus V Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca V White-winged scoter Melanitta deglandi RV Common scoter Melanitta nigra A, probably CB May-July Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis CB April-September, seen year round Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula O Barrow's goldeneye Bucephala islandindica RV Smew Mergellus albellus RV Goosander Mergus merganser RV Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator O, probably DB
Pheasants, grouse, and partridges Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
English name Norwegian name Scientific name Breeding status Yearly abundance (if any) PhotoSvalbard rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta hyperboreus CB WV January-December
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae English name Norwegian name Scientific name Breeding status Yearly abundance (if any) PhotoCommon swift Apus apus V
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae English name Norwegian name Scientific name Breeding status Yearly abundance (if any) PhotoCommon cuckoo Cuculus canorus RV
Doves and pigeons Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae English name Norwegian name Scientific name Breeding status Yearly abundance (if any) PhotoFeral pigeon Columba livia (feral) RV Common wood pigeonColumba palumbusV European turtle dove Streptopelia turturRV Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaoctoRV
Rails and crakes Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae English name Norwegian name Scientific name Breeding status Yearly abundance (if any) PhotoWater rail Rallus aquaticus RV Corn crakeCrex crexRV Common moorhen Gallinula chloropusRV Eurasian coot Fulica atraRV
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae English name Norwegian name Scientific name Breeding status Yearly abundance (if any) PhotoCommon crane Grus grus V
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae English name Norwegian name Scientific name Breeding status Yearly abundance (if any) PhotoRed-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena RV Slavonian grebePodiceps auritusRV
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriformesFamily: Haematopodidae English name Norwegian name Scientific nameBreeding status Yearly abundance (if any)PhotoEurasian oystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusAMarch-August
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriformesFamily: Charadriidae English name Norwegian name Scientific nameBreeding status Yearly abundance (if any)PhotoNorthern lapwingVanellus vanellusO European golden ploverPluvialis apricariaDBLate April- SeptemberPacific golden ploverPluvialis fulvaV IB American golden ploverPluvialis dominicaRV Grey ploverPluvialis squatarolaV Common ringed ploverCharadrius hiaticulaDBMay- SeptemberEurasian dotterelCharadrius morinellusRV Eurasian whimbrelNumenius phaeopusA May- AugustEurasian curlew Numenius arquataV Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaRV Icelandic black-tailed godwitLimosa limosa islandicaO VMay - JuneRuddy turnstoneArenaria interpresDBMay- SeptemberRed knotCalidris canutusA DBMay- SeptemberRuffCalidris pugnaxV Curlew sandpiperCalidris ferrugineaV
References