This is a list of bird species confirmed in the Faroe Islands; a total of 358 species have been recorded. There are about 40 common breeding birds, including the seabirds northern fulmar (600,000 pairs), Atlantic puffin (550,000 pairs), European storm petrel (250,000 pairs), black-legged kittiwake (230,000 pairs), common guillemot (175,000 pairs), Manx shearwater (25,000 pairs).
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of the Danish Faroese official bird list, 2022 edition, which follows the IOC World Bird List. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Accidental species are included in the total species count for the Faroe Islands.
Bird species admitted to the Faroese 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. Species marked with a * are rare species which require acceptance by the (SU; the Danish Rarities Committee).
Symbolically, the most important of the birds of the Faroe Islands is the Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus). Their annual arrival on about 12 March is celebrated by the Faroe Islanders as the start of spring. For this reason, the (pronounced ), is recognised as the national bird of the Faroes. However, in numbers, the avifauna is dominated by an estimated two million pairs of breeding seabirds of several species. There are also some resident landbirds and many regular visitors, both passage migrants and breeders, as well as several species recorded occasionally as vagrants, mainly from Europe. The Faroese postal system, the Postverk Føroya, prints stamps portraying Faroe birds. See external links.
History The great auk formerly bred on the Faroes, but became extinct throughout its range in the North Atlantic in the early 19th century due to human predation; the last Faroese record was on Stóra Dímun on 1 July 1808. The pied raven, a colour morph of the common raven, also occurred, but the last confirmed record was in 1902. Normal all-black common ravens remain widespread in the archipelago.
Historically, harvesting seabirds for food was an important source of nutrition for the islanders. A reduced and strictly regulated harvest, mainly of fulmars and puffins, continues. In general, the seabirds and their nesting areas are now strongly protected.
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.
Common quail () Coturnix coturnix A*
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the geese, swans and ducks. 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.
Brant goose () Branta bernicla A Canada goose () Branta canadensis C Barnacle goose () Branta leucopsis A/C Bar-headed goose () Anser indicus C* Snow goose () Anser caerulescens A* Greylag goose () Anser anser A 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 Black swan () Cygnus atratus C* Mute swan () Cygnus olor A* Tundra swan () Cygnus columbianus A* Whooper swan () Cygnus cygnus A Common shelduck () Tadorna tadorna A Mandarin duck () Aix galericulata C Garganey () Spatula querquedula A Blue-winged teal () Spatula discors A* Northern shoveler () Spatula clypeata A Gadwall () Mareca strepera A Eurasian wigeon () Mareca penelope A American wigeon () Mareca americana A* Mallard () Anas platyrhynchos A American black duck () Anas rubripes A* Northern pintail () Anas acuta A Eurasian teal () Anas crecca A Green-winged teal () Anas carolinensis 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 White-winged scoter () Melanitta deglandi A* Common scoter () Melanitta nigra A Long-tailed duck () Clangula hyemalis 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*
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* Eurasian nightjar () Caprimulgus europaeus B*
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. Swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent.
White-throated needletail () Hirundapus caudacutus A* Common swift () Apus apus 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.
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 B*
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 A/C 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 Mourning dove () Zenaida macroura A*
Rails, moorhens, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, moorhens, and coots. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. Many 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 to be weak fliers, though are capable of long-distance migration.
Water rail () Rallus aquaticus A Corn crake () Crex crex A* Spotted crake () Porzana porzana A* Common moorhen () Gallinula chloropus A Eurasian coot () Fulica atra A American coot () Fulica americana 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.
Sandhill crane () Antigone canadensis 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
Stone-curlews Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The stone-curlews are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Asia. 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
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.
Pied avocet () Recurvirostra avosetta A*
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.
Northern lapwing () Vanellus vanellus A European golden plover () Pluvialis apricaria A Grey plover () Pluvialis squatarola A Common ringed plover () Charadrius hiaticula A Little ringed plover () Charadrius dubius A* Killdeer () Charadrius vociferus B* Eurasian dotterel () Charadrius morinellus B*
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.
Eurasian whimbrel () Numenius phaeopus A Eurasian curlew () Numenius arquata A Bar-tailed godwit () Limosa lapponica A Black-tailed godwit () Limosa limosa A Ruddy turnstone () Arenaria interpres A Red knot () Calidris canutus A Ruff () Calidris pugnax A Broad-billed sandpiper Calidris falcinellus A* Curlew sandpiper () Calidris ferruginea A* Sanderling () Calidris alba A Dunlin () Calidris alpina A Purple sandpiper () Calidris maritima A Baird's sandpiper () Calidris bairdii A* Little stint () Calidris minuta A* White-rumped sandpiper () Calidris fuscicollis A* Buff-breasted sandpiper () Calidris subruficollis A* Pectoral sandpiper () Calidris melanotos A* Semipalmated sandpiper () Calidris pusilla A* Long-billed dowitcher () Limnodromus scolopaceus A* Eurasian woodcock () Scolopax rusticola A Jack snipe () Lymnocryptes minimus A Common snipe () Gallinago gallinago A Red-necked phalarope () Phalaropus lobatus A Grey phalarope () Phalaropus fulicarius A* Common sandpiper () Actitis hypoleucos A