List of birds of Italy

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Italy. The avifauna of Italy included a total of 577 species recorded in the wild by March 2024, according to Avibase. Of these species, 13 have been introduced by humans, one has been extirpated, and four others have not been recorded since before 1950. One species is hypothetical and another's status has not been determined.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.^[1]

The following tags have been used to highlight some categories of occurrence. The notes of population status, such as "endangered", apply to the worldwide population, not that only in Italy, and are from Bird Checklists of the World.^[2]

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Italy, also called a vagrant
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced by humans directly or indirectly to Italy which has a self-supporting population
• (S) Status uncertain - a species whose status has not been determined or a species which has been reported but not confirmed.

Order: Anseriformes   Family: 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.

Accidental :

Status Uncertain:

• Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii

Introduced:

• Wood duck, Aix sponsa

Order: Galliformes   Family: 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.

• Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia
• Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta
• Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
• Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix
• Gray partridge, Perdix perdix
• Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
• Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara
• Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa
• Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca (near-threatened)

Introduced:

• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
• Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: 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
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (vulnerable)
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
• Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia
• Stock pigeon, Columba oenas
• Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus
• European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur (vulnerable)
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
• Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis

Accidental:

• Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: 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 are not native and were imported accidentally.

• Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus
• Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus

Order: Otidiformes   Family: 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 (near-threatened)

Accidental:

• Great bustard, Otis tarda (vulnerable)
• Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata
• MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (vulnerable)

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: 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
• Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Accidental :

• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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.

• Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus

Accidental:

• Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis (A)
• Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A)

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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 or boomerang.

• Alpine swift, Apus melba
• Common swift, Apus apus
• Pallid swift, Apus pallidus

Accidental:

• Little swift, Apus affinis
• White-rumped swift, Apus caffer

Order: Gruiformes   Family: 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 to be weak fliers.

• Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
• Corn crake, Crex crex
• Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
• Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
• Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata (A)
• Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A)
• Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (A)
• Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
• African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A)
• Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis (A)
• Little crake, Zapornia parva
• Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Order: Gruiformes   Family: 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 crane, Grus grus

Accidental:

• Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The 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.

• Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

• Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (near-threatened)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, 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.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

• Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus (Extirpated; not recorded since before 1950)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

• Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor (A)
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
• Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)
• Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A) (near-threatened)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

• Great skua, Stercorarius skua
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Auks are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colors, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.

• Dovekie, Alle alle (A)
• Common murre, Uria aalge (A)
• Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (A)
• Razorbill, Alca torda (near-threatened)
• Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica (vulnerable)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: 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
• Arctic loon, Gavia arctica
• Common loon, Gavia immer
• Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A) (near-threatened)

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest flying birds, with long, narrow wings for gliding. The majority are found in the Southern Hemisphere with only vagrants occurring in the North Atlantic.

• Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (A)
• Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A)
• Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans (A)

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

Southern storm petrels, are seabirds in the family Oceanitidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These smallest of 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 (A)

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The northern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

• European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A) (vulnerable)
• Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Hydrobates monorhis (A) (near-threatened)

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• Southern giant-petrel, Macronectes giganteus (A)
• Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (A)
• Cape petrel, Daption capense (A)
• Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii (A)
• Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
• Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)
• Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A) (near-threatened)
• Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan (vulnerable)
• Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus (A) (critically endangered)
• Barolo shearwater, Puffinus baroli (A)

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

• Black stork, Ciconia nigra
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)
• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

• Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• European shag, Gulosus aristotelis

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

• Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus (A)
• Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens (A)
• Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus (A) (near-threatened)

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus (I)
• Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita (I) (endangered)
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
• Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo
• Eurasian pygmy-owl, Glaucidium passerinum
• Little owl, Athene noctua
• Tawny owl, Strix aluco
• Ural owl, Strix uralensis
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
• Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink coloring with a large erectile crest on their head.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

• Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis (A)

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly colored plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

• Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (A)
• European bee-eater, Merops apiaster

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

• European roller, Coracias garrulus

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
• Eurasian three-toed woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus
• Middle spotted woodpecker, Dendrocoptes medius
• White-backed woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos
• Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
• Lesser spotted woodpecker, Dryobates minor
• Gray-headed woodpecker, Picus canus
• Eurasian green woodpecker, Picus viridis
• Black woodpecker, Dryocopus martius

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
• Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
• Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (near-threatened)
• Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (A)
• Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
• Sooty falcon, Falco concolor (A) (vulnerable)
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
• Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
• Saker falcon, Falco cherrug (endangered)
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.

• Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus (I)
• Blue-fronted amazon, Amazona aestiva (I)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World and Southeast Asia.

• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

• Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

• Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
• Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides (A)
• Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (A)
• Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (A)
• Iberian gray shrike, Lanius meridionalis (A)
• Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
• Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
• Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus (A)
• Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
• Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
• Eurasian nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes
• Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
• Yellow-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
• Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula
• Rook, Corvus frugilegus
• Carrion crow, Corvus corone
• Hooded crow, Corvus cornix
• Pied crow, Corvus albus (A)
• Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis (A)
• Common raven, Corvus corax

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• Coal tit, Periparus ater
• Crested tit, Lophophanes cristatus
• Sombre tit, Poecile lugubris (A; not recorded since before 1950)
• Marsh tit, Poecile palustris
• Willow tit, Poecile montana
• Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
• African blue tit, Cyanistes teneriffae
• Great tit, Parus major

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

• Eurasian penduline-tit, Remiz pendulinus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes (A)
• Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cincturus (A)
• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
• Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
• Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata (A)
• Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
• Black lark, Melanocorypha yeltoniensis (A)
• Dupont's lark, Chersophilus duponti (A) (near-threatened)
• Wood lark, Lullula arborea
• Mediterranean short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens (A)
• White-winged lark, Alauda leucoptera (A)
• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
• Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Panuridae

This species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.

• Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

• Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

• Booted warbler, Iduna caligata (A)
• Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama (A)
• Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida (A)
• Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca (A)
• Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum (A)
• Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
• Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
• Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola (vulnerable)
• Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon
• Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola
• Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum (A)
• Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
• Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

• River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis (A)
• Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
• Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
• Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colors.

• Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
• Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
• Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis (A)
• Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus
• Hume's warbler, Phylloscopus humei (A)
• Pallas's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus (A)
• Radde's warbler, Phylloscopus schwarzi (A)
• Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (A)
• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
• Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
• Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus ibericus (A)
• Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides (A)
• Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.^[3]

• Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.

• Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The laughingthrushes are a family of Old World passerine birds. They are diverse in size and coloration. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

• Red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea (I)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

• Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
• Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tichodromidae

The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.

• Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.

• Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris
• Short-toed treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

• Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.

• White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
• Spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor
• Rosy starling, Pastor roseus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.

• Red avadavat, Amandava amandava (I)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.

• Alpine accentor, Prunella collaris
• Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (A)
• Black-throated accentor, Prunella atrogularis (A)
• Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus
• Italian sparrow, Passer italiae (vulnerable)
• Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
• Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
• White-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds which had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

• Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
• Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps (A)
• Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
• Rock bunting, Emberiza cia
• Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus
• Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
• Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos
• Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
• Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia (A)
• Pallas's bunting, Emberiza pallasi (A)
• Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
• Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A) (critically endangered)
• Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A)
• Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A) (vulnerable)
• Black-faced bunting, Emberiza spodocephala (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

The New World sparrows (or American sparrows) are a large family of seed-eating passerine birds with distinctively finch-like bills.

• Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

Icterids make up a family of small- to medium-sized, often colorful, New-World passerine birds. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The species in the family vary widely in size, shape, behavior and coloration.

• Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (A)

images of bird species whose nesting in Italy has been confirmed, listed alphabetically by common (English) name.

• 
  Alpine accentor
  Prunella collaris
• 
  Alpine swift
  Apus melba
• 
  Audouin's gull
  Ichthyaetus audouinii

• 
  Bank swallow
  Riparia riparia
• 
  Barn owl
  Tyto alba
• 
  Barn swallow
  Hirundo rustica
• 
  Barred warbler
  Sylvia nisoria
• 
  Bearded reedling
  Panurus biarmicus
• 
  Bearded vulture
  Gypaetus barbatus
• 
  Black grouse
  Tetrao tetrix
• 
  Black kite
  Milvus migrans
• 
  Black redstart
  Phoenicurus ochruros
• 
  Black stork
  Ciconia nigra
• 
  Black tern
  Chlidonias niger
• 
  Black woodpecker
  Dryocopus martius
• 
  Black-crowned night-heron
  Nycticorax nycticorax
• 
  Black-headed bunting
  Emberiza melanocephala
• 
  Black-headed gull
  Chroicocephalus ridibundus
• 
  Black-tailed godwit
  Limosa limosa
• 
  Black-winged stilt
  Himantopus himantopus
• 
  Blue rock-thrush
  Monticola solitarius
• 
  Bonelli's eagle
  Aquila fasciata
• 
  Boreal owl
  Aegolius funereus

• 
  Calandra lark
  Melanocorypha calandra
• 
  Carrion crow
  Corvus corone
• 
  Caspian gull
  Larus cachinnans
• 
  Cattle egret
  Bubulcus ibis
• 
  Cetti's warbler
  Cettia cetti
• 
  Cirl bunting
  Emberiza cirlus
• 
  Coal tit
  Periparus ater
• 
  Collared flycatcher
  Ficedula albicollis
• 
  Collared pratincole
  Glareola pratincola
• 
  Common buzzard
  Buteo buteo
• 
  Common chaffinch
  Fringilla coelebs
• 
  Common chiffchaff
  Phylloscopus collybita
• 
  Common cuckoo
  Cuculus canorus
• 
  Common firecrest
  Regulus ignicapilla
• 
  Common house-martin
  Delichon urbicum
• 
  Common kingfisher
  Alcedo atthis
• 
  Common nightingale
  Luscinia megarhynchos
• 
  Common pochard
  Aythya ferina
• 
  Common quail
  Coturnix coturnix
• 
  Common raven
  Corvus corax
• 
  Common redpoll
  Acanthis flammea
• 
  Common redshank
  Tringa totanus
• 
  Common redstart
  Phoenicurus phoenicurus
• 
  Common sandpiper
  Actitis hypoleucos
• 
  Common shelduck
  Tadorna tadorna
• 
  Common snipe
  Gallinago gallinago
• 
  Common swift
  Apus apus
• 
  Common tern
  Sterna hirundo
• 
  Common treecreeper
  Certhia familiaris
• 
  Common wood-pigeon
  Columba palumbus
• 
  Corn bunting
  Emberiza calandra
• 
  Corn crake
  Crex crex
• 
  Cory's shearwater
  Calonectris diomedea
• 
  Crested lark
  Galerida cristata
• 
  Crested tit
  Lophophanes cristatus

• 
  Dunnock
  Prunella modularis

• 
  Egyptian vulture
  Neophron percnopterus
• 
  Eleonora's falcon
  Falco eleonorae
• 
  Eurasian blackbird
  Turdus merula
• 
  Eurasian blackcap
  Sylvia atricapilla
• 
  Eurasian blue tit
  Parus caeruleus
• 
  Eurasian bullfinch
  Pyrrhula pyrrhula
• 
  Eurasian collared-dove
  Streptopelia decaocto
• 
  Eurasian coot
  Fulica atra
• 
  Eurasian crag-martin
  Ptyonoprogne rupestris
• 
  Eurasian dotterel
  Charadrius morinellus
• 
  Eurasian eagle-owl
  Bubo bubo
• 
  Eurasian golden oriole
  Oriolus oriolus
• 
  Eurasian green woodpecker
  Picus viridis
• 
  Eurasian griffon
  Gyps fulvus
• 
  Eurasian hobby
  Falco subbuteo
• 
  Eurasian jackdaw
  Corvus monedula
• 
  Eurasian jay
  Garrulus glandarius
• 
  Eurasian kestrel
  Falco tinnunculus
• 
  Eurasian linnet
  Linaria cannabina
• 
  Eurasian magpie
  Pica pica
• 
  Eurasian marsh-harrier
  Circus aeruginosus
• 
  Eurasian moorhen
  Gallinula chloropus
• 
  Eurasian nutcracker
  Nucifraga caryocatactes
• 
  Eurasian nuthatch
  Sitta europaea
• 
  Eurasian oystercatcher
  Haematopus ostralegus
• 
  Eurasian penduline-tit
  Remiz pendulinus
• 
  Eurasian pygmy-owl
  Glaucidium passerinum
• 
  Eurasian reed warbler
  Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• 
  Eurasian siskin
  Spinus spinus
• 
  Eurasian skylark
  Alauda arvensis
• 
  Eurasian sparrowhawk
  Accipiter nisus
• 
  Eurasian spoonbill
  Platalea leucorodia
• 
  Eurasian thick-knee
  Burhinus oedicnemus
• 
  Eurasian three-toed woodpecker
  Picoides tridactylus
• 
  Eurasian tree sparrow
  Passer montanus
• 
  Eurasian wren
  Troglodytes troglodytes
• 
  Eurasian wryneck
  Jynx torquilla
• 
  European bee-eater
  Merops apiaster
• 
  European goldfinch
  Carduelis carduelis
• 
  European greenfinch
  Chloris chloris
• 
  European honey-buzzard
  Pernis apivorus
• 
  European nightjar
  Caprimulgus europaeus
• 
  European robin
  Erithacus rubecula
• 
  European roller
  Coracias garrulus
• 
  European scops-owl
  Otus scops
• 
  European serin
  Serinus serinus
• 
  European shag
  Gulosus aristotelis
• 
  European starling
  Sturnus vulgaris
• 
  European stonechat
  Saxicola rubicola
• 
  European storm-petrel
  Hydrobates pelagicus
• 
  European turtle-dove
  Streptopelia turtur

• 
  Ferruginous duck
  Aythya nyroca
• 
  Fieldfare
  Turdus pilaris

• 
  Gadwall
  Mareca strepera
• 
  Garden warbler
  Sylvia borin
• 
  Garganey
  Spatula querquedula
• 
  Glossy ibis
  Plegadis falcinellus
• 
  Goldcrest
  Regulus regulus
• 
  Gray heron
  Ardea cinerea
• 
  Gray partridge
  Perdix perdix
• 
  Gray wagtail
  Motacilla cinerea
• 
  Gray-headed woodpecker
  Picus canus
• 
  Great bittern
  Botaurus stellaris
• 
  Great cormorant
  Phalacrocorax carbo
• 
  Great crested grebe
  Podiceps cristatus
• 
  Great egret
  Ardea alba
• 
  Great reed warbler
  Acrocephalus arundinaceus
• 
  Great spotted cuckoo
  Clamator glandarius
• 
  Great spotted woodpecker
  Dendrocopos major
• 
  Great tit
  Parus major
• 
  Greater short-toed lark
  Calandrella brachydactyla
• 
  Greater whitethroat
  Sylvia communis
• 
  Green-winged teal
  Anas crecca
• 
  Golden eagle
  Aquila chrysaetos
• 
  Gull-billed tern
  Gelochelidon nilotica

• 
  Hawfinch
  Coccothraustes coccothraustes
• 
  Hazel grouse
  Bonasa bonasia
• 
  House sparrow
  Passer domesticus

• 
  Kentish plover
  Charadrius alexandrinus

• 
  Lanner falcon
  Falco biarmicus
• 
  Lesser crested tern
  Thalasseus bengalensis
• 
  Lesser gray shrike
  Lanius minor
• 
  Lesser kestrel
  Falco naumanni
• 
  Lesser spotted woodpecker
  Dryobates minor
• 
  Lesser whitethroat
  Sylvia curruca
• 
  Little bittern
  Ixobrychus minutus
• 
  Little bustard
  Tetrax tetrax
• 
  Little crake
  Zapornia parva
• 
  Little egret
  Egretta garzetta
• 
  Little grebe
  Tachybaptus ruficollis
• 
  Little owl
  Athene noctua
• 
  Little ringed plover
  Charadrius dubius
• 
  Little tern
  Sternula albifrons
• 
  Long-eared owl
  Asio otus
• 
  Long-tailed tit
  Aegithalos caudatus

• 
  Mallard
  Anas platyrhynchos
• 
  Marsh tit
  Poecile palustris
• 
  Marsh warbler
  Acrocephalus palustris
• 
  Mediterranean gull
  Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
• 
  Melodious warbler
  Hippolais polyglotta
• 
  Middle spotted woodpecker
  Dendrocoptes medius
• 
  Mistle thrush
  Turdus viscivorus
• 
  Montagu's harrier
  Circus pygargus
• 
  Mute swan
  Cygnus olor

• 
  Northern lapwing
  Vanellus vanellus
• 
  Northern goshawk
  Accipiter gentilis
• 
  Northern shoveler
  Spatula clypeata
• 
  Northern wheatear
  Oenanthe oenanthe

• 
  Ortolan bunting
  Emberiza hortulana

• 
  Peregrine falcon
  Falco peregrinus
• 
  Pied avocet
  Recurvirostra avosetta
• 
  Purple heron
  Ardea purpurea
• 
  Pygmy cormorant
  Microcarbo pygmeus

• 
  Red crossbill
  Loxia curvirostra
• 
  Red kite
  Milvus milvus
• 
  Red-backed shrike
  Lanius collurio
• 
  Red-billed chough
  Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
• 
  Red-crested pochard
  Netta rufina
• 
  Red-footed falcon
  Falco vespertinus
• 
  Red-legged partridge
  Alectoris rufa
• 
  Reed bunting
  Emberiza schoeniclus
• 
  Ring ouzel
  Turdus torquatus
• 
  Ring-necked pheasant
  Phasianus colchicus
• 
  Rock bunting
  Emberiza cia
• 
  Rock partridge
  Alectoris graeca
• 
  Rock pigeon
  Columba livia
• 
  Rock ptarmigan
  Lagopus muta
• 
  Rock sparrow
  Petronia petronia
• 
  Rufous-tailed rock-thrush
  Monticola saxatilis

• 
  Sandwich tern
  Thalasseus sandvicensis
• 
  Sardinian warbler
  Sylvia melanocephala
• 
  Sedge warbler
  Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• 
  Short-toed snake-eagle
  Circaetus gallicus
• 
  Short-toed treecreeper
  Certhia brachydactyla
• 
  Song thrush
  Turdus philomelos
• 
  Spanish sparrow
  Passer hispaniolensis
• 
  Spotted crake
  Porzana porzana
• 
  Spotted flycatcher
  Muscicapa striata
• 
  Squacco heron
  Ardeola ralloides
• 
  Stock pigeon
  Columba oenas
• 
  Subalpine warbler
  Sylvia cantillans

• 
  Tawny owl
  Strix aluco
• 
  Tree pipit
  Anthus trivialis
• 
  Tufted duck
  Aythya fuligula

• 
  Ural owl
  Strix uralensis

• 
  Wallcreeper
  Tichodroma muraria
• 
  Water pipit
  Anthus spinoletta
• 
  Water rail
  Rallus aquaticus
• 
  Western Bonelli's warbler
  Phylloscopus bonelli
• 
  Western capercaillie
  Tetrao urogallus
• 
  Western Orphean warbler
  Sylvia hortensis
• 
  Western swamphen
  Porphyrio porphyrio
• 
  Whinchat
  Saxicola rubetra
• 
  Whiskered tern
  Chlidonias hybrida
• 
  White stork
  Ciconia ciconia
• 
  White wagtail
  Motacilla alba
• 
  White-backed woodpecker
  Dendrocopos leucotos
• 
  White-throated dipper
  Cinclus cinclus
• 
  White-winged snowfinch
  Montifringilla nivalis
• 
  White-winged tern
  Chlidonias leucopterus
• 
  Willow tit
  Poecile montana
• 
  Wood lark
  Lullula arborea
• 
  Wood warbler
  Phylloscopus sibilatrix
• 
  Woodchat shrike
  Lanius senator

• 
  Yellowhammer
  Emberiza citrinella
• 
  Yellow-billed chough
  Pyrrhocorax graculus
• 
  Yellow-legged gull
  Larus michahellis

• 
  Zitting cisticola
  Cisticola juncidis

• EBN Italia il birdwatching italiano
• Rete ecologica nazionale
• Fauna Europaea
• Fauna italiana