In this article, Europe refers to the geographical continent, not the somewhat larger Western Palearctic, which includes parts of the Middle East and north Africa.
There are about 700 species of bird in the area, and in general the avifauna is similar to Asia north of the Himalayas, which shares the same ecozone. There are also many groups shared with North America.
Conversely, many of the southern hemisphere groups, including the ancient flightless Struthioniformes (ostrich family), and their relatives the tinamous are not represented at all.
European birds include the following families:
- Gaviidae divers
- Podicepidae grebes
- Diomedeidae albatross rare vagrant
- Procellariidae fulmars, shearwaters, gadfly and other petrels. These petrels are all rare.
- Hydrobatidae storm petrels
- Pelecanidae pelicans
- Sulidae gannets
- Phalacrocoracidae cormorants
- Fregatidae frigatebirds very rare vagrant
- Phaethontidae tropicbirds very rare vagrant
- Ardeidae herons and bitterns
- Ciconiidae: storks
- Threskiomithidae ibises and spoonbills
- Phoenicopteridae flamingos
- Pandionidae Osprey
- Accipitridae hawks, eagles, buzzards and Old World vultures, harrierss, kitess and allies
- Falconidae falcons
- Tetraonidae grouse
- Phasianidae partridges, pheasants, quails etc.
- Turnicidae buttonquails very marginal in Europe
- Haematopodidae oystercatchers
- Charadrfidae plovers
- Scolopacidae typical waders or shorebirds
- Burhinidae thick-knees
- Glareolidae coursers and pratincoles
- Stercoraracidae skuas
- Laridae gulls
- Sternidae terns
- Rhynchopidae skimmers
- Alcidae auks
- Pteroclidae sandgrouse
- Columbidae pigeons and doves
- Psittacidae parrots introduced only
- Cuculidae cuckoos
- Tytonidae barn owls
- Strigidae owls
- Caprimulgidae nightjars
- Apodidae swifts
- Alcedinidae kingfishers
- Meropidae bee-eaters
- Coraciidae rollers
- Upupidae Hoopoe
- Picidae woodpeckers
- Alaudidae larks
- Hirundinidae swallows and martins
- Motacillidae wagtails and pipits
- Bombycillidae waxwings
- Cinclidae dippers
- Troglodytidae wrens
- Prunellidae accentors
- Turdidae thrusheses and chatss
- Corvidae crows
- Sylviidae Old World warblers
- Regulidae kinglets
- Muscicapidae Old World flycatchers
- Aegithalidae long-tailed tits
- Remizidae penduline tits
- Paridae titmice
- Tichodromadidae Wallcreeper
- Sittidae nuthatches
- Certhiidae treecreepers
- Laniidae shrikes
- Corvidae crows and jays
- Emberizidae buntingss and American sparrows
- Thraupidae tanagers very rare vagrant
- Vireonidae vireos very rare vagrant
- Parulidae New World warblers very rare vagrant
- Icteridae icterids very rare vagrant
- Fringillidae finches
- Estrildidae waxbills etc introduced
- Ploceidae weavers and sparrows
- Sturnidae starlings
- Oriolidae orioles
See also