List of birds of Syria

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Syria. The avifauna of Syria include a total of 410 species. One species listed is extirpated in Syria.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. 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 Syria.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.


 * (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Syria
 * (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Syria as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
 * (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Syria although populations exist elsewhere
 * (X) Extinct - a species or subspecies that no longer exists

Ostriches
Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae

The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.


 * Common ostrich, Struthio camelus (Ex)
 * Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus (X)

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.


 * Graylag goose, Anser anser
 * Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
 * Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (A)
 * Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (A)
 * Mute swan, Cygnus olor (A)
 * Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A)
 * Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus
 * Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
 * Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
 * Garganey, Spatula querquedula
 * Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
 * Gadwall, Mareca strepera
 * Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
 * Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
 * Northern pintail, Anas acuta
 * Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
 * Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
 * Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
 * Common pochard, Aythya ferina
 * Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca
 * Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
 * Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (A)
 * Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A)
 * Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (I)
 * White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala

Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.


 * Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus
 * See-see partridge, Ammoperdix griseogularis (A)
 * Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi (A)
 * Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
 * Chukar, Alectoris chukar

Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 ft tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their odd-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

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
 * Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
 * Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
 * Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

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 pigeon, Columba livia
 * Stock dove, Columba oenas
 * Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus
 * European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
 * Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
 * Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis
 * Namaqua dove, Oena capensis

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.


 * Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata
 * Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus
 * Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis

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
 * MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii
 * Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax

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
 * Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

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.


 * Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
 * Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A)
 * Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus (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 or boomerang.


 * Alpine swift, Apus melba
 * Common swift, Apus apus
 * Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
 * Little swift, Apus affinis

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 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
 * Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus
 * Little crake, Zapornia parva
 * Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

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".


 * Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (A)
 * Common crane, Grus grus

Thick-knees
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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

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.


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

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

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.


 * Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
 * European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria
 * Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
 * Spur-winged plover, Vanellus spinosus
 * Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus (A)
 * Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius
 * White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus
 * Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
 * Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus (A)
 * Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
 * Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
 * Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
 * Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus

Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.


 * Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
 * Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A)
 * Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
 * Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (A)
 * Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
 * Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
 * Ruff, Calidris pugnax
 * Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus (A)
 * Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
 * Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
 * Sanderling, Calidris alba
 * Dunlin, Calidris alpina
 * Little stint, Calidris minuta
 * Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
 * Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
 * Great snipe, Gallinago media
 * Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
 * Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A)
 * Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
 * Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
 * Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
 * Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
 * Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
 * Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
 * Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
 * Common redshank, Tringa totanus

Crab plover
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Dromadidae

The crab plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.


 * Crab-plover, Dromas ardeola

Pratincoles and coursers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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
 * Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
 * Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni

Skuas and jaegers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.


 * Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus

Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.


 * Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (A)
 * Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
 * Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
 * Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
 * Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
 * Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
 * Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii
 * Common gull, Larus canus
 * Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis
 * Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
 * Armenian gull, Larus armenicus
 * Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
 * Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (A)
 * Little tern, Sternula albifrons
 * Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
 * Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
 * Black tern, Chlidonias niger
 * White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
 * Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
 * Common tern, Sterna hirundo
 * Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis

Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: 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.


 * Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea (A)
 * Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan

Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: 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

Boobies and gannets
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae

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


 * Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: 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 (A)

Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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
 * Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus (A)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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.


 * Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris (A)
 * Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
 * Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
 * Goliath heron, Ardea goliath
 * Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
 * Great egret, Ardea alba
 * Little egret, Egretta garzetta
 * Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
 * Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
 * Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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
 * Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita
 * Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: 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

Hawks, eagles, and kites
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: 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.


 * Bearded vulture, Gypaetus barbatus
 * Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
 * European honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus
 * Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus (A)
 * Lappet-faced vulture, Torgos tracheliotos (A)
 * Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus
 * Short-toed snake-eagle, Circaetus gallicus
 * Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina
 * Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga
 * Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
 * Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
 * Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
 * Imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca
 * Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
 * Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata (A)
 * Eurasian marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
 * Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus
 * Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
 * Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
 * Levant sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes
 * Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
 * Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis (A)
 * Red kite, Milvus milvus
 * Black kite, Milvus migrans
 * White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
 * Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (A)
 * Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
 * Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus

Barn-owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: 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

Owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: 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
 * Pallid scops-owl, Otus brucei
 * Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo
 * Pharaoh eagle-owl, Bubo ascalaphus
 * Brown fish-owl, Ketupa zeylonensis
 * Little owl, Athene noctua
 * Tawny owl, Strix aluco
 * Maghreb owl, Strix mauritanica
 * Desert owl, Strix hadorami
 * Long-eared owl, Asio otus
 * Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
 * Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus (A)

Hoopoes
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae

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


 * Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae

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


 * Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
 * White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
 * Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

Bee-eaters
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: 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 coloured 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.


 * Arabian green bee-eater, Merops cyanophrys (A)
 * Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
 * European bee-eater, Merops apiaster

Rollers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: 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
 * Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis (A)

Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: 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
 * Middle spotted woodpecker, Dendrocoptes medius
 * Syrian woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus

Falcons and caracaras
Order: FalconiformesFamily: 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
 * Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
 * Sooty falcon, Falco concolor (A)
 * Merlin, Falco columbarius
 * Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
 * Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
 * Laggar falcon, Falco jugger (A)
 * Saker falcon, Falco cherrug
 * Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Old World parrots
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm to 1 m 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)

Old World orioles
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae

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


 * Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus

Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.


 * Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
 * Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
 * Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus
 * Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor (A)
 * Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
 * Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
 * Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
 * Yellow-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
 * Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula
 * Rook, Corvus frugilegus
 * Hooded crow, Corvus cornix
 * Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis
 * Fan-tailed raven, Corvus rhipidurus
 * Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, chickadees, and titmice
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Sombre tit, Poecile lugubris
 * Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
 * Great tit, Parus major

Penduline-tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae

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


 * Eurasian penduline-tit, Remiz pendulinus

Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Thick-billed lark, Ramphocoris clotbey (A)
 * Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cincturus
 * Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti
 * Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
 * Temminck's lark, Eremophila bilopha
 * Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
 * Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata
 * Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
 * Arabian lark, Eremalauda eremodites
 * Mediterranean short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens
 * Turkestan short-toed lark, Alaudala heinei
 * Wood lark, Lullula arborea
 * Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
 * Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Bearded reedling
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Panuridae

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


 * Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus

Cisticolas and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.


 * Graceful prinia, Prinia gracilis
 * Delicate prinia, Prinia lepida
 * Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis

Reed warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.


 * Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
 * Upcher's warbler, Hippolais languida
 * Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum
 * Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (A)
 * Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon
 * Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
 * Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola (A)
 * Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum (A)
 * Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
 * Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
 * Basra reed warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis (A)
 * Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus
 * Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus

Grassbirds and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
 * Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia (A)

Swallows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
 * Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
 * Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
 * Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum

Bulbuls
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.


 * Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus
 * White-spectacled bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos
 * White-eared bulbul, Pycnonotus leucotis

Leaf warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 colours.


 * Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
 * Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis
 * Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
 * Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
 * Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides (A)

Bush warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.


 * Scrub warbler, Scotocerca inquieta
 * Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti

Long-tailed tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.


 * Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
 * Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
 * Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria
 * Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
 * Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris
 * Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana
 * Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea
 * Rüppell's warbler, Curruca ruppeli
 * Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala
 * Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
 * Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis
 * Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata

Laughingthrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Leiothrichidae

The laughingthrushes are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.


 * Iraq babbler, Argya altirostris

Kinglets
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 (A)

Wallcreeper
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tichodromidae

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


 * Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria

Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Western rock nuthatch, Sitta neumayer

Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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

Dippers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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

Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Rosy starling, Pastor roseus

Thrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.


 * Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
 * Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
 * Redwing, Turdus iliacus
 * Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
 * Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
 * Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus (A)

Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.


 * Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
 * Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
 * European robin, Erithacus rubecula
 * White-throated robin, Irania gutturalis
 * Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia
 * Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos
 * Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
 * Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus (A)
 * Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva
 * Semicollared flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata
 * European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
 * Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis
 * Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
 * Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
 * Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, Monticola saxatilis
 * Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius
 * Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
 * European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
 * Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus
 * White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga (A)
 * Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
 * Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
 * Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti
 * Cyprus wheatear, Oenanthe cypriaca
 * Eastern black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe melanoleuca
 * Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka
 * Red-rumped wheatear, Oenanthe moesta
 * Blackstart, Oenanthe melanura
 * White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga (A)
 * Finsch's wheatear, Oenanthe finschii
 * Mourning wheatear, Oenanthe lugens
 * Kurdish wheatear, Oenanthe xanthoprymna (A)

Sunbirds and spiderhunters
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.


 * Palestine sunbird, Cinnyris osea

Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 (A)
 * Radde's accentor, Prunella ocularis (A)
 * Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Old World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
 * Dead Sea sparrow, Passer moabiticus
 * Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
 * Yellow-throated sparrow, Gymnoris xanthocollis
 * Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
 * Pale rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla

Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.


 * Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
 * Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
 * Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola
 * White wagtail, Motacilla alba
 * Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi (A)
 * Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
 * Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
 * Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
 * Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
 * Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
 * Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta
 * American pipit, Anthus rubescens (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.


 * Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
 * Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
 * Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
 * Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
 * Crimson-winged finch, Rhodopechys sanguinea
 * Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githaginea
 * Desert finch, Rhodospiza obsoleta
 * European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
 * Twite, Linaria flavirostris
 * Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina
 * Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
 * European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
 * European serin, Serinus serinus
 * Fire-fronted serin, Serinus pusillus
 * Syrian serin, Serinus syriacus
 * Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus

Old World buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
 * Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
 * Rock bunting, Emberiza cia
 * Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
 * Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos
 * Gray-necked bunting, Emberiza buchanani (A)
 * Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea
 * Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
 * Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia
 * Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
 * Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A)