This is a list of the bird species recorded in Austria. The avifauna of Austria included a total of 430 species as of December 2017 according to the Avifaunistic Commission of BirdLife Austria (Avifaunistische Kommission, AFK). Between then and August 2019, two additional species have been added through eBird. Of the 432 species, 103 are accidental and six have been introduced by humans. Eighteen species have not been recorded in the wild since 1950.
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, 2019 edition.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bar-headed goose | Anser indicus | |
| Graylag goose | Anser anser | |
| Greater white-fronted goose | Anser albifrons | |
| Lesser white-fronted goose | Anser erythropus | |
| Taiga bean-goose | Anser fabalis | |
| Tundra bean-goose | Anser serrirostris | |
| Pink-footed goose | Anser brachyrhynchus | |
| Brant | Branta bernicla | |
| Barnacle goose | Branta leucopsis | |
| Canada goose | Branta canadensis | |
| Red-breasted goose | Branta ruficollis | |
| Mute swan | Cygnus olor | |
| Tundra swan | Cygnus columbianus | |
| Whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus | |
| Egyptian goose | Alopochen aegyptiacus | |
| Ruddy shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | |
| Common shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | |
| Mandarin duck | Aix galericulata | |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | |
| Blue-winged teal | Spatula discors | |
| Northern shoveler | Spatula clypeata | |
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera | |
| Falcated duck | Mareca falcata | |
| Eurasian wigeon | Mareca penelope | |
| American wigeon | Mareca americana | |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | |
| Northern pintail | Anas acuta | |
| Green-winged teal | Anas crecca | |
| Red-crested pochard | Netta rufina | |
| Common pochard | Aythya ferina | |
| Ring-necked duck | Aythya collaris | |
| Ferruginous duck | Aythya nyroca | |
| Tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | |
| Greater scaup | Aythya marila | |
| Common eider | Somateria mollissima | |
| Harlequin duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | |
| Velvet scoter | Melanitta fusca | |
| Common scoter | Melanitta nigra | |
| Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | |
| Common goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | |
| Smew | Mergellus albellus | |
| Common merganser | Mergus merganser | |
| Red-breasted merganser | Mergus serrator | |
| Ruddy duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | |
| White-headed duck | Oxyura leucocephala |
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with the broad and relatively short win.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Common quail | Coturnix coturnix | |
| Rock partridge | Alectoris graeca | |
| Ring-necked pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | |
| Gray partridge | Perdix perdix | |
| Western capercaillie | Tetrao urogallus | |
| Black grouse | Tetrao tetrix | |
| Hazel grouse | Bonasa bonasia | |
| Rock ptarmigan | Lagopus muta |
Flamingos
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (91 to 152 cm) high, 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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Greater flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus |
Grebes
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Little grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | |
| Horned grebe | Podiceps auritus | |
| Red-necked grebe | Podiceps grisegena | |
| Great crested grebe | Podiceps cristatus | |
| Eared grebe | Podiceps nigricollis |
Pigeons and doves
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rock pigeon | Columba livia | |
| Stock dove | Columba oenas | |
| Common wood-pigeon | Columba palumbus | |
| European turtle-dove | Streptopelia turtur | |
| Oriental turtle-dove | Streptopelia orientalis | |
| Eurasian collared-dove | Streptopelia decaocto |
Sandgrouse
Sandgrouse has 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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pallas’s sandgrouse | Syrrhaptes paradoxus |
Bustards
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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Great bustard | Otis tarda | |
| Macqueen’s bustard | Chlamydotis macqueenii | A |
| Little bustard | Tetrax tetrax |
Cuckoos
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 name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Great spotted cuckoo | Clamator glandarius | |
| Common cuckoo | Cuculus canorus |
Nightjars and allies
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 name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Eurasian nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus |
Swifts
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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine swift | Apus melba | |
| Common swift | Apus apus |
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which include 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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Water rail | Rallus aquaticus | |
| Corn crake | Crex crex | |
| Spotted crake | Porzana porzana | |
| Eurasian moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | |
| Eurasian coot | Fulica atra | |
| Western swamphen | Porphyrio porphyrio | |
| Little crake | Zapornia parva | |
| Baillon’s crake | Zapornia pusilla |
Cranes
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 name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Common crane | Grus grus |
Thick-knees
The thick-knees are a group of waders 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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Eurasian thick-knee | Burhinus oedicnemus |