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