List of birds of Cyprus
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Cyprus. The avifauna of Cyprus include a total of 409 species.
Key: PM = passage migrant, RB = resident breeder, MB = migrant breeder, OB = occasional breeder, FB = former breeder, WV = winter visitor, AV = accidental vagrant, IN = introduced, EX = extirpated
Ducks, geese and swans
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, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
- Mute swan, Cygnus olor AV
- Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus AV
- Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (Bewick's) AV
- Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons WV
- Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus AV vulnerable
- Greylag goose, Anser anser WV
- Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis AV endangered
- Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus AV
- Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea WV PM
- Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna WV PM
- Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope WV PM
- Gadwall, Anas strepera WV PM
- Common teal, Anas crecca WV PM
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos WV PM RB
- Northern pintail, Anas acute WV PM
- Garganey, Anas querquedula PM FB
- Northern shoveller, Anas clypeata WV PM FB
- Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris FB AV vulnerable
- Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina WV MB
- Common pochard, Aythya ferina WV PM
- Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca WV PM MB vulnerable
- Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula WV PM
- Greater scaup, Aythya marila AV
- Black scoter, Melanitta nigra AV
- Eurasian goldeneye, Bucephala clangula AV
- Smew, Mergellus albellus AV
- Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator AV
- Goosander, Mergus merganser AV
- White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala WV endangered
- Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata IN
Partridges, grouse, turkeys and Old World quail
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
- Island Chukar, Alectoris chukar cypriotes RB
- Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus RB
- Common quail, Coturnix coturnix PM WV MB
- Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus IN
- Helmeted guinea fowl, Numida meleagris IN
Loons
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are almost helpless on land.
- Black-throated diver, Gavia arctica AV
Grebes
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
- Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis WV PM RB
- Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena AV
- Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus WV PM OB
- Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus AV vulnerable
- Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis WV OB PM
Flamingos
Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos (genus Phoenicopterus monotypic in family Phoenicopteridae) are gregarious wading birds, usually 3ÔÇô5 feet in height, 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 roses WV PM
- Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor AV
Shearwaters and petrels
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.
- Scopoli's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea PM
- Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan PM
Storm petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
The storm petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding 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 AV
Boobies and gannets
Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
- Northern gannet, Morus bassanus AV
Cormorants
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed, a distinguishing feature among the Pelecaniformes order
- Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo WV PM
- European shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis RB
- Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus AV near threatened
Pelicans
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.
- Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus PM
- Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus AV vulnerable
Bitterns, herons and egrets
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
- Grey heron, Ardea cinerea PM WV OB
- Purple heron, Ardea purpurea PM
- Great egret, Ardea alba PM WV
- Little egret, Egretta garzetta PM WV MB
- Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides PM OB
- Striated heron, Butorides striata AV
- Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis PM WV MB
- Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax PM OB
- Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus PM OB
- Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris WV PM
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae
Members of this family have long, broad wings, are strong fliers and, rather surprisingly, given their size and weight, very capable soarers. The body tends to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills.
- Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus PM MB
- Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia PM WV
Storks
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They lack the powder down that other wading birds such as herons, spoonbills and ibises use to clean off fish slime. Storks lack a pharynx and are mute.
- Black stork, Ciconia nigra PM
- White stork, Ciconia ciconia PM
Osprey
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae
Pandionidae is a family of fish-eating birds of prey, possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight. The family is monotypic.
- Osprey, Pandion haliaetus PM
Eagles, kites and allies
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes eagles, hawks, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
- European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus PM
- Crested honey buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus AV
- Black-shouldered kite, Elanus caeruleus AV
- Red kite, Milvus milvus AV
- Black kite, Milvus migrans PM
- White-tailed sea eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla AV
- Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus AV near threatened
- Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus PM endangered
- Griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus RB critically endangered population
- Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus FB AV near threatened
- Short-toed snake eagle, Circaetus gallicus PM
- Bataleur, Terathopius ecaudatus AV
- Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus WV PM
- Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus WV PM
- Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus PM near threatened
- Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus PM
- Levant sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes PM
- Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus WV PM
- Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentiles RB MB
- Common buzzard, Buteo buteo PM WV (B. b. vulpinus PM)
- Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus RB WV PM
- Rough-legged buzzard, Buteo lagopus AV
- Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina PM
- Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga AV vulnerable
- Eastern imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca FB AV vulnerable
- Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos AV
- Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata RB PM
- Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus PM (occasionally winter)
Caracaras and falcons
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
- Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni vulnerable PM FB
- Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus RB PM WV
- Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus PM near threatened
- Amur falcon, Falco amurensis AV
- Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae MB PM
- Sooty falcon, Falco concolor AV near threatened
- Merlin, Falco columbarius WV PM
- Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo PM MB
- Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus AV
- Saker falcon, Falco cherrug PM endangered
- Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus PM MB WV
Rails, gallinules and coots
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy 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 WV PM OB
- Corn crake, Crex crex PM vulnerable
- Little crake, Porzana parva PM WV
- Baillon's crake, Porzana pusilla PM FB
- Spotted crake, Porzana porzana PM
- Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus AV insufficient data
- Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni AV
- Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus RB
- Eurasian coot, Fulica atra WV PM RB
Cranes
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".
- Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo PM
- Common crane, Grus grus PM WV
Bustards
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.
- Great bustard, Otis tarda AV vulnerable
- Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata AV
- Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax AV near threatened
Thick-knees
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 stone curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus RB PM WV
Lapwings and plovers
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.
- Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus WV PM near threatened
- Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus PM MB
- Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius AV critically endangered
- White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus AV
- European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria WV PM
- Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva AV
- American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica AV
- Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola WV PM
- Ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula PM WV
- Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius PM OB WV
- Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius AV
- Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus MB RB
- Greater sandplover, Charadrius leschenaultii PM WV
- Lesser sandplover, Charadrius mongolus AV
- Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus AV
- Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus PM
Oystercatchers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
- Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus PM
Stilts and avocets
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 PM MB
- Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta PM WV
Sandpipers and allies
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. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
- Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola WV
- Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus PM WV
- Great snipe, Gallinago media PM near threatened
- Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago PM WV
- Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa PM WV
- Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica PM
- Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus PM
- Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris EX (possibly extinct in the wild)
- Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata PM WV
- Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus PM
- Common redshank, Tringa totanus PM WV
- Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis PM
- Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia PM WV
- Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus PM WV
- Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola PM
- Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus AV
- Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii AV
- Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos PM WV
- Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres PM WV
- Red knot, Calidris canutus PM
- Sanderling, Calidris alba PM WV
- Little stint, Calidris minuta PM WV
- Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii PM WV
- Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos AV
- Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea PM
- Dunlin, Calidris alpina PM WV
- Broad-billed sandpiper, Limicola falcinellus PM
- Ruff, Philomachus pugnax PM WV
- Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus PM
- Grey phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius AV
Pratincoles
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae
Pratincoles have short legs, very long pointed wings and long forked tails. Their most unusual feature for birds classed as waders is that they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground. Their short bills are an adaptation to aerial feeding
- Cream-coloured courser, Cursorius cursor PM
- Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola PM OB
- Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum AV
- Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni AV near threatened
Gulls, terns and skimmers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
- Common gull, Larus canus WV
- Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus AV
- European herring gull, Larus argentatus AV
- Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (Baltic gull PM, Heuglin's gull PM WV)
- Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis RB WV PM
- Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans WV PM
- Armenian gull, Larus armenicus PM WV
- Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii RB near threatened
- Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus PM
- Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus PM WV
- Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus PM WV
- Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei PM WV
- Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan AV
- Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus WV PM
- Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla AV
- Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica PM
- Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia PM
- Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis PM WV
- Common tern, Sterna hirundo PM OB
- Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea AV
- Little tern, Sternula albifrons PM OB
- Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida PM
- White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus PM
- Black tern, Chlidonias niger PM
Skuas
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
Skuas are in general medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips, and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.
- Arctic skua, Stercorarius parasiticus PM
- Pomarine skua, Stercorarius pomarinus AV
Sandgrouse
Order: Pteroclidiformes Family: Pteroclididae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon-like heads and necks and sturdy compact bodies. The adults are sexually dimorphic with the males being slightly larger and more brightly colored than the females. They have eleven strong primary feathers and long pointed wings giving them a fast direct flight. The muscles of the wings are powerful and the birds are capable of rapid take off and sustained flight. There is a dense layer of under down which helps insulate the bird from extremes of heat and cold. The feathers of the belly are specially adapted for absorbing water and retaining it, allowing adults, particularly males, to carry water to chicks that may be many miles away from watering holes.
- Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata AV
- Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis PM FB
Pigeons and doves
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
- Rock dove, Columba livia RB
- Stock dove, Columba oenas PM WV
- Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus RB WV
- European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur PM MB vulnerable
- Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto RB
- Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis RB IN (+ colonized)
- Namaqua dove, Oena capensis AV
Cuckoos, roadrunners and anis
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.
- Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius PM MB (host species; hooded crow, Eurasian magpie)
- Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus PM MB (host species; Cyprus wheatear, eastern olivaceous warbler - Troodos Mountains)
- Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius AV
Barn owls
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 RB MB
Typical owls
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
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.
- European scops owl, Otus scops (O. s. cyprius MB RB (endemic subspecies, ongoing taxonomic reprisal for full species elevation), O. s. scops PM, O. s. cycladum PM)
- Little owl, Athene noctua RB (A. n. lillith RB)
- Long-eared owl, Asio otus RB PM
- Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus PM
Nightjars
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 cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.
- Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus PM MB
- Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius AV
Swifts
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
The 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, Tachymarptis melba MB PM
- Common swift, Apus apus MB PM
- Pallid swift, Apus pallidus MB PM
- Little swift, Apus affinis AV
Hoopoes
Order: Upupiformes Family: Upupidae
This black, white and pink bird is quite unmistakable, especially in its erratic flight, which is like that of a giant butterfly. It is the only member of its family. The song is a trisyllabic oop-oop-oop, which gives rise to its English and scientific names.
- Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops PM MB
Kingfishers
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
- Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis PM WV
- White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis PM WV
- Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis PM WV OB
Bee-eaters
- Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus PM
- European bee-eater, Merops apiaster MB PM
Rollers
- European roller, Coracias garrulous PM MB
Woodpeckers, sapsuckers and flickers
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 PM
Larks
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.
- Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti AV
- Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cinctura AV
- Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra RB PM WV
- Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata PM
- Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla PM
- Lesser short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens PM
- Dupont's lark, Chersophilus duponti AV near threatened
- Dunn's lark, Eremalauda dunni AV
- Crested lark, Galerida cristata RB
- Woodlark, Lullula arborea RB WV PM
- Skylark, Alauda arvensis WV PM
- Shore lark, Eremophila alpestris AV
- Temminck's horned lark, Eremophila bilopha AV
Swallows
- Sand martin, Riparia riparia PM
- Crag martin, Hirundo rupestris PM RB
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica PM MB
- Red-rumped swallow, Hirundo daurica PM MB
- Common house martin, Delichon urbica PM MB
Wagtails and pipits
- White wagtail, Motacilla alba WV PM OB (pied wagtail AV, masked wagtail AV)
- Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola PM
- Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava flava PM (M. f. thunbergi PM, M. f. feldegg PM MB, M. f. beema PM, M. f. superciliaris PM, M. f. lutea AV, M. f. cinereocapilla AV)
- Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea WV PM OB
- Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi PM
- Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris PM
- Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii AV
- Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis AV
- Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis PM
- Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni AV
- Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis PM WV
- Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus PM
- Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta PM WV (Caucasian water pipit PM WV)
- Asian buff-bellied pipit, Anthus rubescens AV
Kinglets
- Goldcrest, Regulus regulus WV
- Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus AV
Waxwings
- Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus AV
Hypocolius
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hypocoliidae
The grey hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.
- Grey hypocolius, Hypocolius ampelinus AV
Dippers
- White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus olympicus extinct (endemic subspecies)
Wrens
- East Mediterranean winter wren, Troglodytes troglodytes cypriotes RB (endemic subspecies)
Accentors
- Dunnock, Prunella modularis WV PM
Old-world thrushes
- Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus AV
- Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula WV PM RB
- Dusky thrush, Turdus naumanni AV
- Naumann's thrush, Turdus naumanni AV
- Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris WV
- Redwing, Turdus iliacus WV PM
- Song thrush, Turdus philomelos WV PM
- Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus WV PM
Cisticolas
- Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis RB
- Graceful prinia, Prinia gracilis AV
Cettid warblers
- Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti RB
Locustellid warblers
- Common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia AV
- River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis AV
- Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides PM
Acrocephalid warblers
- Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon WV
- Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola AV
- Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus PM
- Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola AV
- Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus MB PM
- Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum AV
- Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris PM
- Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus PM OB
- Basra reed warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis AV endangered
- Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida MB PM
- Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum AV
- Upcher's warbler, Hippolais languida AV
- Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta AV
- Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina PM
Phylloscopid warblers
- Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus PM
- Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita PM WV
- Siberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus tristis AV
- Mountain chiffchaff, Phylloscopus sindianus AV
- Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis PM
- Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix PM
- Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus AV
- Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus AV
- Green warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus AV
Old-world warblers
- Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla PM WV
- Garden warbler, Sylvia borin PM
- Greater whitethroat, Sylvia communis PM
- Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca PM
- Asian desert warbler, Sylvia nana AV
- Barred warbler, Sylvia nisoria PM
- Eastern Orphean warbler, Sylvia crassirostris PM
- Arabian warbler, Sylvia leucomelaena AV
- Rüppell's warbler, Sylvia ruppeli PM
- Eastern subalpine warbler, Sylvia cantillans PM
- Sardinian warbler, Sylvia melanocephala RB WV PM
- Cyprus warbler, Sylvia melanothorax MB (endemic species, overwinters some years)
- Menetries' warbler, Sylvia mystacea AV
- Spectacled warbler, Sylvia conspicillata RB
Old-World flycatchers
- Common rock thrush, Monticola saxatilis PM
- Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius PM WV
- Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata PM MB
- European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca PM
- Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis PM
- Semi-collared flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata PM
- Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva PM
- European robin, Erithacus rubecula WV PM
- Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia PM
- Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos MB PM
- Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica PM WV
- Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus AV
- White-throated robin, Irania gutturalis AV
- Rufous-tailed bush robin, Cercotrichas galactotes AV
- Western black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros WV PM (eastern black redstart AV)
- Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus PM (Ehrenberg's redstart PM)
- Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra PM
- European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola WV PM
- Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus PM (Caspian stonechat PM)
- Pied stonechat, Saxicola caprata AV
- White-crowned black wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga AV
- Hooded wheatear, Oenanthe monacha PM
- Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe PM
- Mourning wheatear, Oenanthe lugens AV
- Finsch's wheatear, Oenanthe finschii WV PM
- Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka AV
- Cyprus wheatear, Oenanthe cypriaca MB (endemic species)
- Eastern black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica PM
- Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti PM
- Kurdish wheatear, Oenanthe xanthoprymna AV
- Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina PM
Bearded reedling
- Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus AV
Tits
- Coal tit, Periparus ater AV (endemic subspecies P. a. cypriotes RB)
- Great tit, Parus major aphrodite RB
Wallcreeper
- Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria WV
Treecreepers
- Dorothy's (short-toed) treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla dorotheae RB (endemic subspecies)
Penduline tits
- Eurasian penduline tit, Remiz pendulinus PM WV
Old-world orioles
- Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus PM MB
Shrikes
- Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio PM OB
- Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus PM
- Turkestan shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides AV
- Grey shrike, Lanius excubitor (steppe shrike AV, southern shrike AV)
- Lesser grey shrike, Lanius minor PM
- Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus PM MB
- Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator PM MB
Crows, jays and allies
- Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius glaszneri RB (endemic subspecies)
- Magpie, Pica pica RB
- Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula RB
- Rook, Corvus frugilegus AV
- Common raven, Corvus corax MB critically endangered population
- Hooded crow, Corvus cornix RB
- Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis AV
Starlings
- Rosy starling, Pastor roseus PM
- European starling, Sturnus vulgaris PM WV
Old-world buntings
- Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella PM WV
- Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos AV
- Rock bunting, Emberiza cia AV
- Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus AV
- Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea PM near threatened
- Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana PM
- Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia PM MB
- House bunting, Emberiza sahari AV
- Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata AV
- Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla AV
- Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola AV endangered
- Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala MB
- Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus WV
- Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra PM MB RB
Finches
- Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs RB PM WV
- Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla WV
- Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus AV
- Common crossbill, Loxia curvirostra guillemardi RB (once considered an endemic species, now considered a regional endemic species)
- European greenfinch, Chloris chloris RB WV PM
- Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea AV
- Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus WV
- European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis RB WV PM
- Common linnet, Linaria cannabina RB WV PM
- Red-fronted serin, Serinus pusillus AV
- European serin, Serinus serinus RB WV PM
- Eurasian crimson-winged finch, Rhodopechys sanguineus AV
- Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes PM WV
- Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula AV
- Trumpeter finch, Rhodopechys githaginea PM WV
Old-world sparrows
- House sparrow, Passer domesticus RB PM
- Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis RB PM WV
- Dead Sea sparrow, Passer moabiticus FB AV
- Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus AV
- Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia PM
- Pale rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla AV
- White-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis AV
References
- "Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists" - Martin Collinson, British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323