Search State of the Nations' Birds

Bird On! is pleased to provide the complete text of all the species descriptions from The State of the Nations' Birds by Chris Mead.

You may view the species alphabetically by common name:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z [all]

or by scientific name:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z [all]

or you may search for species by name:

	Common Names Scientific Names	Contains Starts with
		Description of Species Format

The names of the following species start with :

Accipiter gentilis (Goshawk (Northern Goshawk))

Accipiter nisus (Sparrowhawk (Eurasian Sparrowhawk))

Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Great Reed Warbler)

Acrocephalus malanopogon (Moustached Warbler)

Acrocephalus palustris (Marsh Warbler)

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Sedge Warbler)

Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Reed Warbler (Eurasian Reed Warbler))

Actitis hypoleucos (Common Sandpiper)

Actitis macularia (Spotted Sandpiper)

Aegithalos caudatus (Long-Tailed Tit)

Aix galericulata (Mandarin)

Aix sponsa (Wood Duck)

Alauda arvensis (Skylark (Sky Lark))

Alca torda (Razorbill)

Alcedo atthis (Kingfisher (Common Kingfisher))

Alectoris chukar (Chukar)

Alectoris rufa (Red-Legged Partridge)

Alopochen aegyptiacus (Egyptian Goose)

Anas acuta (Pintail (Northern Pintail))

Anas clypeata (Shoveler (Northern Shoveler))

Anas crecca (Teal (Common Teal))

Anas discors (Blue-Winged Teal)

Anas penelope (Wigeon (Eurasian Wigeon))

Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard)

Anas querquedula (Garganey)

Anas rubripes (Black Duck (American Black Duck))

Anas strepera (Gadwall)

Anser albifrons (White-Fronted Goose)

Anser anser (Greylag Goose)

Anser brachyrhynchus (Pink-Footed Goose)

Anser caerulescens (Snow Goose)

Anser indicus (Bar-Headed Goose)

Anthus campestris (Tawny Pipit)

Anthus petrosus (Rock Pipit)

Anthus pratensis (Meadow Pipit)

Anthus trivialis (Tree Pipit)

Apus apus (Swift (Common Swift))

Aquila chrysaetos (Golden Eagle)

Ardea cinerea (Grey Heron)

Arenaria interpres (Turnstone (Ruddy Turnstone))

Asio flammeus (Short-Eared Owl)

Asio otus (Long-Eared Owl)

Athene noctua (Little Owl)

Aythya ferina (Pochard (Common Pochard))

Aythya fuligula (Tufted Duck)

Aythya marila (Scaup (Greater Scaup))

Bombycilla garrulus (Waxwing (Bohemian Waxwing))

Botaurus stellaris (Bittern (Great Bittern))

Branta canadensis (Canada Goose)

Branta leucopsis (Barnacle Goose)

Bubo bubo (Eagle Owl)

Bucephala clangula (Goldeneye (Common Goldeneye))

Burhinus oedicnemus (Stone Curlew (Stone-Curlew))

Buteo buteo (Buzzard (Common Buzzard))

Cairina moschata (Muscovy Duck)

Calcarius lapponicus (Lapland Bunting (Lapland Longspur))

Calidris alpina (Dunlin)

Calidris maritima (Purple Sandpiper)

Calidris temminckii (Temminck's Stint)

Caprimulgus europaeus (Nightjar (European Nightjar))

Carduelis cannabina (Linnet (Common Linnet))

Carduelis carduelis (Goldfinch (European Goldfinch))

Carduelis chloris (Greenfinch (European Greenfinch))

Carduelis flammea (Redpoll (Common Redpoll))

Carduelis flavirostris (Twite)

Carduelis spinus (Siskin (Eurasian Siskin))

Carpodacus erythrinus (Common Rosefinch (Scarlet Rosefinch))

Catharacta skua (Great Skua)

Cepphus grylle (Black Guillemot)

Certhia brachydactyla (Short-Toed Treecreeper)

Certhia familiaris (Treecreeper (Eurasian Treecreeper))

Cettia cetti (Cetti's Warbler)

Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover)

Charadrius dubius (Little Ringed Plover (Little Plover))

Charadrius hiaticula (Ringed Plover)

Charadrius morinellus (Dotterel (Eurasian Dotterel))

Chlidonas niger (Black Tern)

Chrysolophus amherstiae (Lady Amherst's Pheasant)

Chrysolophus pictus (Golden Pheasant)

Ciconia ciconia (White Stork)

Cinclus cinclus (Dipper (White-Throated Dipper))

Circus aeruginosus (Marsh Harrier (European Marsh Harrier))

Circus cyaneus (Hen Harrier)

Circus macrourus (Pallid Harrier)

Circus pygargus (Montagu's Harrier)

Clangula hymealis (Long-Tailed Duck)

Coccothraustes coccothraustes (Hawfinch)

Colinus virginianus (Bob-White Quail (Northern Bobwhite))

Columba livia (Rock Dove And Feral Pigeon)

Columba oenas (Stock Dove (Stock Pigeon))

Columba palumbus (Woodpigeon (Common Wood Pigeon))

Corvus corax (Raven (Common Raven))

Corvus corone (Crow)

Corvus frugilegus (Rook)

Corvus monedula (Jackdaw (Eurasian Jackdaw))

Coturnix coturnix (Quail (Common Quail))

Crex crex (Corncrake (Corn Crake))

Cuculus canorus (Cuckoo (Common Cuckoo))

Cygnus atratus (Black Swan)

Cygnus buccinator (Trumpeter Swan)

Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan)

Cygnus olor (Mute Swan)

Delichon urbica (House Martin)

Dendrocopus major (Great Spotted Woodpecker)

Dendrocopus minor (Lesser Spotted Woodpecker)

Diomedea melanophris (Black-Browed Albatross)

Egretta garzetta (Little Egret)

Emberiza cirlus (Cirl Bunting)

Emberiza citrinella (Yellowhammer)

Emberiza schoeniclus (Reed Bunting)

Eremophila alpestris (Shorelark (Horned Lark))

Erithacus rubecula (Robin (European Robin))

Falco columbarius (Merlin)

Falco peregrinus (Peregrine (Peregrine Falcon))

Falco subbuteo (Hobby (Eurasian Hobby))

Falco tinnunculus (Kestrel (Common Kestrel))

Ficedula hypoleuca (Pied Flycatcher)

Fratercula arctica (Puffin (Atlantic Puffin))

Fringilla coelebs (Chaffinch)

Fringilla montifringilla (Brambling)

Fulica atra (Coot (Common Coot))

Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar (Northern Fulmar))

Gallinago gallinago (Snipe (Common Snipe))

Gallinula chloropus (Moorhen (Common Moorhen))

Garrulus glandarius (Jay (Eurasian Jay))

Gavia arctica (Black-Throated Diver)

Gavia immer (Great Northern Diver)

Gavia stellata (Red-Throated Diver)

Grus grus (Crane (Common Crane))

Haematopus ostralegus (Oystercatcher (Eurasian Oystercatcher))

Haliaeetus albicilla (White-Tailed Eagle)

Himantopus himantopus (Black-Winged Stilt)

Hippolais icterina (Icterine Warbler)

Hirundo rustica (Swallow (Barn Swallow))

Hydrobates pelagicus (Storm Petrel (European Storm-Petrel))

Ixobrychus minutus (Little Bittern)

Jynx torquilla (Wryneck (Eurasian Wryneck))

Lagopus lagopus (Red Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan))

Lagopus mutus (Ptarmigan (Rock Ptarmigan))

Lanius collurio (Red-Backed Shrike)

Larus argentatus (Herring Gull)

Larus cachinnans (Yellow-Legged Gull)

Larus canus (Common Gull (Mew Gull))

Larus fuscus (Lesser Black-Backed Gull)

Larus marinus (Great Black-Backed Gull)

Larus melanocephalus (Mediterranean Gull)

Larus minutus (Little Gull)

Larus ridibundus (Black-Headed Gull)

Limosa limosa (Black-Tailed Godwit)

Locustella fluviatilis (River Warbler)

Locustella luscinioides (Savi's Warbler)

Locustella naevia (Grasshopper Warbler)

Lophura nycthemera (Silver Pheasant)

Loxia curvirostra (Crossbill (Common Crossbill))

Loxia pytyopsittacus (Parrot Crossbill)

Loxia scotica (Scottish Crossbill)

Lullula arborea (Woodlark (Wood Lark))

Luscinia megarhynchos (Nightingale (Common Nightingale))

Luscinia svecica (Bluethroat)

Melanitta fusca (Velvet Scoter)

Melanitta nigra (Common Scoter (Black Scoter))

Melopsittacus undulatus (Budgerigar)

Mergus merganser (Goosander)

Mergus serrator (Red-Breasted Merganser)

Merops apiaster (Bee-Eater (European Bee-Eater))

Milaria calandra (Corn Bunting)

Milvus milvus (Red Kite)

Morus bassanus (Gannet (Northern Gannet))

Motacilla alba (Pied Wagtail)

Motacilla cinerea (Grey Wagtail)

Motacilla flava (Yellow Wagtail)

Muscicapa striata (Spotted Flycatcher)

Myiopsitta monachus (Monk Parakeet)

Netta rufina (Red-Crested Pochard)

Numenius arquata (Curlew (Eurasian Curlew))

Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel)

Nyctea scandiaca (Snowy Owl)

Nycticorax nycticorax (Night Heron (Black-Crowned Night Heron))

Oceanodroma leucorhoa (Leach's Petrel (Leach's Storm-Petrel))

Oceanodroma monorhis (Swinhoe's Petrel (Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel))

Oenanthe oenanthe (Wheatear (Northern Wheatear))

Oriolus oriolus (Golden Oriole (Eurasian Golden Oriole))

Otis tarda (Great Bustard)

Oxyrura jamaicensis (Ruddy Duck)

Pandion haliaetus (Osprey)

Panurus biarmicus (Bearded Tit)

Parus ater (Coal Tit)

Parus caeruleus (Blue Tit)

Parus cristatus (Crested Tit)

Parus major (Great Tit)

Parus montanus (Willow Tit)

Parus palustris (Marsh Tit)

Passer domesticus (House Sparrow)

Passer montanus (Tree Sparrow)

Perdix perdix (Grey Partridge)

Pernis apivorus (Honey Buzzard (European Honey Buzzard))

Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Shag (European Shag))

Phalacrocorax carbo (Cormorant (Great Cormorant))

Phalaropus lobatus (Red-Necked Phalarope)

Phasianus colchicus (Pheasant (Common Pheasant))

Philomachus pugnax (Ruff)

Phoenicurus ochruros (Black Redstart)

Phoenicurus phoenicurus (Redstart (Common Redstart))

Phylloscopus collybita (Chiffchaff (Common Chiffchaff))

Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Wood Warbler)

Phylloscopus trochilus (Willow Warbler)

Pica pica (Magpie (Black-Billed Magpie))

Picus viridis (Green Woodpecker)

Pinguinus impennis (Great Auk)

Platalea leucorodia (Spoonbill (Eurasian Spoonbill))

Plectrophenax nivalis (Snow Bunting)

Pluvialis apricaria (Golden Plover (European Golden Plover))

Podiceps auritus (Slavonian Grebe)

Podiceps cristatus (Great Crested Grebe)

Podiceps grisegena (Red-Necked Grebe)

Podiceps nigricollis (Black-Necked Grebe)

Podylimbus podiceps (Pied-Billed Grebe)

Porzana porzana (Spotted Crake)

Porzana pusilla (Baillon's Crake)

Prunella modularis (Dunnock (Hedge Accentor))

Psittacula eupatria (Alexandrine Parakeet)

Psittacula krameri (Ring-Necked Parakeet (Rose-ringed Parakeet))

Puffinus assimilis (Little Shearwater)

Puffinus puffinus (Manx Shearwater)

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax (Chough (Red-Billed Chough))

Pyrrhula pyrrhula (Bullfinch (Common Bullfinch))

Rallus aquaticus (Water Rail)

Recurvirostra avosetta (Avocet (Pied Avocet))

Regulus ignicapillus (Firecrest)

Regulus regulus (Goldcrest)

Remiz pendulinus (Penduline Tit (Eurasian Penduline Tit))

Riparia riparia (Sand Martin)

Rissa tridactyla (Kittiwake (Black-Legged Kittiwake))

Saxicola rubetra (Whinchat)

Saxicola torquata (Stonechat)

Scolopax rusticola (Woodcock (Eurasian Woodcock))

Serinus serinus (Serin (European Serin))

Sitta europea (Nuthatch (Wood Nuthatch))

Somateria mollissima (Eider (Common Eider))

Stercorarius longicaudus (Long-Tailed Skua)

Stercorarius parasiticus (Arctic Skua)

Sterna albifrons (Little Tern)

Sterna bengalensis (Lesser Crested Tern)

Sterna dougallii (Roseate Tern)

Sterna hirundo (Common Tern)

Sterna nilotica (Gull-Billed Tern)

Sterna paradisaea (Arctic Tern)

Sterna sandvicensis (Sandwich Tern)

Streptopelia decaocto (Collared Dove (Eurasian Collared Dove))

Streptopelia turtur (Turtle Dove (European Turtle Dove))

Strix aluco (Tawny Owl)

Sturnus vulgaris (Starling (Common Starling))

Sylvia atricapilla (Blackcap)

Sylvia borin (Garden Warbler)

Sylvia cantillans (Subalpine Warbler)

Sylvia communis (Whitethroat (Common Whitethroat))

Sylvia curruca (Lesser Whitethroat)

Sylvia undata (Dartford Warbler)

Syrmaticus pictus (Reeve's Pheasant)

Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pallas's Sandgrouse)

Tachybaptus ruficollis (Little Grebe)

Tadorna cana (Cape Shelduck (South African Shelduck))

Tadorna ferruginea (Ruddy Shelduck)

Tadorna tadorna (Shelduck)

Tetrao tetrix (Black Grouse)

Tetrao urogallus (Capercaillie (Western Capercaillie))

Tringa glareola (Wood Sandpiper)

Tringa nebularia (Greenshank (Common Greenshank))

Tringa ochropus (Green Sandpiper)

Tringa totanus (Redshank (Common Redshank))

Troglodytes troglodytes (Wren (Winter Wren))

Turdus iliacus (Redwing)

Turdus merula (Blackbird (Common Blackbird))

Turdus philomelos (Song Thrush)

Turdus pilaris (Fieldfare)

Turdus torquatus (Ring Ouzel)

Turdus viscivorus (Mistle Thrush)

Tyto alba (Barn Owl)

Upupa epops (Hoopoe)

Uria aalge (Guillemot (Common Guillemot))

Vanellus vanellus (Lapwing (Northern Lapwing))