By Lymi

Birds of Europe

Name 40 common European birds from photos, with where each one lives and a feature to spot it by.

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  • A slim bird with glossy dark-blue upperparts, a red throat, white underparts and long pointed wings, on a metal bracket.

    Barn swallow

  • A tiny round brown bird with fine barring and a short tail held straight up, on a stump.

    Eurasian wren

  • A large grey bird with a pinkish breast and a white patch on the side of its neck, on a ledge.

    Common wood pigeon

  • A slim sandy-grey bird with a thin black band on the back of its neck, on a tiled roof.

    Eurasian collared dove

  • A blue-grey bird with two black bars on each wing and a shiny green neck, on a ledge of layered stone.

    Rock dove

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House sparrowA small brown-and-grey bird with a streaked back and a black throat patch, perched on a mossy branch.
Towns, farms and gardens, nearly always near people. The male has a grey crown, a chestnut nape and a black bib.
Great titA small bird with a black head, white cheeks and a yellow breast split by a black stripe, on a thin branch.
Woods, parks and gardens. A black head with white cheeks and a black stripe down its yellow breast.
Eurasian blue titA small bird with a blue cap, a white face, a dark stripe through the eye and a yellow breast, perched on a twig.
Woods, parks and gardens. A bright blue cap and wings above a yellow breast.
European robinA plump brown bird with an orange-red face and breast, on a thorny stem.
Gardens, parks and woodland edges. An orange-red face and breast; it sings even in winter.
Common blackbirdAn all-black bird with an orange-yellow bill and eye-ring, lit against a dark background.
Gardens, parks and woods. The male is all black with an orange-yellow bill; the female is dark brown.
Song thrushA brown bird with a pale breast covered in dark spots, standing on grass.
Woods, parks and gardens. Plain brown above, with dark arrow-shaped spots on a pale breast; it smashes snails on stones.
Common starlingA glossy dark bird speckled with pale spots, with a yellow bill, among daisies in the grass.
Towns, farmland and parks. Glossy black feathers with a green and purple sheen; it gathers in huge flocks.
Common chaffinchA small bird with a blue-grey cap, a rusty-pink face and breast and white bars on its wings, on a branch.
Woods, parks and gardens. The male has a pinkish breast, a blue-grey cap and two white wing bars.
European goldfinchA small bird with a red face, a black-and-white head and a yellow band across black wings, on a fence post.
Gardens, orchards and weedy fields. A red face and a broad yellow band on black wings.
Eurasian bullfinchA plump bird with a bright rosy-red breast, a black cap and a grey back, on a bare branch against a blue sky.
Woods, orchards and gardens; in winter it comes to feeders. The male has a rosy-red breast and a black cap.
White wagtailA slim black, white and grey bird with a long tail, standing in grass.
Open ground near water, farms and towns. Black, white and grey, with a long tail it keeps bobbing up and down.
Barn swallowA slim bird with glossy dark-blue upperparts, a red throat, white underparts and long pointed wings, on a metal bracket.
Farmland and villages; it nests inside barns and stables. A red throat and long tail streamers; it winters in Africa.
Eurasian wrenA tiny round brown bird with fine barring and a short tail held straight up, on a stump.
Woods, gardens and hedges. Tiny and brown with a short tail cocked upright, and a very loud song.
Common wood pigeonA large grey bird with a pinkish breast and a white patch on the side of its neck, on a ledge.
Woods, farmland and parks. Europe's largest pigeon, with a white patch on each side of the neck.
Eurasian collared doveA slim sandy-grey bird with a thin black band on the back of its neck, on a tiled roof.
Towns, villages and gardens. Pale sandy grey, with a thin black half-ring on the back of the neck.
Rock doveA blue-grey bird with two black bars on each wing and a shiny green neck, on a ledge of layered stone.
Sea cliffs in the wild; its tame descendants live in every city. Blue-grey, with two black wing bars and a shiny green-and-purple neck.
Eurasian magpieA black-and-white bird with a long, glossy blue-green tail, standing on a rock.
Towns, parks and farmland. Black and white, with a long, glossy green-blue tail.
Eurasian jayA pinkish-brown bird with a black moustache stripe and a bright blue-barred wing patch, on a branch.
Woods and parks with oaks. Pinkish brown with a bright blue-and-black wing patch; it buries acorns for winter.
Hooded crowA large grey bird with a black head, throat, wings and tail, standing on a wall.
Towns, farmland and coasts; in western Europe the all-black carrion crow takes its place. A grey body with a black head, wings and tail.
Western jackdawA small black bird with a grey nape and pale eyes, on a branch.
Towns, cliffs and farmland; it nests in chimneys and church towers. A small crow with a grey nape and pale eyes.
Great spotted woodpeckerA black-and-white bird with a red patch under the tail, clinging to a birch trunk beside a hole.
Woods, parks and gardens. Black and white with a red patch under the tail; it drums on trees in spring.
Eurasian nuthatchA bird with blue-grey upperparts, orange-buff underparts, a black stripe through the eye and a long pointed bill.
Old broadleaf woods and parks. Blue-grey above with a black eye-stripe; it climbs down tree trunks head first.
Long-tailed titA tiny round pale bird with a black-and-pink back and a very long, thin tail, on a stem.
Woods, hedges and scrub, usually in small flocks. A tiny round body and a tail longer than the body.
Eurasian hoopoeAn orange-buff bird with a crest, a long curved bill and black-and-white striped wings, in grass.
Warm open country with scattered trees, orchards and vineyards. A fan-shaped crest and black-and-white striped wings.
Common cuckooA slim grey bird with long wings and a long tail, perched on a post of an electric fence.
Woods, reedbeds and open country. Grey like a small hawk, with barred underparts; the male calls “cuck-oo”.
Eurasian skylarkA streaky brown bird with a short raised crest, perched on a dead branch against a blue sky.
Open farmland, meadows and grassland. Streaky brown with a small crest; it sings while hovering high in the sky.
Common pheasantA large bird with a red face, a dark green head, a copper-coloured body and a very long barred tail, walking on grass.
Farmland edges, woods and reedbeds. The male has a red face, a glossy green head and a very long tail.
European bee-eaterA slim bird with a chestnut crown, a yellow throat, turquoise underparts and a long curved bill, on a wooden post.
Warm open country in southern and eastern Europe; it nests in holes in sandy banks. A yellow throat and turquoise belly; it catches bees and wasps in flight.
Northern lapwingA bird with a thin upright crest, a black breast, a white belly and a glossy dark-green back, on a rock.
Wet meadows, farmland and marshes. A long, wispy crest and a glossy dark-green back.
White storkA large white bird with black wing feathers and a long red bill and legs, flying against a blue sky.
Farmland and wetlands; it nests on roofs, poles and chimneys. White with black flight feathers and a long red bill and legs.
Common craneTwo tall grey birds with long necks and legs, marked black and white on the head, walking in a field.
Wetlands, bogs and farmland; it migrates in large V-shaped flocks. Tall and grey with a black-and-white head and a red crown.
Common buzzardA large brown bird of prey with a hooked bill and a pale mottled breast, perched on a branch.
Farmland mixed with woods. One of Europe's commonest birds of prey; it soars on broad wings and gives a mewing call.
Common kestrelA small bird of prey with a grey head, a pale spotted breast and a chestnut back, on top of a post.
Farmland, grassland and roadsides; it also nests on city buildings. It hovers in one spot while hunting.
Barn owlA pale bird with a white heart-shaped face and dark eyes, against dark leaves.
Farmland and open country; it nests in barns and church towers. A white, heart-shaped face.
Common kingfisherA small bird with a bright blue back, orange underparts and a long dagger-like bill, on a mossy twig.
Rivers, streams and lakes with clear water. A bright blue back and orange underparts; it dives for fish.
Grey heronA tall grey bird with a long neck, a black stripe over the eye and a long yellow bill, perched on a branch.
Rivers, lakes, marshes and coasts. Tall and grey with a long neck and a dagger-like bill; it stands still, waiting for fish.
MallardA plump water bird with a glossy green head, a white neck ring, a chestnut breast and a yellow bill, standing on the shore.
Almost any pond, lake or river, including city parks. The male has a glossy green head and a white neck ring.
Mute swanA large white bird with a curved neck and an orange bill with a black knob, on water.
Lakes, rivers and park ponds. An orange bill with a black knob at its base.
Black-headed gullA white-and-grey bird with a dark chocolate-brown hood and a red bill and legs, standing on sand.
Lakes, rivers, coasts and towns, often far inland. A chocolate-brown hood in summer, only a dark ear spot in winter.
Eurasian cootA black water bird with red eyes, a white bill and a white shield on its forehead, swimming.
Lakes, ponds and slow rivers. All black, with a white bill and a white shield on the forehead.

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A streaky brown bird with a short raised crest, perched on a dead branch against a blue sky.

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Published September 28, 2026