List of birds of Greenland

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata

Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (A)

Common loon, Gavia immer

Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A)

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A)

Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (A)

Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A)

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A)

Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (A)

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.

Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis

Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A)

Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (A)

Storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Leach's storm petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa (A)

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (A)

Cormorants

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Grey heron, Ardea cinerea (A)

Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (A)

Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea (A)

Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (A)

Green heron, Butorides virescens (A)

Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (A)

American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (A)

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus (A)

Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia (A)

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, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A)

Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A)

Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus

Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons

Greylag goose, Anser anser (A)

Snow goose, Chen caerulescens

Emperor goose, Chen canagica (A)

Brant, Branta bernicla

Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis

Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii

Canada goose, Branta canadensis

Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A)

Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope (A)

American wigeon, Anas americana (A)

Gadwall, Anas strepera (A)

Eurasian teal, Anas crecca crecca

Green-winged teal, Anas crecca carolinensis (A)

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

Northern pintail, Anas acuta

Blue-winged teal, Anas discors (A)

Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata (A)

Redhead, Aythya americana (A)

Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A)

Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A)

Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A)

Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A)

Common eider, Somateria mollissima

King eider, Somateria spectabilis

Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (A)

Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus

Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis

Common scoter, Melanitta nigra (A)

Black scoter, Melanitta americana (A)

Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A)

White-winged scoter, Melanitta fusca (A)

Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (A)

Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica

Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A)

Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator

Common merganser, Mergus merganser (A)

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (A)

Hawks, kites and eagles

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla

Caracaras and falcons

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus (A)

Merlin, Falco columbarius (A)

Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus

Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Grouse

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Grouse are game birds, similar to quails and partridges.

Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta

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".

Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis (A)

Common crane, Grus grus (A)

Rails, crakes, 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. 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.

Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (A)

Water rail, Rallus aquaticus (A)

Corn crake, Crex crex (A)

Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A)

Sora, Porzana carolina (A)

Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A)

Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (A)

Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (A)

Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A)

American coot, Fulica americana (A)

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (A)

Avocets and stilts

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.

American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (A)

Plovers and lapwings

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 (A)

Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A)

American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A)

European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria

Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola

Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula

Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (A)

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (A)

Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus (A)

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. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola (A)

Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago (A)

Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A)

Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A)

Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A)

Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (A)

Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A)

Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (A)

Common redshank, Tringa totanus (A)

Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia (A)

Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (A)

Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A)

Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (A)

Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (A)

Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (A)

Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres

Red knot, Calidris canutus

Sanderling, Calidris alba

Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (A)

Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii (A)

Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (A)

White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A)

Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii

Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A)

Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A)

Dunlin, Calidris alpina

Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima

Buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis (A)

Ruff, Philomachus pugnax (A)

Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus

Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A)

Great skua, Stercorarius skua

Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus

Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus

Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus

Gulls and terns

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years

Mew gull, Larus canus (A)

Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (A)

Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus

Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus

Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides

Thayer's gull, Larus thayeri

Herring gull, Larus argentatus (A)

American herring gull, Larus argentatus smithsonianus (A)

Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (A)

Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (A)

Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (A)

Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (A)

Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (A)

Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea

Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea

Sabine's gull, Xema sabini

Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla

Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea

Auks, murres and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.

Dovekie, Alle alle

Common murre, Uria aalge

Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia

Razorbill, Alca torda

Great auk, Pinguinus impennis (Extinct)

Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle

Crested auklet, Aethia cristatella (A)

Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica

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.

Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (A)

Cuckoos 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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A)

Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A)

Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A)

Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The 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.

Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus

Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (A)

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 camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A)

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

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.

Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (A)

Woodpeckers and allies

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.

Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (A)

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, have plain colouring. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi (A)

Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris (A)

Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (A)

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.

Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris (A)

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (A)

Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (A)

Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (A)

Common house-martin, Delichon urbica (A)

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

White wagtail, Motacilla alba

Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis

American pipit, Anthus rubescens

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

Ruby-crowned kinglet, Regulus calendula (A)

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (A)

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris (A)

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Scaly thrush, Zoothera dauma (A)

Grey-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus (A)

Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus (A)

Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula (A)

Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris

Redwing, Turdus iliacus

Song thrush, Turdus philomelos (A)

American robin, Turdus migratorius (A)

Old World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla (A)

Phylloscopidae

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus (A)

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe

Crows, jays, ravens and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula (A)

Rook, Corvus frugilegus (A)

Common raven, Corvus corax

Hooded crow, Corvus cornix (A)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (A)

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.

Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius (A)

Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (A)

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus

Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

The New World warblers are a group of small, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

Golden-winged warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera (A)

Tennessee warbler, Oreothlypis peregrina (A)

Orange-crowned warbler, Oreothlypis celata (A)

Nashville warbler, Oreothlypis ruficapilla (A)

Northern parula, Setophaga americana (A)

Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia (A)

Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica (A)

Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia (A)

Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (A)

Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata (A)

Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens (A)

Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca (A)

Pine warbler, Setophaga pinus (A)

Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea (A)

Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata (A)

American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (A)

Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla (A)

Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis (A)

Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla (A)

Mourning warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia (A)

Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas (A)

Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla (A)

Canada warbler, Cardellina canadensis (A)

Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens (A)

Buntings, sparrows, seedeaters and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca (A)

Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii (A)

White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys (A)

Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis (A)

Saltators, cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus (A)

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds and New World orioles. Most species have black as the predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red.

Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (A)

Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (A)

Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus (A)

Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula (A)

Siskins, crossbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs (A)

Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (A)

Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (A)

White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (A)

Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea

Lesser redpoll, Acanthis cabaret (A)

Hoary redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni