Over 300 species of bird have been recorded in the wild on the Isle of Man, a self-governing island in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. Over 100 species breed there, including significant populations of red-billed chough, peregrine falcon and hen harrier.
A variety of seabirds breed on the coastal cliffs such as Atlantic puffin, black guillemot, black-legged kittiwake, European shag and northern fulmar. The island gives its name to the Manx shearwater which formerly nested in large numbers on the Calf of Man. The colony disappeared following the arrival of rats but the shearwaters began to return in the 1960s. The Ayres in the north of the island have colonies of little tern, Arctic tern and common tern.
Moorland areas on the island are home to red grouse, Eurasian curlew and northern raven. Woodland birds include long-eared owl, common treecreeper, Eurasian blackcap and common chiffchaff. There is little native woodland on the island and several species found in Great Britain, such as tawny owl, Eurasian green woodpecker and Eurasian jay, do not breed on the isle of Man.
Many birds visit the island during the winter and migration seasons including waders such as purple sandpiper, turnstone and golden plover. Wintering wildfowl include small numbers of whooper swan. A bird observatory was established on the Calf of Man in 1959 to study the migrating and breeding birds. By the end of 2001, 99,042 birds of 134 species had been ringed there. Numerous rarities have been recorded there including American mourning dove and white-throated robin.
The list below includes 323 species of bird. The English names are those recommended by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) with alternative names given in brackets. The scientific names and classification follow the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU). Species marked as rare are those for which the Manx Ornithological Society (MOS) requires a written description in order to accept a record.
The Manx Ornithological Society uses the following codes:
A: a species which has occurred naturally on the island since 1 January 1950
B: a species which has occurred naturally but only before 31 December 1949
C: a species with an established breeding population as a result of introduction by man
C*: a species which has visited the island from an introduced population in Great Britain
Failed introductions such as black grouse or species which are not yet established such as red-winged laughingthrush are not included on the list.
Ducks, geese and swans
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
Mute swan, Cygnus olor A
Tundra swan (Bewick's swan), Cygnus columbianus A
Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus A
Bean goose, Anser fabalis B, rare
Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus A
Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons A, rare
Greylag goose, Anser anser AC
Canada goose, Branta canadensis AC
Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis A
Brant goose (brent goose), Branta bernicla A
Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna A
Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope A
American wigeon, Anas americana A, rare
Gadwall, Anas strepera AC, rare
Eurasian teal, Anas crecca A
Green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis A, rare
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos AC
Northern pintail, Anas acuta A
Garganey, Anas querquedula A, rare
Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata A
Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina A
Common pochard, Aythya ferina A
Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris A, rare
Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca A, rare
Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula A
Greater scaup, Aythya marila A, rare
Common eider, Somateria mollissima A
King eider, Somateria spectabilis A, rare
Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis A
Common scoter, Melanitta nigra A
Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata A, rare
Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca A, rare
Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula A
Smew, Mergellus albellus A, rare
Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator A
Common merganser (goosander), Mergus merganser A, rare
Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis C*
Order: Galliformes Family: Tetraonidae
Willow ptarmigan (red grouse), Lagopus lagopus A
Pheasants and partridges
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
Red-legged partridge, Alectorix rufa C
Grey partridge, Perdix perdix AC
Common quail, Coturnix coturnix A
Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus C
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
Red-throated diver, Gavia stellata A
Black-throated diver, Gavia arctica A
Great northern diver, Gavia immer A
Petrels and shearwaters
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellaridae
Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis A
Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea A, rare
Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis A, rare
Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus A, rare
Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus A
Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus A, rare
Macaronesian shearwater, Puffinus baroli A, rare
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
European storm petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus A
Leach's storm petrel, Oceanodroma leucorrhoa A, rare
Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae
Northern gannet, Morus bassanus A
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo A
European shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis A
Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae
Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens A, rare
Herons and bitterns
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
Eurasian bittern, Botaurus stellaris A, rare
Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus A, rare
Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax A, rare
Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis A, rare
Little egret, Egretta garzetta A, rare
Great egret, Ardea alba A, rare
Grey heron, Ardea cinerea A
Purple heron, Ardea purpurea A, rare
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae
Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia A, rare
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae
White stork, Ciconia ciconia A, rare
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis A
Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus A
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena A, rare
Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus A, rare
Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis A, rare
Hawks and eagles
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus A, rare
Black kite, Milvus migrans A, rare
Red kite, Milvus milvus AC*, rare
White-tailed eagle, Haliaaetus albicilla B, rare
Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus A, rare
Hen harrier Circus cyaneus A
Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis AC*, rare
Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus A
Common buzzard, Buteo buteo A, rare
Rough-legged buzzard, Buteo lagopus A, rare
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos A, rare
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Falconidae
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus A, rare
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus A
Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus A, rare
Merlin, Falco columbarius A
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo A, rare
Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus B, rare
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus A
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus A
Spotted crake, Porzana porzana B, rare
Baillon's crake, Porzana pusilla B, rare
Corn crake, Crex crex A, rare
Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus A
Eurasian coot, Fulica atra A
Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae
Common crane, Grus grus A, rare
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus A
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae
Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta A, rare
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae
Eurasian stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus A, rare
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae
Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius A, rare
Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula A
Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus A, rare
Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus A, rare
American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica A, rare
European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria A
Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola A
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus A
Sandpipers, snipe and phalaropes
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
Red knot, Calidris canutus A
Sanderling, Calidris alba A
Little stint, Calidris minuta A
Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii A, rare
White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis A, rare
Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos A, rare
Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea A
Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus A, rare
Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima A
Dunlin, Calidris alpina A
Buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis A, rare
Ruff, Philomachus pugnax A
Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus A
Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago A
Great snipe, Gallinago minima B, rare
Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus A, rare
Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola A
Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa A
Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica A
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus A
Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata A
Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos A
Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus A, rare
Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus A, rare
Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia A
Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes B, rare
Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola A, rare
Common redshank, Tringa totanus A
Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres A
Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor A, rare
Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus A, rare
Red phalarope (grey phalarope), Phalaropus fulicarius A, rare
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
Pomarine skua, Stercorarius pomarinus A, rare
Parasitic jaeger (Arctic skua), Stercorarius parasiticus A
Long-tailed jaeger (long-tailed skua), Stercorarius longicaudus A, rare
Great skua, Stercorarius skua A
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Sabine's gull, Xema sabini A, rare
Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla A
Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus A
Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus A, rare
Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus A, rare
Common gull, Larus canus A
Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis A, rare
Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus A
European herring gull, Larus argentatus A
Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis A, rare
Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides A, rare
Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus A, rare
Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus A
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae
Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus A, rare
Little tern, Sternula albifrons A
Black tern, Chlidonias niger A, rare
Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis A
Common tern, Sterna hirundo A
Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii A, rare
Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea A
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae
Common murre (guillemot), Uria aalge A
Razorbill, Alca torda A
Great auk, Pinguinus impennis B2, extinct
Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle A
Little auk, Alle alle A, rare
Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica A
Sandgrouse
Order: Pteroclidiformes Family: Pteroclididae
Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus B, rare
Pigeons and doves
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Rock dove (feral pigeon), Columba livia A
Stock dove, Columba oenas A
Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus A
Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto A
European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur A, rare
Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura A, rare
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae
Rose-ringed parakeet (ring-necked parakeet), Psittacula krameri C*
Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius A, rare
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus A
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus A, rare
Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae
Barn owl, Tyto alba A
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
Eurasian scops owl, Otus scops A, rare
Snowy owl, Bubo scandiaca B, rare
Little owl, Athene noctua C*, rare
Tawny owl, Strix aluco A, rare
Long-eared owl, Asio otus A
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus A
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae
European nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus A, rare
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
Common swift, Apus apus A
Alpine swift, Apus melba A, rare
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis A
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae
European bee-eater, Merops apiaster A, rare
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae
European roller, Coracias garrulus A, rare
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Upupidae
Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops A
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae
Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla A, rare
European green woodpecker, Picus viridis A, rare
Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae
Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae
Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio A, rare
Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor A, rare
Southern grey shrike, Lanius meridionalis A, rare
Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax A
Eurasian magpie, Pica pica A
Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius A, rare
Western jackdaw, Corvus monedula A
Rook, Corvus frugilegus A
Carrion crow, Corvus corone A
Hooded crow, Corvus cornix A
Northern raven, Corvus corax A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae
Goldcrest, Regulus regulus A
Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae
Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus A
Great tit, Parus major A
Coal tit, Periparus ater A
Marsh tit, Poecile palustris A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Panuridae
Bearded reedling (bearded tit), Panurus biarmicus A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae
Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra A, rare
Woodlark, Lullula arborea A, rare
Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis A
Horned lark (shore lark), Eremophila alpestris A, rare
Swallows and martins
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
Sand martin, Riparia riparia A
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica A
Common house martin, Delichon urbicum A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae
Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae
Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides A, rare
Pallas's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus A, rare
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus A, rare
Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus A, rare
Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli A, rare
Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibalatrix A, rare
Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita A
Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla A
Garden warbler, Sylvia borin A
Barred warbler, Sylvia nisoria A, rare
Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca A, rare
Common whitethroat, Sylvia communis A
Subalpine warbler, Sylvia cantillans A, rare
Sardinian warbler, Sylvia melanocephala A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae
Common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae
Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina A, rare
Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta A, rare
Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola A, rare
Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus A
Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris A, rare
Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus A, rare
Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae
Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae
Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae
Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae
Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae
Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris A
Rosy starling, Pastor roseus A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae
White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus A
Blackbird, Turdus merula A
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris A
Song thrush, Turdus philomelos A
Redwing, Turdus iliacus A
Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus A
Flycatchers and chats
Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae
Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata A
Robin, Erithacus rubecula A
Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia A, rare
Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos A, rare
Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica A, rare
White-throated robin, Irania gutturalis A, rare
Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros A
Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus A
Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra A
Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus A, rare
European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola A
Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe A
Black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica A, rare
Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti A, rare
Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva A, rare
European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae
Dunnock, Prunella modularis A
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
House sparrow, Passer domesticus A
Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus A
Wagtails and pipits
Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava A, rare
Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea A
White wagtail (pied wagtail), Motacilla alba A
Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi A, rare
Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris A, rare
Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni A, rare
Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis A, rare
Pechora pipit, Anthus gustavi A, rare
Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis A
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus A, rare
Eurasian rock pipit, Anthus petrosus A
Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta A, rare
Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae
Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs A
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla A
European greenfinch, Chloris chloris A
European serin, Serinus serinus A, rare
European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis A
Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus A
Common linnet, Linaria cannabina A
Twite, Linaria flavirostris A
Lesser redpoll, Acanthis cabaret A
Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea A, rare
Arctic redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni A, rare
Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostris A
Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus A, rare
Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula A, rare
Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes A, rare
Longspurs and arctic buntings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae
Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis A
Lapland longspur (Lapland bunting), Calcarius lapponicus A, rare
Buntings and relatives
Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae
Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia A, rare
White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis A, rare
Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella A
Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus A, rare
Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana A, rare
Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica A, rare
Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla A, rare
Common reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus A
Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala A, rare
Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra A, rare
Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula A, rare
Yellow-rumped warbler, Dendroica coronata A, rare
