In this article, Europe refers to the geographical continent, not the somewhat larger Western Palearctic, which includes parts of the Middle East and north Africa.
There are about 700 species of bird in the area, and in general the avifauna is similar to Asia north of the Himalayas, which shares the same ecozone. There are also many groups shared with North America.
Conversely, many of the southern hemisphere groups, including the ancient flightless Struthioniformes (ostrich family), and their relatives the tinamous are not represented at all.
The order follows the Voous Order, with the revision of the Anseriformes and Galliformes brought to the start of the list, adopted by all European countries.
European birds include the following families:
Anseriformes
Galliformes
Gaviiformes
Podicipediformes
Procellariiformes
Pelecaniformes
Ciconiiformes (American taxonomists often include all the raptors in this family.)
Accipitriformes (Some classifications also include the Falconidae.)
Falconiformes (Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes.)
Gruiformes
Charadriformes
Pterocliformes
Columbiformes
Psittaciformes
- Psittacidae parrots introduced only
Cuculiformes
Strigiformes
Caprimulgiformes
Apodiformes
Coraciiformes
Piciformes
Passeriformes perching birds
The links above lead to family accounts and hence to individual species. Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so other arrangements may be found.
See also
