Birds Ireland > Irish list

The complete checklist
of Irish birds
appendices and notes

Extinct species
Two species are extinct in Ireland.

Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus
(Widespread until 18th century)
Great Auk Pinguinis impennis
(Waterford 1834) Extinct world-wide.

They are not included on the main list.

Species of uncertain origin or not fully established in the wild
Baikal Teal Anas formosa
(1,1967, uncertain origin)
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
(not fully established)
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps
(17, 1997, uncertain origin)
Yellow-throated Bunting
(1,1993, uncertain origin)
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri
(n.,2000, escapes, or of British origin)

Older records
Purple Martin Progne subis
Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin (1,1840)
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis
Achill, Co.Mayo (1,1894 )
Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius
Co. Kerry (1,1848 ). Now extinct worldwide.
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio
T wo records; one in Co. Down in 1900, and a second on a ship in Belfast Lough in 1952.
Sheathbill Chionis alba
Shot, Carlingford in 1892 [on display in Natural History Museum, Dublin].

The status of these records is not clear at present.

Appendix 1
Some notes on distinctive sub-species.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax c. sinensis
V-Eu. Probably previously overlooked.
Whistling Swan Cygnus c.columbianus
V-Am (6,1998).
Russian White-fronted Goose Anser a.albifrons
RW-Eu.
Tundra Bean Goose Anser fabalis rossicus
V-Eu (1,1998)
Greater Snow Goose Anser a.atlanticus
V-Am (3,1986). Most records of Snow Geese are of indeterminate race, majority of those identified were Lesser Snow Geese.
Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta b. bernicla
RW-Eu Annual visitor, mainly to East Coast.
Grey-bellied Brent Goose Brata b. orientalis
Reported Winter 1999.
Black Brant Branta b. nigricans
R-Am Rare but annual (IRBC checklist cites 54 records involving c.10 birds).
Green-winged Teal Anas c. carolinensis
R-Am (c.85,1998) Annual winter visitor.
American Goshawk Accipter gentilis atricapillus
V-Am (6,1974).
Wilson's Snipe Gallinago g. delicata
V-Am (1,1991).
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus
V-Am (2,1980).
American Herring Gull
Larus argentatus smithsonianus
V-Am (c.28,1999).
Yellow-legged (Herring) Gull
Increasingly regular visitor that may be actually be two species:
Larus a. michahellis R-Eu A lot commoner than was thought previously. Removed from rarity list.
Larus a. cachinnans V-Eu(4,1999) Caspian Gull.
Kumlien's Gull Larus glaucoides kumlieni
R-Am (c.32,1999) Annual Winter visitor.
Continental Barn Owl Tyto alba guttata
V-Eu (3,1932.)
Scandinavian Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus littoralis
V-Eu (5,1996) Probably much commoner than records indicate, but inseparable in winter from Rock Pipit.
Blue-headed Wagtail* Motacilla f. flava
R-Eu (c.42,1999).
Ashy-headed Wagtail* Motacilla f. cinereocapilla
V-Eu (5,1985).
Grey-headed Wagtail Motacilla f. thunbergi
V-Eu (6,1992).
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba
P%
Black-bellied Dipper Cinclus c. cinclus
V-Eu (1,1956). See Irish races feature
Eastern Stonechat
Saxicola torquata maura or stejnegeri
V-As (5,1998).
Continental Coal Tit Parus a.ater
V-Eu (2,1961). See Irish races feature
Carrion Crow Corvus c. corone
R-Eu Scarce but regular.
Mealy Redpoll Carduelis f. flammea
V-Eu (c.60,1997).
Greenland Redpoll Carduelis f. rostrata
V-Am (28,1996).

Appendix 2
'At sea' records
(Including birds seen on pelagic trips, oil rigs and trawlers etc.) These records refer to sightings within the Irish waters but outside the normal recording area.
Cory's Shearwater 3
Soft-plumaged Petrel 1
Wilson's Petrel 87
Purple Heron 1
Red-footed Falcon 1
Gyrfalcon 1
Sora Rail 1
Buff-breasted Sandpiper 2
Long-tailed Skua 18
Sabine's Gull 5

Appendix 3
Some additional comments.

Madeiran Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Never recorded alive. The sole record was picked up dead at Blackrock lighthouse in Co. Mayo on 18th October 1931.

Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Has been recorded more frequently in recent years. The majority of recent sightings have been in winter, presumably of British or eastern European birds dispersing westwards in colder weather. There have been five sightings since 1994. Satellite tracking in Britain seems to indicate a smaller population than was previously thought.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Was formerly a rare visitor but is now found all year round, albeit in very small numbers. There is now a small breeding colony in Co Cork, and numbers are still rising.

Greater Flamingo
(Anthony McGeehan)
Was this bird, photographed in Northern Ireland in 1995, part of a genuine influx, or a highly mobile escaped individual? The records so far would seem to indicate the latter.

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
While Chilean Flamingo has often been recorded, frequently showing visible signs of captivity, Greater has not. There are two old records dating back to 1947 that are of uncertain origin. A series of sightings in 1995 from a number of localities throughout the year were not definitively proven to involve more than one individual. Unless further evidence comes to light to prove an influx of the species, it will not be admitted to the main list. It must however be borne in mind that Flamingos do migrate over long distances and as such have the potential to occur in a wild state. One showing a silver ring was seen on 3rd May 1999 at Lurgan Green, Co. Louth.

Red Kite Milvus milvus
Occurring more frequently as a direct result of the British reintroduction scheme. The majority of recent records have been wing-tagged birds. However some of these are 2nd generation offspring and as such, wild.

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
Has occurred three times since 1950. It is now usually a winter visitor. A record in 1996 was either White-tailed or Bald Eagle. A bird from the Scottish re-introduction programme was seen in 1985. There was also a failed attempt to re-introduce them in Kerry during the early 1990Õs. The idea was to breed them at Fota Island, Cork and release them on the uninhabited Blasket Islands in Kerry. Two birds were released; one was poisoned and one disappeared. The remainder of the birds are still in Fota.

Goshawk Accipiter gentillis
A rare migrant and extremely rare resident/breeder. The population is tiny with only a few pairs mainly in the far North of the country. The American race has occurred several times but not in the recent past.

Golden Eagle Aguila chrysaetos
Formerly bred and now a rare visitor, primarily between March and September. There have been 16 records since 1950 mostly in the North of Ireland.

Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Recorded 42 times since 1950, and is regarded as an overlooked species. Most recent records are at coastal sites in August.

Eskimo Curlew Numenius borealis
Not yet officially extinct so therefore remains on the main list. The sole record was picked up at a market stall, apparently shot in Co. Sligo in October 1870.

Mediterranean Gull
(Eric Dempsey)
Has bred on at least two occasions, and ten or more birds can sometimes be seen at some locations, most notably Dublin Bay.

Mediterranean Gull
Larus melanocephalus
A former rarity, now a year-round visitor and has recently bred.

Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Recorded for the first time in Belmullet, Mayo in 1979 and is now a very regular visitor. Numbers in Dublin bay occasionally run into double figures.

Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus
Occurs sporadically in Europe. In Ireland they were last seen in the late 1800's. There were three records involving a large number of birds. At least 18 in 1863, two in 1876, and over 110 in 1888. Most of these records were during the summer months.

Woodlark Lullula arborea
Has occurred 16 times since 1950 (only once since 1966). They are however doing well in Britain and as such may become more frequent again.

House Crow
Somewhat of an anomaly when it comes to migration as it's preferred method is to travel by ship! The sole Irish record arrived by ship to Dunmore East, Waterford and stayed for between one and two years. This record occurred before they colonised Israel two years later (again via ship).