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Iraq

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This checklist includes all bird species found in Iraq , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to .

The taxonomic order and nomenclature follows Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2). If you prefer to view the list based on a different authority, click on one of the list available below. Globally threatened species (status in red) were identified by Birdlife International in Birdlife Data Zone (species).

Bird Checklists of the World is part of Avibase and Bird links to the World, which are designed and maintained by Denis Lepage, and hosted by Birds Canada, which is a co-partner of Birdlife International.

© Denis Lepage 2025

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Country or region: Iraq [map]

Other names: Republic of Iraq

Number of species: 420
Number of globally threatened species: 24
Number of introduced species: 2
Date last reviewed: 2020-03-08
Last modified: 2024-11-27
See also: http://www.iasj.net/iasj?func=fulltext&aId=66481
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STRUTHIONIFORMES: Struthionidae

Common OstrichStruthio camelusExtirpated

 
ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

White-faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduataUncertain origin
White-headed DuckOxyura leucocephalaEndangered
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianus
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisVulnerable
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropusVulnerable
Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
SmewMergellus albellus
GoosanderMergus merganserRare/Accidental
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorRare/Accidental
Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
Marbled TealMarmaronetta angustirostrisNear-threatened
Red-crested PochardNetta rufina
Common PochardAythya ferinaVulnerable
Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNear-threatened
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Greater ScaupAythya marila
GarganeySpatula querquedula
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
Falcated DuckMareca falcataRare/Accidental
GadwallMareca strepera
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Northern PintailAnas acuta
Common TealAnas crecca
Asian Pygmy GooseNettapus coromandelianusRare/Accidental

 
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae

Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
Caspian SnowcockTetraogallus caspius
Chukar PartridgeAlectoris chukar
See-see PartridgeAmmoperdix griseogularis
Black FrancolinFrancolinus francolinus

 
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae

Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus

 
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Podicipedidae

Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis

 
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Rock DoveColumba livia
Speckled PigeonColumba guineaRare/Accidental
Stock DoveColumba oenas
Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVulnerable
Oriental Turtle DoveStreptopelia orientalisRare/Accidental
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Laughing DoveStreptopelia senegalensis
Namaqua DoveOena capensis

 
PTEROCLIFORMES: Pteroclidae

Pin-tailed SandgrousePterocles alchata
Spotted SandgrousePterocles senegallus
Black-bellied SandgrousePterocles orientalis
Lichtenstein's SandgrousePterocles lichtensteiniiRare/Accidental

 
PHAETHONTIFORMES: Phaethontidae

Red-billed TropicbirdPhaethon aethereus

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
Egyptian NightjarCaprimulgus aegyptius

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae

Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaRare/Accidental
Little SwiftApus affinisRare/Accidental
Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
Common SwiftApus apus

 
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

Great Spotted CuckooClamator glandariusRare/Accidental
Common CuckooCuculus canorus

 
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

Western Water RailRallus aquaticus
CorncrakeCrex crex
Spotted CrakePorzana porzana
Little CrakeZapornia parva
Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusilla
Purple SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Common CootFulica atra

 
GRUIFORMES: Gruidae

Demoiselle CraneGrus virgo
Common CraneGrus grus

 
OTIDIFORMES: Otididae

Little BustardTetrax tetraxNear-threatened
Great BustardOtis tardaEndangered
Macqueen's BustardChlamydotis macqueeniiVulnerable

 
PELECANIFORMES: Ciconiidae

Black StorkCiconia nigra
European White StorkCiconia ciconia

 
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae

Great White PelicanPelecanus onocrotalus
Dalmatian PelicanPelecanus crispusNear-threatened

 
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae

Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
Little BitternIxobrychus minutus
Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Goliath HeronArdea goliath
Purple HeronArdea purpurea
Great EgretArdea alba
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Western Reef EgretEgretta gularis

 
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae

African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
Northern Bald IbisGeronticus eremitaExtirpated Endangered
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus

 
PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae

Pygmy CormorantMicrocarbo pygmaeus
European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelisRare/Accidental
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo

 
PELECANIFORMES: Anhingidae

African DarterAnhinga rufa

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae

Eurasian Thick-kneeBurhinus oedicnemus

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Haematopodidae

Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNear-threatened

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae

Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVulnerable
Eurasian Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaRare/Accidental
Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulvaRare/Accidental
Eurasian DotterelEudromias morinellus
Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
Lesser Sand PloverCharadrius mongolus
Greater Sand PloverCharadrius leschenaultii
Caspian PloverCharadrius asiaticus
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNear-threatened
Spur-winged LapwingVanellus spinosus
Red-wattled LapwingVanellus indicus
Sociable LapwingVanellus gregariusCritically endangered
White-tailed LapwingVanellus leucurus

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Rostratulidae

Greater Painted-snipeRostratula benghalensisRare/Accidental

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Slender-billed CurlewNumenius tenuirostrisExtirpated Critically endangered
Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNear-threatened
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaNear-threatened
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNear-threatened
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNear-threatened
Red KnotCalidris canutusRare/Accidental Near-threatened
RuffCalidris pugnax
Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellusVulnerable
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVulnerable
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
SanderlingCalidris alba
DunlinCalidris alpinaNear-threatened
Little StintCalidris minuta
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
Solitary SnipeGallinago solitariaExtirpated
Great SnipeGallinago mediaNear-threatened
Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
Common RedshankTringa totanus
Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusRare/Accidental

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Dromadidae

Crab-ploverDromas ardeola

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae

Cream-coloured CourserCursorius cursor
Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarumRare/Accidental
Black-winged PratincoleGlareola nordmanniExtirpated Near-threatened

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Stercorariidae

Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudusRare/Accidental
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticusRare/Accidental

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae

Slender-billed GullChroicocephalus genei
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusRare/Accidental
Pallas's GullIchthyaetus ichthyaetus
Mew GullLarus canus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Armenian GullLarus armenicus
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
Caspian GullLarus cachinnans
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus
Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetus
Little TernSternula albifrons
Saunders's TernSternula saundersiExtirpated
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
Black TernChlidonias nigerRare/Accidental
Common TernSterna hirundo
White-cheeked TernSterna repressa
Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensisExtirpated
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisRare/Accidental
Greater Crested TernThalasseus bergiiExtirpated

 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae

OspreyPandion haliaetus

 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
European Honey BuzzardPernis apivorus
Oriental Honey BuzzardPernis ptilorhynchusRare/Accidental
Bearded VultureGypaetus barbatusNear-threatened
Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterusEndangered
BateleurTerathopius ecaudatusRare/Accidental Endangered
Short-toed EagleCircaetus gallicus
Griffon VultureGyps fulvus
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusNear-threatened
Lesser Spotted EagleClanga pomarinaRare/Accidental
Greater Spotted EagleClanga clangaVulnerable
Steppe EagleAquila nipalensisEndangered
Eastern Imperial EagleAquila heliacaVulnerable
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatus
Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNear-threatened
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
Levant SparrowhawkAccipiter brevipes
Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Northern GoshawkAccipiter gentilisRare/Accidental
Pallas's Fish EagleHaliaeetus leucoryphusExtirpated Endangered
White-tailed Sea EagleHaliaeetus albicillaExtirpated
Red KiteMilvus milvus
Black KiteMilvus migrans
Eurasian BuzzardButeo buteo
Long-legged BuzzardButeo rufinus

 
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae

Common Barn OwlTyto alba

 
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

Little OwlAthene noctua
Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops
Pallid Scops OwlOtus brucei
Northern Long-eared OwlAsio otusRare/Accidental
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
Eurasian Eagle OwlBubo bubo
Desert Eagle OwlBubo ascalaphusRare/Accidental
Brown Fish OwlKetupa zeylonensisExtirpated

 
BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae

Common HoopoeUpupa epops

 
PICIFORMES: Picidae

Northern WryneckJynx torquilla
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos minor
Middle Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos medius
Syrian WoodpeckerDendrocopos syriacus

 
CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae

Green Bee-eaterMerops orientalisRare/Accidental
Blue-cheeked Bee-eaterMerops persicus
European Bee-eaterMerops apiaster

 
CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae

Indian RollerCoracias benghalensis
European RollerCoracias garrulus

 
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae

Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
White-throated KingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis

 
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

Lesser KestrelFalco naumanni
Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusRare/Accidental Vulnerable
MerlinFalco columbarius
Eurasian HobbyFalco subbuteo
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicusRare/Accidental
Saker FalconFalco cherrugEndangered
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus

 
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittaculidae

Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriIntroduced species

 
PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae

Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae

Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
Turkestan ShrikeLanius phoenicuroides
Isabelline ShrikeLanius isabellinus
Long-tailed ShrikeLanius schachRare/Accidental
Lesser Grey ShrikeLanius minor
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitor
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNear-threatened
Masked ShrikeLanius nubicus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculus
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
Eurasian MagpiePica pica
Eurasian JackdawCorvus monedula
RookCorvus frugilegus
Common RavenCorvus corax
Brown-necked RavenCorvus ruficollis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone

 
PASSERIFORMES: Prunellidae

Alpine AccentorPrunella collaris
DunnockPrunella modularis
Radde's AccentorPrunella ocularis

 
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

House SparrowPasser domesticus
Spanish SparrowPasser hispaniolensis
Dead Sea SparrowPasser moabiticus
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
Pale Rock SparrowCarpospiza brachydactyla
Eurasian Rock SparrowPetronia petronia
Chestnut-shouldered Bush SparrowGymnoris xanthocollis
White-winged SnowfinchMontifringilla nivalisRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
Tawny PipitAnthus campestris
Long-billed PipitAnthus similisRare/Accidental
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola
White WagtailMotacilla alba

 
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae

Common ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
BramblingFringilla montifringilla
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
Common RosefinchErythrina erythrinaRare/Accidental
Crimson-winged FinchRhodopechys sanguineusRare/Accidental
Trumpeter FinchBucanetes githagineus
Desert FinchRhodospiza obsoleta
European GreenfinchChloris chloris
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisRare/Accidental
Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaRare/Accidental
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
European SerinSerinus serinus
Syrian SerinSerinus syriacusRare/Accidental Vulnerable
Red-fronted SerinSerinus pusillusRare/Accidental
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae

Black-headed BuntingGranativora melanocephala
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
Rock BuntingEmberiza cia
Grey-necked BuntingEmberiza buchanani
Cinereous BuntingEmberiza cineraceaNear-threatened
Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulana
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
Pine BuntingEmberiza leucocephalos
Eurasian Reed BuntingSchoeniclus schoeniclus
Rustic BuntingSchoeniclus rusticusRare/Accidental Vulnerable

 
PASSERIFORMES: Paridae

Sombre TitPoecile lugubris
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major

 
PASSERIFORMES: Remizidae

European Penduline TitRemiz pendulinus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae

Greater Hoopoe LarkAlaemon alaudipes
Thick-billed LarkRamphocoris clotbeyRare/Accidental
Bar-tailed LarkAmmomanes cinctura
Desert LarkAmmomanes deserti
Black-crowned Sparrow LarkEremopterix nigricepsExtirpated
Lesser Short-toed LarkAlaudala rufescens
Bimaculated LarkMelanocorypha bimaculata
Calandra LarkMelanocorypha calandra
Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
Temminck's LarkEremophila bilopha
Horned LarkEremophila alpestris
Wood LarkLullula arborea
Eurasian Sky LarkAlauda arvensis
Crested LarkGalerida cristata

 
PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae

Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
Graceful PriniaPrinia gracilis

 
PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae

Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides
River WarblerLocustella fluviatilisRare/Accidental
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae

Olivaceous WarblerIduna pallida
Upcher's WarblerHippolais languida
Olive-tree WarblerHippolais olivetorumRare/Accidental
Icterine WarblerHippolais icterinaRare/Accidental
Moustached WarblerAcrocephalus melanopogon
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusRare/Accidental
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustris
Common Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
Basra Reed WarblerAcrocephalus griseldisEndangered
Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
Clamorous Reed WarblerAcrocephalus stentoreus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Northern House MartinDelichon urbicum
Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
Pale Crag MartinPtyonoprogne obsoleta
Sand MartinRiparia riparia

 
PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae

White-eared BulbulPycnonotus leucotis
White-spectacled BulbulPycnonotus xanthopygosUncertain origin

 
PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae

Eastern Bonelli's WarblerRhadina orientalisRare/Accidental
Wood WarblerRhadina sibilatrixRare/Accidental
Hume's Leaf WarblerAbrornis humeiRare/Accidental
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Mountain ChiffchaffPhylloscopus lorenzii
Plain Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus neglectusRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Scotocercidae

Streaked Scrub WarblerScotocerca inquietaRare/Accidental
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti

 
PASSERIFORMES: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae

Eurasian BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Garden WarblerSylvia borin
Asian Desert WarblerCurruca nana
Barred WarblerCurruca nisoria
Eastern Orphean WarblerCurruca crassirostris
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca
Ménétries's WarblerCurruca mystacea
Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephalaRare/Accidental
Common WhitethroatCurruca communis
Spectacled WarblerCurruca conspicillataRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Leiothrichidae

Scrub BabblerArgya caudata
Iraq BabblerArgya altirostris

 
PASSERIFORMES: Regulidae

GoldcrestRegulus regulusRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Hypocoliidae

Grey HypocoliusHypocolius ampelinus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae

Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
Western Rock NuthatchSitta neumayer
Eastern Rock NuthatchSitta tephronota
WallcreeperTichodroma muraria

 
PASSERIFORMES: Troglodytidae

Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes

 
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisRare/Accidental
Rosy StarlingPastor roseus
Asian Pied StarlingGracupica contraUncertain origin
Common MynaAcridotheres tristisIntroduced species
Bank MynaAcridotheres ginginianusRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Cinclidae

White-throated DipperCinclus cinclusRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae

Rufous Scrub RobinCercotrichas galactotes
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
European RobinErithacus rubecula
White-throated IraniaIrania gutturalis
Thrush NightingaleLuscinia luscinia
Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
BluethroatLuscinia svecica
Red-breasted FlycatcherFicedula parvaRare/Accidental
Semi-collared FlycatcherFicedula semitorquata
Eversmann's RedstartAdelura erythronotaRare/Accidental
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
Common Rock ThrushMonticola saxatilis
Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Eastern StonechatSaxicola maurus
Pied Bush ChatSaxicola caprataRare/Accidental
Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Isabelline WheatearOenanthe isabellina
Desert WheatearOenanthe deserti
Hooded WheatearOenanthe monachaRare/Accidental
Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica
Pied WheatearOenanthe pleschanka
Red-rumped WheatearOenanthe moestaRare/Accidental
Hume's WheatearOenanthe albonigra
White-crowned WheatearOenanthe leucopygaRare/Accidental
Finsch's WheatearOenanthe finschii
Mourning WheatearOenanthe lugens
Red-tailed WheatearOenanthe chrysopygia
Kurdish WheatearOenanthe xanthoprymna

 
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
RedwingTurdus iliacusRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
Black-throated ThrushTurdus atrogularis

 

References (partial list)

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