The NI List



The Northern Ireland List 
This Checklist has been compiled by the Northern Ireland Rare Birds Committee (NIRBC). It details the 343 species accepted as having occurred in Northern Ireland up to 31st December 2016. As well as species it also lists sub-species (when a species in not monotypic), and when this has been determined. The British Ornithologists Union (BOU) has maintained a British List since 1883, and this list follows the taxonomy, sequence and scientific names in that list. The Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC) maintains an Irish List covering the whole of Ireland, and the two committees work together to ensure its accuracy.
The recording area (Northern Ireland) covers the six Counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone and in addition the inshore waters up to the median point between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland and Britain where relevant.
Categories:
NIRBC and IRBC both follow the Association of European Rarities Committee (AERC) recommendation in assigning categories to the birds occurring in their respective areas. The categories used by NIRBC and IRBC are the same and are as follows:

Category A        Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state in Northern Ireland at least once since 1st January 1950.
Category B        Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state in Northern Ireland at least once up to 31st December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.
Category C1     Species that, although originally introduced by man, have established feral breeding populations in Northern Ireland which apparently maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.
Category C2      Species that have occurred, but are considered to have originated from feral populations outside Northern Ireland.
Category D1     Species that would otherwise appear in A or B except that there is a reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state.
Category D2      Species that have arrived through ship or other human assistance.
Category D3      Species that have only ever been found dead on the tideline.
Category D4      Species that would otherwise appear in Category C1 except that there is doubt about whether their feral populations are self-supporting.
Category E        Species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees or escapes from captivity.
The NI list adds up to 343 species as follows:

Category A         329
Category B          11
Category C          3
Total A,B,C        343
Category D         5

By comparison the totals for the whole of Ireland (at 31 December 2015) are:
Category A         461
Category B          14
Category C          3
Total A,B,C        478
Category D         11
Plus 2 at sea records

The British List (as at December 2016) stands at:
Category A       587
Category B         8
Category C         10
Total A,B,C       605
Category D         15


Northern Ireland List, 2016:


Common name International name Binomen Subspecies English name for subspecies Category






Mute Swan
Cygnus olor

AC1
Bewick’s Swan Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii
A
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnus

A
Bean Goose
Anser fabalis fabilis Taiga A



rossicus Tundra
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchus

A
White-fronted Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons European A



flavirostris Greenland A
Greylag Goose
Anser anser anser
AC1
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
Lesser AD1
Greater Canada Goose Canada Goose Branta canadensis canadensis
C1
Lesser Canada Goose Cackling Goose Branta hutchsinii hutchsinii
A
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsis

AC1
Brent Goose Brant Goose Branta bernicla hrota Pale-bellied Brent A



bernicla Dark-bellied Brent



nigricans Black Brant
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferruginea

BD1
Shelduck Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

A
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulata

C1
Wigeon Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope

A
American Wigeon
Anas americana

A
Gadwall
Anas strepera

A
Baikal Teal
Anas formosa

A
Teal Eurasian Teal Anas crecca crecca
A
Green-winged Teal
Anas carolinensis

A
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos
AC1
Pintail Northern Pintail Anas acuta acuta
A
Garganey
Anas querquedula

A
Blue-winged Teal
Anas discors

A
Shoveler Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

A
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina

A
Pochard Common Pochard Aythya ferina

A
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris

A
Ferruginous Duck
Aythya nyroca

A
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula

A
Scaup Greater Scaup Aythya marila marila
A
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis

A
Eider Common Eider Somateria mollissima mollissima
A
King Eider
Somateria spectabilis

A
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis

A
Common Scoter Black Scoter Melanitta nigra

A
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata

A
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fusca fusca
A
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Bucephala islandica

A
Goldeneye Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula clangula
A
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus

A
Smew
Mergellus albellus

A
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator

A
Goosander Common Merganser Mergus merganser merganser
A
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis
C1C2
Quail Common Quail Coturnix coturnix coturnix
A
Red Grouse Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus sccotica
A
Capercaillie Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus urogallus
B
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdix perdix
A
Pheasant Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus colchicus
C1
Red-throated Diver Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata

A
Black-throated Diver Black-throated Loon Gavia arctica arctica
A
Pacific Diver
Gavia pacifica

A
Great Northern Diver Great Northern Loon Gavia immer

A
White-billed Diver Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii

A
Fulmar Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis glacialis
A
Fea’s /Zino's Petrel
Pterodroma feae/madeira

A
Cory’s Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea

A
Great Shearwater
Puffinus gravis

A
Sooty Shearwater
Puffinus griseus

A
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus

A
Balearic Shearwater
Puffinus mauretanicus

A
Macaronesian Shearwater Barolo Shearwater Puffinus baroli baroli (presumed)
A
Wilson’s Petrel Wilson’s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

A
Storm Petrel European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus pelagicus
A
Leach’s Petrel Leach’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa leucorhoa
A
Gannet Northern Gannet Morus bassanus

A
Cormorant Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo carbo Atlantic Comorant A



sinensis Continental Cormorant
Shag European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis aristotelis
A
Bittern Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris stellaris
A
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus

B
Little Bittern
Ixobrychus minutus minutus
A
Night-heron Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax
A
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides

A
Cattle Egret Western Cattle Egret Bulbulcus ibis ibis
A
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta garzetta
A
Great White Egret Great Egret Ardea alba alba
A
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea cinerea
A
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea purpurea
A
White Stork
Ciconia ciconia ciconia
A
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus
A
Spoonbill Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia leucorodia
A
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis ruficollis
A
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus cristatus
A
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena grisegena
A
Slavonian Grebe Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus auritus
A
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis
A
Honey-buzzard European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus

A
Black Kite
Milvus migrans migrans
A
Red Kite
Milvus milvus milvus
AC2D4
White-tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla

BC2
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

A
Marsh Harrier Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus
A
Hen Harrier Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus cyaneus
A
Pallid Harrier
Circus macrourus


Montagu’s Harrier
Circus pygargus

A
Goshawk Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis gentilis
A
Sparrowhawk Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus nisus
A
Buzzard Common Buzzard Buteo buteo buteo
A
Rough-legged Buzzard
Buteo lagopus lagopus
A
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos chryaetos
AD4
Osprey Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus haliaetus
A
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticus aquaticus
A
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzana

A
Corncrake Corn Crake Crex crex

A
Moorhen Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus chloropus
A
Coot Eurasian Coot Fulica atra atra
A
Crane Common Crane Grus grus grus
A
Stone-curlew Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus oedicnemus
B
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus himatopus
A
Avocet Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

A
Oystercatcher Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus ostralegus
A
American Golden Plover
Pluvialis dominica

A
Pacific Golden Plover
Pluvialis fulva


Golden Plover European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

A
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola

A
Lapwing Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

A
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius curonicus
A
Ringed Plover Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula Common A



tundrae Tundra
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus vociferus
A
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus
A
Dotterel Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus

A
Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda

A
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
A
Curlew Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata arquata
A
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa islandica Icelandic A
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica lapponica
A
Turnstone Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres interpres
A
Knot Red Knot Calidris canutus islandica
A
Ruff
Calidris pugnax

A
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Calisdis falcinellus falcinellus
A
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea

A
Stilt Sandpiper
Calidris himantopus

A
Temminck’s Stint
Calidris temminckii

A
Sanderling
Calidris alba

A
Dunlin
Calidris alpina alpina Northern A



schinzii Southern



arctica Greenland
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritima

A
Baird’s Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii

A
Little Stint
Calidris minuta

A
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis

A
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Calidris subruficollis

A
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos

A
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla

A
Wilson’s Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor

A
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus

A
Grey Phalarope Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius

A
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos

A
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius

A
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus

A
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropus

A
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca

A
Greenshank Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

A
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes

A
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola

A
Redshank Common Redshank Tringa totanus totanus European A



robusta Icelandic
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimus

A
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus

A
Woodcock Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola

A
Snipe Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago gallingo Common A



faeroeenis Faeroe
Wilson’s Snipe
Gallinago delicata

A
Great Snipe
Gallinago media

A
Collared Pratincole
Glareola pratincola pratincola
A
Black-winged Pratincole
Glareola nordmanni

A
Pomarine Skua
Stercorarius pomarinus

A
Arctic Skua Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus

A
Long-tailed Skua Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus longicaudus
A
Great Skua
Stercorarius skua

A
Puffin Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica

A
Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylle arcticus
A
Razorbill
Alca torda islandica
A



torda Northern
Great Auk 
Pinguinus impennis

B
Little Auk
Alle alle alle
A
Common Guillemot Common Murre Uria aalge aalge Northern A



albionis Southern
Sooty Tern
Onychoprion fuscatus

A
Little Tern Little Tern Sternula albifrons albifrons
A
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica nilotica
A
Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida hybrida
A
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger niger
A
White-winged Black Tern White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

A
Sandwich Tern
Sterna sandvicensis

A
Elegant Tern
Sterna elegans

A
Forster’s Tern
Sterna forsteri

A
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo hirundo
A
Roseate Tern
Sterna dougallii dougallii
A
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea

A
Ivory Gull
Pagophila eburnea

A
Sabine’s Gull
Xema sabini

A
Kittiwake Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla tridactyla
A
Bonaparte’s Gull
Chroicocephalus philadelphia
A
Black-headed Gull Common Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

A
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutus

A
Ross’s Gull
Rhodostethia rosea

A
Laughing Gull
Larus atricilla

A
Franklin’s Gull
Larus pipixcan

A
Mediterranean Gull
Larus melanocephalus

A
Common Gull Mew Gull Larus canus canus
A
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis

A
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus graelsii Western A



intermedius Continental 
Herring Gull European Herring Gull Larus argentatus argentatus Scandinavian A



argenteus Western
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellis

A
Caspian Gull
Larus cachinnans

A
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus

A
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides glaucoides
A



kumleni Kumlien's
Thayer's Gull
Larus thayeri

A
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreus hyperboreus
A
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus

A
Pallas’s Sandgrouse
Syrrhaptes paradoxus

B
Rock Dove
Columba livia livia
A
Stock Dove
Columba oenas oenas
A
Woodpigeon Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus palumbus
A
Collared Dove Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto decaocto
A
Turtle Dove European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur turtur
A
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius

A
Cuckoo Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus canorus
A
Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus

B
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus

A
Barn Owl Western Barn Owl Tyto alba alba
A
Scops Owl Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops scops
A
Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus

A
Little Owl
Athene noctua vidalii
C2
Long-eared Owl
Asio otus otus
A
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus flammeus
A
Nightjar European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus europaeus
A
Swift Common Swift Apus apus apus
A
Pallid Swift
Apus pallidus

B
Alpine Swift
Apus melba melba
A
Hoopoe Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops epops
A
Bee-eater European Bee-eater Merops apiaster

A
Roller European Roller Coracias garrulus garrulus
A
Kingfisher Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis ispida
A
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon

A
Wryneck Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla torquilla
A
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major major Northern A



anglicus

Kestrel Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus
A
Red-footed Falcon
Falco vespertinus

A
Merlin
Falco columbarius aesolon
A



subaesolon Icelandic
Hobby Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo subbuteo
A
Gyr Falcon Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus

A
Peregrine  Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus peregrinus
A
Golden Oriole Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus oriolus
A
Isabelline Shrike
Larus isabellinus

A
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurio collurio
A
Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor excubitor
A
Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senator senator
A
Chough Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
A
Magpie Eurasian Magpie Pica pica pica
A
Jay Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius hibernicus
A
Jackdaw Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula spermologus Western A



monedula/soemmerringii Eastern
Rook
Corvus frugilegus frugilegus
A
Carrion Crow
Corvus corone corone
A
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornix cornix
A
Raven Northern Raven Corvus corax corax
A
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus regulus
A
Firecrest Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla ignicapilla
A
Blue Tit European Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus obscurus
A
Great Tit
Parus major newtoni
A
Coal Tit
Periparus ater britannicus
A
Woodlark Woodlark Lullula arborea arborea
B
Skylark European Skylark Alauda arvensis arvensis
A
Shore Lark Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris flava
A
Short-toed Lark Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla

A
Sand Martin
Riparia riparia riparia
A
Swallow Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica rustica
A
House Martin Common House Martin Delichon urbicum urbicum
A
Red-rumped Swallow
Cecropis daurica rufula
A
Long-tailed Tit Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus rosaceus
A
Pallas’s Warbler Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus

A
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus

A
Radde’s Warbler
Phylloscopus schwarzi

A
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrix

A
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita collybita
A



abietinus Scandinavian



tristris Siberian
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus
A



acredula Northern
Blackcap Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla atricapilla
A
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borin borin
A
Barred Warbler
Sylvia nisoria

A
Lesser Whitethroat
Sylvia curruca curruca
A
Whitethroat Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis communis
A
Subalpine Warbler
Sylvia cantillans

A
Grasshopper Warbler Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia naevia
A
Icterine Warbler
Hippolais icterina

A
Melodious Warbler
Hippolais polyglotta

A
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
A
Reed Warbler Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus scirpaceua
A
Waxwing Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus garrulus
A
Treecreeper Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

A
Wren Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus
A
Starling Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris
A
Rose-coloured Starling Rosy Starling Pastor roseus

A
Dipper White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus hibernicus Irish A
White’s Thrush Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma aurea
A
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatus torquatus
A
Blackbird Common Blackbird Turdus merula merula
A
Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris

A
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos clarkei
A



philomenos Continental
Redwing
Turdus iliacus iliacus Continental A



coburni Icelandic
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorus viscivorus
A
American Robin
Turdus migratorius

A
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata striata
A
Robin European Robin Erithacus rubecula rubecula Continental A



melophilus

Nightingale Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos megarhynchos
A
Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurus

A
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecica svecica Red-spotted Bluethroat A
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Ficedula parva

A
Pied Flycatcher European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca hypoleuca
A
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis
A
Redstart Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus
A
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetra

A
Stonechat European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola hibernans
A
Wheatear Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe Northern A



leucorhoa Greenland
Dunnock
Prunella modularis hebridum
A
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus domesticus
A
Tree Sparrow Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus montanus
A
Yellow Wagtail Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flavissima Yellow A



cinereocapilla Ashy-headed



flava Blue-headed
Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola

A
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea cinerea
A
Pied Wagtail White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba White A



yarrelli Pied
Richard’s Pipit
Anthus richardi

A
Tawny Pipit
Anthus campestris

A
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialis trivialis
A
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis pratensis
A
Red-throated Pipit
Anthus cervinus

A
Rock Pipit Eurasian Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus pretosus
A



littoralis Scandinavian
Water Pipit
Anthus spinoletta spinoletta
A
Buff-bellied Pipit
Anthus rubescens rubescens
A
Brambling
Fringilla montifringilla

A
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs gengleri
A



coelebs Continental
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustes coccothraustes
A
Common Rosefinch
Erythrina erythrina erythrina
A
Bullfinch Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula pileata
A



pyrrhula Northern
Greenfinch European Greenfinch Chloris chloris chloris Eurasian A
Linnet Common Linnet Linaria cannabina cannabina
A
Twite
Linaria flavirostris pipilans
A
Lesser Redpoll
Acanthis cabaret

A
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea flammea Mealy A



rostrata Greenland
Two-barred Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera bifasciata
B
Crossbill Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra curvirostra
A
Goldfinch European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis britannica
A
Siskin Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus

A
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis
A



insulae Icelandic
Lapland Bunting Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus
A
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea

A
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca iliaca
A
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis

A
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Western A
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella caliginosa
A
Rustic Bunting
Emberiza rustica rustica
A
Little Bunting
Emberiza pusilla

A
Reed Bunting Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus schoeniclus
A
Black-headed Bunting
Emberiza melanocephala

A
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandra calandra
A
Black-and-white Warbler
Mniotilta varia

A
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas

A






Category D










Wood Duck
Aix sponsa

D1
Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber

D1
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufa

D4
Booted Eagle
Hieraaetus pennata

D1
Red-headed Bunting
Emberiza bruniceps

D1



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