NI List

Northern Ireland List

For an up to date NI list see: https://nirbc.blogspot.co.uk/

It has been decided to follow the categories described in the Checklist of the Birds of Ireland published by the Irish Rare Birds Committee in 1998, with only minor differences.  The categories used in both lists however correspond closely (with only minor differences to categories C and D). This list follows the taxonomy and nomenclature of K.H. Voous (1977) and as subsequently modified in reports of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee published in Ibis and British Birds.  However, it has been decided to keep those common names which are generally used by Irish observers without ambiguity. These categories and their meanings are listed below:

• 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.

Common name	International name	Scientific name	Category
Mute Swan		Cygnus olor	AC1
Bewick’s Swan	Tundra Swan	Cygnus columbianus	A
Whooper Swan		Cygnus cygnus	A
Bean Goose		Anser fabalis	A
Pink-footed Goose		Anser brachyrhynchus	A
White-fronted Goose	Greater White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons	A
Greylag Goose		Anser anser	AC1
Snow Goose		Anser caerulescens	A
Greater Canada Goose	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	C1
Lesser Canada Goose	Cackling Goose	Branta hutchsinii	A
Barnacle Goose		Branta leucopsis	AC1
Brent Goose	Brant Goose	Branta bernicla	A
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	A
Green-winged Teal		Anas carolinensis	A
Mallard		Anas platyrhynchos	AC1
Pintail	Northern Pintail	Anas 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	A
Lesser Scaup		Aythya affinis	A
Eider	Common Eider	Somateria 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	A
Barrow’s Goldeneye		Bucephala islandica	A
Goldeneye	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	A
Hooded Merganser		Lophodytes cucullatus	A
Smew		Mergellus albellus	A
Red-breasted Merganser		Mergus serrator	A
Goosander	Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	A
Ruddy Duck		Oxyura jamaicensis	C1C2
Red Grouse	Willow Ptarmigan	Lagopus lagopus	A
Capercaillie	Western Capercaillie	Tetrao urogallus	B
Grey Partridge		Perdix perdix	AE
Quail	Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix	A
Pheasant	Common Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	C1
Red-throated Diver	Red-throated Loon	Gavia stellata	A
Black-throated Diver	Black-throated Loon	Gavia arctica	A
Great Northern Diver	Great Northern Loon	Gavia immer	A
White-billed Diver	Yellow-billed Loon	Gavia adamsii	A
Fulmar	Northern Fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis	A
Fea’s Petrel/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		Puffinus baroli	A
Wilson’s Petrel	Wilson’s Storm Petrel	Oceanites oceanicus	A
Storm Petrel	European Storm Petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus	A
Leach’s Petrel	Leach’s Storm Petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhoa	A
Gannet	Northern Gannet	Morus bassanus	A
Cormorant	Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	A
Shag	European Shag	Phalacrocorax aristotelis	A
Bittern	Eurasian Bittern	Botaurus stellaris	A
American Bittern		Botaurus lentiginosus	B
Little Bittern		Ixobrychus minutus	A
Night-Heron	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	A
Squacco Heron		Ardeola ralloides	A
Cattle Egret		Bubulcus ibis	A
Little Egret		Egretta garzetta	A
Great White Egret	Great Egret	Ardea alba	A
Grey Heron		Ardea cinerea	A
Purple Heron		Ardea purpurea	A
White Stork		Ciconia ciconia	A
Glossy Ibis		Plegadis falcinellus	B
Spoonbill	Eurasian Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	A
Little Grebe		Tachybaptus ruficollis	A
Great Crested Grebe		Podiceps cristatus	A
Red-necked Grebe		Podiceps grisegena	A
Slavonian Grebe	Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus	A
Black-necked Grebe		Podiceps nigricollis	A
Honey-buzzard	European Honey-buzzard	Pernis apivorus	A
Black Kite		Milvus migrans	A
Red Kite		Milvus milvus	AC2E
White-tailed Eagle		Haliaeetus albicilla	BC2E
Bald Eagle		Haliaeetus leucocephalus	A
Marsh Harrier	Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus	A
Hen Harrier	Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus	A
Pallid Harrier		Circus macrourus	A
Montagu’s Harrier		Circus pygargus	A
Goshawk	Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	A
Sparrowhawk	Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	A
Buzzard	Common Buzzard	Buteo buteo	A
Rough-legged Buzzard	Roughleg	Buteo lagopus	A
Golden Eagle		Aquila chrysaetos	AE
Osprey		Pandion haliaetus	A
Kestrel	Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	A
Red-footed Falcon		Falco vespertinus	A
Merlin		Falco columbarius	A
Hobby	Eurasian Hobby	Falco subbuteo	A
Gyr Falcon	Gyrfalcon	Falco rusticolus	A
Peregrine	Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	A
Water Rail		Rallus aquaticus	A
Spotted Crake		Porzana porzana	A
Corncrake	Corn Crake	Crex crex	A
Moorhen	Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	A
Coot	Common Coot	Fulica atra	A
Crane	Common Crane	Grus grus	A
Oystercatcher	Eurasian Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	A
Black-winged Stilt		Himantopus himantopus	A
Avocet	Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	A
Stone-curlew	Eurasian Stone-curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	B
Collared Pratincole		Glareola pratincola	A
Black-winged Pratincole		Glareola nordmanni	A
Little Ringed Plover		Charadrius dubius	A
Ringed Plover	Common Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula	A
Killdeer		Charadrius vociferus	A
Kentish Plover		Charadrius alexandrinus	A
Dotterel	Eurasian Dotterel	Charadrius morinellus	A
American Golden Plover		Pluvialis dominica	A
Pacific Golden Plover		Pluvialis fulva	A
Golden Plover	European Golden Plover	Pluvialis apricaria	A
Grey Plover		Pluvialis squatarola	A
Lapwing	Northern Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	A
Knot	Red Knot	Calidris canutus	A
Sanderling		Calidris alba	A
Semipalmated Sandpiper		Calidris pusilla	A
Little Stint		Calidris minuta	A
Temminck’s Stint		Calidris temminckii	A
White-rumped Sandpiper		Calidris fuscicollis	A
Baird’s Sandpiper		Calidris bairdii	A
Pectoral Sandpiper		Calidris melanotos	A
Curlew Sandpiper		Calidris ferruginea	A
Stilt Sandpiper		Calidris himantopus	A
Purple Sandpiper		Calidris maritima	A
Dunlin		Calidris alpina	A
Broad-billed Sandpiper		Limicola falcinellus	A
Buff-breasted Sandpiper		Tryngites subruficollis	A
Ruff		Philomachus pugnax	A
Jack Snipe		Lymnocryptes minimus	A
Snipe	Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	A
Wilson’s Snipe		Gallinago delicata	A
Great Snipe		Gallinago media	A
Long-billed Dowitcher		Limnodromus scolopaceus	A
Woodcock	Eurasian Woodcock	Scolopax rusticola	A
Black-tailed Godwit		Limosa limosa	A
Bar-tailed Godwit		Limosa lapponica	A
Whimbrel		Numenius phaeopus	A
Curlew	Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	A
Upland Sandpiper		Bartramia longicauda	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	A
Turnstone	Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	A
Wilson’s Phalarope		Phalaropus tricolor	A
Red-necked Phalarope		Phalaropus lobatus	A
Grey Phalarope	Red Phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius	A
Pomarine Skua	Pomarine Jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus	A
Arctic Skua	Parasitic Jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus	A
Long-tailed Skua	Long-tailed Jaeger	Stercorarius longicaudus	A
Great Skua		Stercorarius skua	A
Ivory Gull		Pagophila eburnea	A
Sabine’s Gull		Xema sabini	A
Kittiwake	Black-legged Kittiwake	Rissa 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	A
Ring-billed Gull		Larus delawarensis	A
Lesser Black-backed Gull		Larus fuscus	A
Herring Gull		Larus argentatus	A
Yellow-legged Gull		Larus michahellis	A
Caspian Gull		Larus cachinnans	A
American Herring Gull		Larus smithsonianus	A
Iceland Gull		Larus glaucoides	A
Thayer's Gull		Larus thayeri	A
Glaucous Gull		Larus hyperboreus	A
Great Black-backed Gull		Larus marinus	A
Sooty Tern		Onychoprion fuscatus	A
Little Tern		Sternula albifrons	A
Gull-billed Tern		Gelochelidon nilotica	A
Whiskered Tern		Chlidonias hybrida	A
Black Tern		Chlidonias 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	A
Roseate Tern		Sterna dougallii	A
Arctic Tern		Sterna paradisaea	A
Guillemot	Common Murre	Uria aalge	A
Razorbill		Alca torda	A
Great Auk		Pinguinus impennis	B
Black Guillemot		Cepphus grylle	A
Little Auk		Alle alle	A
Puffin	Atlantic Puffin	Fratercula arctica	A
Pallas’s Sandgrouse		Syrrhaptes paradoxus	B
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon	Common Pigeon	Columba livia	A
Stock Dove		Columba oenas	A
Woodpigeon	Common Wood Pigeon	Columba palumbus	A
Collared Dove	Eurasian Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	A
Turtle Dove	European Turtle Dove	Streptopelia turtur	A
Great Spotted Cuckoo		Clamator glandarius	A
Cuckoo	Common Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	A
Black-billed Cuckoo		Coccyzus erythropthalmus	B
Yellow-billed Cuckoo		Coccyzus americanus	A
Barn Owl		Tyto alba	A
Scops Owl	Eurasian Scops Owl	Otus scops	A
Snowy Owl		Bubo scandiacus	A
Little Owl		Athene noctua	C2
Long-eared Owl		Asio otus	A
Short-eared Owl		Asio flammeus	A
Nightjar	European Nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	A
Swift	Common Swift	Apus apus	A
Pallid Swift		Apus pallidus	B
Alpine Swift		Apus melba	A
Kingfisher	Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	A
Belted Kingfisher		Megaceryle alcyon	A
Bee-eater	European Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	A
Roller	European Roller	Coracias garrulus	A
Hoopoe	Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops	A
Wryneck	Eurasian Wryneck	Jynx torquilla	A
Great Spotted Woodpecker		Dendrocopos major	A
Golden Oriole	Eurasian Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	A
Red-backed Shrike		Lanius collurio	A
Great Grey Shrike		Lanius excubitor	A
Woodchat Shrike		Lanius senator	A
Chough	Red-billed Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	A
Magpie	Eurasian Magpie	Pica pica	A
Jay	Eurasian Jay	Garrulus glandarius	A
Jackdaw	Western Jackdaw	Corvus monedula	A
Rook		Corvus frugilegus	A
Carrion Crow		Corvus corone	A
Hooded Crow		Corvus cornix	A
Raven	Northern Raven	Corvus corax	A
Goldcrest		Regulus regulus	A
Firecrest		Regulus ignicapilla	A
Blue Tit		Cyanistes caeruleus	A
Great Tit		Parus major	A
Coal Tit		Periparus ater	A
Short-toed Lark	Greater Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	A
Woodlark	Wood Lark	Lullula arborea	B
Skylark	Sky Lark	Alauda arvensis	A
Shore Lark	Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	A
Sand Martin		Riparia riparia	A
Swallow	Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	A
House Martin	Common House Martin	Delichon urbicum	A
Red-rumped Swallow		Cecropis daurica	A
Long-tailed Tit	Long-tailed Bushtit	Aegithalos caudatus	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	A
Willow Warbler		Phylloscopus trochilus	A
Blackcap	Eurasian Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	A
Garden Warbler		Sylvia borin	A
Barred Warbler		Sylvia nisoria	A
Lesser Whitethroat		Sylvia curruca	A
Whitethroat	Common Whitethroat	Sylvia communis	A
Subalpine Warbler		Sylvia cantillans	A
Grasshopper Warbler	Common Grasshopper Warbler	Locustella naevia	A
Icterine Warbler		Hippolais icterina	A
Melodious Warbler		Hippolais polyglotta	A
Sedge Warbler		Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	A
Reed Warbler	Eurasian Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	A
Waxwing	Bohemian Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus	A
Treecreeper	Eurasian Treecreeper	Certhia familiaris	A
Wren	Winter Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	A
Starling	Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	A
Rose-coloured Starling	Rosy Starling	Pastor roseus	A
Dipper	White-throated Dipper	Cinclus cinclus	A
White’s Thrush	Scaly Thrush	Zoothera dauma	A
Ring Ouzel		Turdus torquatus	A
Blackbird	Common Blackbird	Turdus merula	A
Fieldfare		Turdus pilaris	A
Song Thrush		Turdus philomelos	A
Redwing		Turdus iliacus	A
Mistle Thrush		Turdus viscivorus	A
American Robin		Turdus migratorius	A
Spotted Flycatcher		Muscicapa striata	A
Robin	European Robin	Erithacus rubecula	A
Nightingale	Common Nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos	A
Bluethroat		Luscinia svecica	A
Black Redstart		Phoenicurus ochruros	A
Redstart	Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	A
Whinchat		Saxicola rubetra	A
Stonechat	Eurasian Stonechat	Saxicola torquatus	A
Wheatear	Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	A
Red-breasted Flycatcher		Ficedula parva	A
Pied Flycatcher	Eurasian Pied Flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca	A
Dunnock		Prunella modularis	A
House Sparrow		Passer domesticus	A
Tree Sparrow	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	A
Yellow Wagtail		Motacilla flava	A
Citrine Wagtail		Motacilla citreola	A
Grey Wagtail		Motacilla cinerea	A
Pied Wagtail	White Wagtail	Motacilla alba	A
Richard’s Pipit		Anthus richardi	A
Tawny Pipit		Anthus campestris	A
Tree Pipit		Anthus trivialis	A
Meadow Pipit		Anthus pratensis	A
Red-throated Pipit		Anthus cervinus	A
Rock Pipit	Eurasian Rock Pipit	Anthus petrosus	A
Water Pipit		Anthus spinoletta	A
Buff-bellied Pipit		Anthus rubescens	A
Chaffinch		Fringilla coelebs	A
Brambling		Fringilla montifringilla	A
Greenfinch	European Greenfinch	Carduelis chloris	A
Goldfinch	European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	A
Siskin	Eurasian Siskin	Carduelis spinus	A
Linnet	Common Linnet	Carduelis cannabina	A
Twite		Carduelis flavirostris	A
Lesser Redpoll		Carduelis cabaret	A
Mealy Redpoll	Common Redpoll	Carduelis flammea	A
Two-barred Crossbill		Loxia leucoptera	B
Common Crossbill	Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	A
Common Rosefinch		Carpodacus erythrinus	A
Bullfinch	Eurasian Bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula	A
Hawfinch		Coccothraustes coccothraustes	A
Snow Bunting		Plectrophenax nivalis	A
Lapland Bunting	Lapland Longspur	Calcarius lapponicus	A
Scarlet Tanager		Piranga olivacea	A
Fox Sparrow		Passerella iliaca	A
White-throated Sparrow		Zonotrichia albicollis	A
Dark-eyed Junco		Junco hyemalis	A
Yellowhammer		Emberiza citrinella	A
Rustic Bunting		Emberiza rustica	A
Little Bunting		Emberiza pusilla	A
Reed Bunting	Common Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus	A
Black-headed Bunting		Emberiza melanocephala	A
Corn Bunting		Emberiza calandra	A
Black-and-white Warbler		Mniotilta varia	A
Category D
Wood Duck		Aix sponsa	D1
Greater Flamingo		Phoenicopterus	D1
Red-legged Partridge		Alectoris rufa	D4
Booted Eagle		Hieraaetus pennata	D1
Red-headed Bunting		Emberiza bruniceps	D1