Great Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus arundinaceus
A large brown warbler with a strong bill, pale eyebrow and a powerful, rough song. Its heavy build distinguishes it from the smaller Eurasian Reed Warbler.
Read species profileBirds — Wildlife
An expanding field guide to selected animals, plants and fungi of Romania, from the Danube Delta and Dobrogea to the Carpathians. Browse by group or search a common or scientific name.
A growing selection, not a complete national checklist. Presence depends on habitat, season and conditions; particular sightings are never guaranteed.
Birds of Romania checklist →72 species shown
Eurasian Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
A rather plain, warm-brown warbler with pale underparts and a narrow pale eye area. Its steady, repetitive song is often easier to notice than the bird.
Read species profileCommon Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
A small brown-and-white wader with a conspicuous white wedge rising in front of the folded wing. It frequently bobs its rear body and tail.
Read species profileLong-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus
A tiny, round-bodied bird with a very long tail and black, white and pinkish plumage. Head markings vary geographically and with age.
Read species profileEurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensis
A streaked brown lark with a small crest and pale outer tail feathers. The long song, delivered high above open ground, is a valuable clue.
Read species profileEurasian Teal
Anas crecca
A small dabbling duck. A breeding male has a chestnut head crossed by a broad green patch; females are mottled brown and need more careful comparison.
Read species profileGarganey
Spatula querquedula
The breeding male shows a broad white eyebrow sweeping back across a dark head. Females have a subtler face pattern and can resemble small teal.
Read species profileGreylag Goose
Anser anser
A bulky grey-brown goose with a large pinkish-orange bill and pink legs. Pale areas on the upperwing are noticeable in flight.
Read species profileGreater Spotted Eagle
Clanga clanga
A broad-winged, dark eagle with a relatively short tail. Young birds have prominent pale spots; comparison with Lesser Spotted Eagle requires several features.
Read species profileGreat Egret
Ardea alba
A tall, slender, all-white heron with long dark legs. Bill colour changes with breeding condition, so a yellow bill is not an all-season rule.
Read species profileGrey Heron
Ardea cinerea
A large grey heron with a pale neck, strong bill and dark markings on the head. In flight, the neck is folded back rather than stretched straight.
Read species profileSquacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
A small, compact heron that looks buff-brown while resting. In flight, pale wings and tail make it appear unexpectedly white.
Read species profileLong-eared Owl
Asio otus
A slender owl with prominent feather tufts and a mottled body. Eurasian birds usually show orange to reddish eyes; the tufts are not external ears.
Read species profileLittle Owl
Athene noctua
A small, compact owl with yellow eyes, strong pale eyebrows and white-spotted upperparts. Its upright pose often gives an alert expression.
Read species profileRed-breasted Goose
Branta ruficollis
A small, compact goose with a richly chestnut breast and a sharply patterned black, white and chestnut head. At distance it may look surprisingly dark.
Read species profileEurasian Eagle-owl
Bubo bubo
A very large owl with prominent ear tufts, orange eyes and streaked underparts. Size and structure separate it from smaller tufted owls.
Read species profileWestern Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
A compact white egret with a short neck and sturdy bill. Warm buff patches appear in breeding plumage; proportions help distinguish it from other white herons.
Read species profileCommon Buzzard
Buteo buteo
A broad-winged raptor with a fairly short tail. Plumage varies widely, so pale and dark birds can belong to the same species.
Read species profileDunlin
Calidris alpina
A compact wader with a slightly downcurved bill. Breeding birds show a dark belly patch; winter birds are much plainer grey above and white below.
Read species profileCurlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
A slender wader with a longer curved bill and longer legs than Dunlin. Breeding adults can be richly reddish; a white rump is useful in flight.
Read species profileLittle Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius
A small, delicate plover with a bright yellow eye-ring in adults, a dark breast band and a patterned head. The eye-ring is a useful close-view feature.
Read species profileWhiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
A small marsh tern with white cheeks, a dark cap and a smoky-grey body in breeding plumage. Non-breeding birds become much paler.
Read species profileWhite Stork
Ciconia ciconia
A large white bird with black flight feathers and, in adults, a red bill and legs. It normally flies with its neck extended.
Read species profileCommon Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus
A large grey pigeon with bold white wing markings. Adults also show a pale neck patch; young birds lack the familiar adult patch.
Read species profileEuropean Roller
Coracias garrulus
A striking blue bird with a warm brown back and a sturdy bill. Younger birds are duller, so shape and perched posture also help.
Read species profileRook
Corvus frugilegus
A large black corvid. Adults show pale bare skin around the base of a pointed bill; juveniles lack that conspicuous feature.
Read species profileCommon Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
A long-tailed bird with pointed wings and barred underparts. The familiar two-note male call often reveals it before a visual identification.
Read species profileMute Swan
Cygnus olor
A very large swan with a long neck, orange-red bill and black facial skin. Adults have a bill-base knob; juveniles are usually much browner.
Read species profileGreat Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
A bold black-and-white woodpecker with large white shoulder patches and red under the tail. Young birds have a red crown, unlike the usual adult pattern.
Read species profileMiddle Spotted Woodpecker
Leiopicus medius
A black-and-white woodpecker with a red crown, rounded head and relatively short bill. Both adult sexes have red on the crown.
Read species profileBlack Woodpecker
Dryocopus martius
A very large, mostly black woodpecker with red on the head. Its size, pale bill and powerful flight make it distinctive.
Read species profileLittle Egret
Egretta garzetta
A slender white egret with a dark bill and, typically, black legs with yellow feet. Fine breeding plumes add detail but are not present all year.
Read species profileCorn Bunting
Emberiza calandra
A rather large, plain brown bunting with a heavy bill and fine breast streaks. Males and females look similar.
Read species profileBlack-headed Bunting
Emberiza melanocephala
A breeding male combines a black head, yellow underparts and a warm brown back. Females and young birds are much less conspicuous.
Read species profileCommon Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus
A small bunting with streaked brown upperparts. A breeding male has a black head and throat with a contrasting pale neck area; females are subtler.
Read species profileRed-breasted Flycatcher
Ficedula parva
A small flycatcher with a pale eye-ring and a distinctive black-and-white tail pattern. Mature males can show orange-red on the throat and breast.
Read species profileCommon Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
A medium-sized finch with clear pale wing bars. Males are more brightly coloured than females, which show softer brown and grey tones.
Read species profileCrested Lark
Galerida cristata
A brown, streaked lark with a conspicuous pointed crest and a fairly long bill. Its upright shape helps separate it from less strongly crested larks.
Read species profileCommon Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
A dark waterbird with a red-and-yellow adult bill, white flank marks and white patches beneath the tail. Young birds have a duller bill.
Read species profileWhite-tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
A massive eagle with very broad wings and a heavy bill. Adults have a white tail; young birds are darker and need several years to acquire the adult appearance.
Read species profileBlack-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
An elegant black-and-white wader with extremely long pink-red legs and a slender straight bill. The proportions are distinctive even at distance.
Read species profileRed-backed Shrike
Lanius collurio
A male has a grey head, black eye-mask and rusty back. Females are browner, often with fine dark scaling on the underparts.
Read species profileEuropean Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
A colourful bird with a yellow throat, blue-green underparts, warm brown back and long pointed bill. Its soft flight calls can announce a passing group.
Read species profileWhite Wagtail
Motacilla alba
A slim black, white and grey bird with a long tail that is often pumped up and down. Plumage varies with age, season and population.
Read species profileBlack-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
A compact heron. Adults have a dark cap and back with paler wings and body; juveniles are streaked brown and look quite different.
Read species profileIsabelline Wheatear
Oenanthe isabellina
A rather large, pale wheatear with an upright stance, a pale eyebrow and a bold white rump contrasting with a mostly dark tail.
Read species profilePied Wheatear
Oenanthe pleschanka
A breeding male has a contrasting dark face and back with a pale crown, belly and rump. Females and non-breeding birds are much browner.
Read species profileOsprey
Pandion haliaetus
A large raptor with pale underparts, a mostly white head crossed by a dark eye-stripe and long wings bent at the wrist.
Read species profileEurasian Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
A small tit with a blue crown, pale face, dark eye-line and yellow underparts. Young birds look duller and have a yellowish face.
Read species profileDalmatian Pelican
Pelecanus crispus
A very large, greyish-white pelican with untidy curled head feathers and pale eyes. The throat pouch becomes more orange-red in breeding condition.
Read species profileGreat White Pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus
A large pale pelican with pinkish legs, bare pink facial skin and strong dark flight feathers. Young birds are much browner than adults.
Read species profileGreat Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
A large, dark diving bird with a substantial bill and pale throat area. Breeding adults can show white thigh patches; young birds often have paler underparts.
Read species profilePygmy Cormorant
Microcarbo pygmaeus
A small cormorant with a short bill and compact neck. Adults are dark and glossy, while younger and winter birds can show paler throat areas.
Read species profileCommon Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
A long-tailed gamebird. Males are brightly patterned with red facial skin; females are mottled brown and much better concealed.
Read species profileBlack Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
A small upright bird with an orange-red tail. Western adult males are mostly dark, while females and younger birds look softer grey-brown.
Read species profileGrey-headed Woodpecker
Picus canus
A greenish woodpecker with a grey head and relatively restrained dark facial markings. Males show a red forehead; females lack that patch.
Read species profileEurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodia
A large white wader with a broad, spoon-shaped bill. Breeding adults can have a small crest and warm breast patch; young birds show different details.
Read species profileGlossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
A dark wader with a long curved bill. Good light reveals chestnut and greenish iridescence that can disappear at a distance.
Read species profileGreat Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
An elegant, long-necked diving bird. Breeding adults have striking head tufts and cheek frills; non-breeding plumage is much plainer.
Read species profileEurasian Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
A compact finch with a short dark bill, black cap and pale rump. Males have brighter pink-red underparts; females are more subdued.
Read species profileEurasian Penduline-tit
Remiz pendulinus
A small bird with a dark eye-mask, pale head and warm brown back. It is associated with waterside trees and reeds rather than only with typical woodland tits.
Read species profileEurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaea
A compact bird with a pointed bill, short tail and dark eye-stripe. Underpart colours vary geographically, while the tree-climbing shape stays characteristic.
Read species profileCommon Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
A short-tailed, pointed-winged bird with seasonally changing dark plumage. Adults can show glossy colours, pale spotting and a yellow bill; juveniles are plain brown.
Read species profileLesser Whitethroat
Curruca curruca
A small grey-brown warbler with a pale throat and darker face sides. It lacks the conspicuous rusty wing patch of Common Whitethroat.
Read species profileLittle Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
A small, compact diving bird with a short neck and fluffy rear body. Breeding birds have warm reddish head sides; winter birds are paler and less striking.
Read species profileCommon Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna
A large, striking duck with a dark green head, red bill, white body and chestnut breast band. Young birds are much duller.
Read species profileEurasian Hoopoe
Upupa epops
An unmistakable bird with a long curved bill, warm buff body, strongly striped wings and an erectable crest.
Read species profileWestern Marsh Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
Broad wings, a long tail and a low, buoyant hunting flight help identify this wetland raptor. Plumage differs with age and sex.
Read species profilePurple Heron
Ardea purpurea
A slender heron with a long neck, a pointed bill and chestnut-purple tones. Young birds look browner.
Read species profileFerruginous Duck
Aythya nyroca
A compact diving duck with rich brown plumage and a conspicuous pale undertail. Adult males have a pale eye.
Read species profileCommon Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
A small, short-tailed bird with blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long pointed bill.
Read species profileRed-footed Falcon
Falco vespertinus
A small falcon with age- and sex-dependent plumage. Adult males are dark grey with reddish legs and undertail.
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