My Western Palearctic List

WP LIST @ TODAYS DATE = 724
Stop Press, Latest Additions
27 Oct 2009 - Long-toed Stint, Vreugderijkerwaard, Zwolle, Netherlands
23 Oct 2009 - Eastern Crowned Warbler, Trow Quarry, South Shields, Co Durham
15 Oct 2009 - Brown Shrike, Staines Moor, Surrey
24 Sept 2009 - Sandhill Crane, Flaws, South Ronaldsay, Orkney
17 June 2009 - White-rumped Swift, Monfrague, Spain
17 June 2009 - Red Avadavat, Madrigalejo, Spain
16 June 2009 - Ruppell's Vulture, Vila Velha de Rodao, Portugal
15 June 2009 - Crested Myna, Carcavelos, Portugal
15 June 2009 - Common Waxbill, Barroca d'Alva, Portugal
15 June 2009 - Yellow-crowned Bishop, Barroca d'Alva, Portugal
15 June 2009 - Black-headed Weaver, Barroca d'Alva, Portugal
14 May 2009 - Corsican Finch, Col de Sorba, Corsica
14 May 2009 - Corsican Nuthatch, Col de Sorba, Corsica
14 May 2009 - Moltoni's Warbler, Etang de Salle, Corsica
13 May 2009 - Mediterranean Storm Petrel, Bouche de Bonifacio, Sardinia
13 May 2009 - Scopoli's Shearwater, Bouche de Bonifacio, Sardinia
8 Apr 2009 - Shikra, Al Abraq, Kuwait
6 Apr 2009 - Swift Tern, Bubiyan Island, Kuwait
5 Apr 2009 - Indian Roller, Jahra Farms, Kuwait
4 Apr 2009 - Hume's Whitethroat, Sulaibikhat NR, Kuwait
27 Mar 2009 - Hume's Owl, Eilat Mountains, Israel
27 Mar 2009 - Egyptian Nightjar, Yotvata, Israel
24 Mar 2009 - Black Bush Robin, Hai Bar, Israel
19 Feb 2009 - Balearic Warbler, Boquer Valley, Mallorca, Spain
17 Jan 2009 - American Herring Gull, Nimmo's Pier, Galway, Ireland
8 Jan 2009 - Dusky Thrush, Erezée, The Ardennes, Belgium
30 Nov 2008 - Oriental Turtle Dove, Tåstorp, Falköping, Sweden
29 Nov 2008 - Buff-bellied Pipit, Årsnäshalvön Naturreservat, Varburg, Sweden
14 Oct 2008 - Philadelphia Vireo, Kilbaha, Loop Head, Co Clare, Ireland
9 Oct 2008 - Little Blue Heron, Letterfrack, Co Galway, Ireland
When keeping a Western Palearctic list the birder is confronted by a baffling situation because the authorities in every country seem to view things differently. The choice is between following one of the published lists such as those on http://www.netfugl.dk
or http://www.dutchbirding.nl or going it alone. The philosophy on Netfugl is to allow species that are accepted on category A, B or C on the relevant country's list providing you see the species in that country. This opens things up like feral breeding populations of Black Swan and Bar-headed Goose in the Netherlands, Sacred Ibis in France and Italy and various established finches and parakeets in places like Spain and Portugal. The birder's inclination to travel to see Category C species may influence his choice to which list to follow. Arnoud B van den Berg in Dutch Birding follows a more conservative approach with even well established feral populations such as Mandarin, Ruddy Duck etc not being countable but does allow many species splits.
Netfugl has a set list so all lists submitted to them are comparable. Their league table does provide some added spice and fun too as well as providing a great way to interact with other WP birders.
The list I have shown below is the list I personally keep which is based on combination of BOU acceptances, species splits on Dutch Birding and the Netfugl list. I've also shown a list of uncountable species seen to prove I don't count everything!
At the end of the day a list is a personal thing and I've always followed the philosophy that the hobby is to be enjoyed rather than being a slave to a list. Part of the fun of birding the Western Palearctic is about travel to new (and often strange) places, experiencing different cultures and having a damn good laugh as much as it is about the birding. Hopefully that comes through in the pages of this website.
My standing in the Netfugl rankings can be found by clicking the logo
Red-throated Diver
Pacific Diver
Black-throated Diver
Great Northern Diver
White-billed Diver
Pied-billed Grebe
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Fulmar
Cory’s Shearwater
Scopoli's Shearwater *
Great Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
Mediterranean Shearwater
Yelkouan Shearwater
Little Shearwater
Wilson’s Petrel
British Storm Petrel
Mediterranean Storm Petrel *
Leach’s Petrel
Bulwers Petrel
Lesser Frigatebird
Red-billed Tropicbird
Gannet
Brown Booby
White Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Pygmy Cormorant
Cormorant
Socotra Cormorant
Shag
Bittern
American Bittern
Little Bittern
Night Heron
Squacco Heron
Green Heron
Striated Heron
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Western Reef Heron
Great White Egret
Grey Heron
Little Blue Heron
Purple Heron
Glossy Ibis
Bald Ibis
Sacred Ibis [c]
White Stork
Black Stork
Spoonbill
Greater Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo
Mute Swan
Bewick’s Swan
Whooper Swan
Black Swan [c]
Taiga Bean Goose *
Tundra Bean Goose *
Pink-footed Goose
White-fronted Goose
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Greylag Goose
Bar-headed Goose [c]
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Greater Canada Goose *
Lesser Canada Goose *
Barnacle Goose
Dark-bellied Brent Goose *
Pale-bellied Brent Goose *
Black Brant *
Red-breasted Goose
Egyptian Goose
Shelduck
Ruddy Shelduck
Mandarin Duck [c]
Wigeon
American Wigeon
Falcated Duck
Gadwall
Teal
Green-winged Teal
Baikal Teal
Mallard
Black Duck
Pintail
Garganey
Blue-winged Teal
Shoveler
Red-crested Pochard
Marbled Duck
Pochard
Redhead
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Eider
King Eider
Long-tailed Duck
Common Scoter
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
Velvet Scoter
Harlequin Duck
Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Smew
Red-breasted Merganser
Goosander
Ruddy Duck [c]
White-headed Duck
Honey Buzzard
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Black Kite
Black-eared Kite *
Red Kite
Lammergeier
Griffon Vulture
Ruppell's Vulture
Black Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
White-tailed Eagle
Golden Eagle
Spanish Imperial Eagle
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Short-toed Eagle
Booted Eagle
Bonelli’s Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Greater Spotted Eagle
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu’s Harrier
Goshawk
Sparrowhawk
Levant Sparrowhawk
Shikra
Common Buzzard
Rough-legged Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Osprey
Black-shouldered Kite
Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Merlin
Hobby
Eleonora’s Falcon
Sooty Falcon
Peregrine
Barbary Falcon
Lanner
Gyr Falcon
Ptarmigan
Capercaillie
Black Grouse
Red Grouse
Caspian Snowcock
Red-legged Partridge
Chukar
Rock Partridge
Grey Partridge
Barbary Partridge
Black Francolin
Double-spurred Francolin
Sand Partridge
See-see Partridge
Northern Bobwhite
Quail
Pheasant
Golden Pheasant [c]
Lady Amherst’s Pheasant [c]
Hazel Hen
Water Rail
Spotted Crake
Little Crake
Baillon’s Crake
Sora
Corncrake
Moorhen
Western Swamp-hen *
African Swamp-hen *
Grey-headed Swamphen *
Coot
Crested Coot
American Coot
Common Crane
Sandhill Crane
Little Bustard
Great Bustard
Houbara Bustard
MacQueens Bustard
Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Avocet
Stone Curlew
Collared Pratincole
Black-winged Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole
Cream-coloured Courser
Crab Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Kentish Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Lesser Sand Plover
Killdeer
Dotterel
American Golden Plover
Pacific Golden Plover
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Caspian Plover
Sociable Plover
Red-wattled Lapwing
Spur-winged Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Great Knot
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Red-necked Stint
Little Stint
Temminck’s Stint
Long-toed Stint
White-rumped Sandpiper
Baird’s Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Dunlin
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Ruff
Jack Snipe
Snipe
Great Snipe
Long-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitcher
Woodcock
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Curlew
Spotted Redshank
Redshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Greenshank
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Upland Sandpiper
Terek Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Turnstone
Wilson’s Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Grey Phalarope
Pomarine Skua
Arctic Skua
Great Skua
Long-tailed Skua
Mediterranean Gull
Laughing Gull
Franklin’s Gull
Little Gull
Sabine’s Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Ivory Gull
Ross’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser black-backed Gull
Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Herring Gull
American Herring Gull
Armenian Gull
Heuglin’s Gull *
Audouin’s Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Black-headed Gull
Kittiwake
White-eyed Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Swift Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
Sandwich Tern
Roseate Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
White-cheeked Tern
Forster’s Tern
Little Tern
Bridled Tern
Whiskered Tern
Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern
Guillemot
Brunnich's Guillemot
Black Guillemot
Razorbill
Little Auk
Puffin
Long-billed Murrelet
Rock Dove
Stock Dove
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Spotted Sandgrouse
Crowned Sandgrouse
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Trocaz Pigeon
Bolle’s Pigeon
Laurel Pigeon
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
African Collared Dove [c]
Turtle Dove
Oriental Turtle Dove
Laughing Dove
Namaqua Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet [c]
Monk Parakeet [c]
Nanday Parakeet [c]
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Hawk Owl
Great Grey Owl
Snowy Owl
Little Owl
Lilith's Owl *
Pygmy Owl
Scops Owl
Striated Scops Owl
Tawny Owl
Hume's Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
African Marsh Owl
Eagle Owl
Nightjar
Red-necked Nightjar
Egyptian Nightjar
Nubian Nightjar
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Plain Swift
Pacific Swift
White-rumped Swift
Alpine Swift
Little Swift
Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Smyrna Kingfisher
Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Little Green Bee-eater
Roller
Indian Roller
Hoopoe
Wryneck
Black Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Iberian Green Woodpecker *
Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker
Grey-headed Woodpecker
White-backed Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Syrian Woodpecker
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Three-toed Woodpecker
Short-toed Lark
Asian Short-toed Lark
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Woodlark
Skylark
Oriental Skylark
Crested Lark
Thekla Lark
Duponts Lark
Shorelark
Temminck’s Horned Lark
Calandra Lark
Bimaculated Lark
Black Lark
Desert Lark
Bar-tailed Desert Lark
Dunn’s Lark
Hoopoe Lark
Black-crowned Sparrow-lark
Sand Martin
Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
House Martin
Crag Martin
Rock Martin
Brown-throated Sand Martin
Richard’s Pipit
Blyth’s Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Long-billed Pipit
Olive-backed Pipit
Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Berthelots Pipit
Rock Pipit
Water Pipit
Buff-bellied Pipit
Yellow Wagtail *
Blue-headed Wagtail *
Grey-headed Wagtail *
Ashy-headed Wagtail *
Black-headed Wagtail *
Spanish Wagtail *
Yellow-headed Wagtail *
Citrine Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
Moroccan Wagtail *
Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Grey Hypocolius
Dipper
Wren
Common Bulbul
Yellow-vented Bulbul
White-cheeked Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul
Dunnock
Alpine Accentor
Radde’s Accentor
Robin
Tenerife Robin *
Thrush Nightingale
Nightingale
Black Bush Robin
Rufous Bush Robin
Bluethroat
Red-flanked Bluetail
White-throated Robin
Black Redstart
Redstart
Moussier’s Redstart
Blackstart
Whinchat
Stonechat *
Siberian Stonechat *
Fuerteventura Chat
Northern Wheatear
Seebohm’s Wheatear *
Isabelline Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Cyprus Pied Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear *
Western Black-eared Wheatear *
Red-rumped Wheatear
Kurdish Wheatear
Eastern Mourning Wheatear *
Western Mourning Wheatear *
Finsch’s Wheatear
Desert Wheatear
Black Wheatear
White-crowned Black Wheatear
Hooded Wheatear
Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush
Siberian Thrush
White’s Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Grey-cheeked Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Eye-browed Thrush
Black-throated Thrush
Red-throated Thrush
Dusky Thrush
American Robin
Ring Ouzel
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Fan-tailed Warbler
Scrub Warbler
Graceful Warbler
Cetti’s Warbler
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler
Lanceolated Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
River Warbler
Savi’s Warbler
Aquatic Warbler
Moustached Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler
Blyth’s Reed Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Reed Warbler
Basra Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
Booted Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Melodious Warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler *
Western Olivaceous Warbler *
Upcher’s Warbler
Olive-tree Warbler
Dartford Warbler
Marmora’s Warbler
Balearic Warbler
Subalpine Warbler
Moltoni's Warbler *
Tristram’s Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Menetries Warbler
Ruppell’s Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Desert Warbler
Barred Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Hume's Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Western Orphean Warbler
Eastern Orphean Warbler
Arabian Warbler
Greenish Warbler *
Two-barred Greenish Warbler *
Arctic Warbler
Eastern Crowned Warbler
Pallas’s Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Hume’s Warbler
Radde’s Warbler
Dusky Warbler
Wood Warbler
Western Bonelli’s Warbler
Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler
Chiffchaff
Iberian Chiffchaff
Canary Isles Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Madiera Firecrest
Tenerife Kinglet
Spotted Flycatcher
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Semi-collared Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Bearded Tit
Ashy-throated Parrotbill [c]
Vinous-throated Parrotbill [c]
Long-tailed Tit
Marsh Tit
Willow Tit
Coal Tit
Crested Tit
Blue Tit
African Blue Tit
Great Tit
Sombre Tit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Western Rock Nuthatch
Eastern Rock Nuthatch
Kruper’s Nuthatch
Corsican Nuthatch
Nuthatch
Wallcreeper
Treecreeper
Short-toed Treecreeper
Penduline Tit
Golden Oriole
Black-crowned Tchagra
Daurian Shrike *
Turkestan Shrike *
Brown Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Great Grey Shrike
Southern Grey Shrike *
Steppe Grey Shrike *
Desert Grey Shrike *
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike
Palestine Sunbird
Arabian Babbler
Fulvous Babbler
Iraq Babbler
Common Babbler
Red-billed Leiothrix [c]
Jay
Siberian Jay
Magpie
Maghreb Magpie *
Azure-winged Magpie
Nutcracker
Chough
Alpine Chough
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Hooded Crow
Indian House Crow
Raven
Brown-necked Raven
Fan-tailed Raven
Common Myna
Bank Myna
Crested Myna
Vinous-breasted Starling [c]
Starling
Spotless Starling
Rose-coloured Starling
Tristam’s Grackle
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Desert Sparrow
Dead Sea Sparrow
Italian Sparrow *
Spanish Sparrow
Rock Sparrow
Pale Rock Sparrow
Yellow-throated Sparrow
Blue Chaffinch
Chaffinch
Brambling
Snowfinch
Black-headed Weaver [c]
Yellow-crowned Bishop [c]
Common Waxbill [c]
Red Avadavat [c]
Serin
Syrian Serin
Red-fronted Serin
Citril Finch
Corsican Finch
Canary
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Trumpeter Finch
Mongolian Finch
Desert Finch
Asian Crimson-winged Finch *
African Crimson-winged Finch *
Twite
Lesser Redpoll
Common Redpoll
Arctic Redpoll
Two-barred Crossbill
Crossbill
Parrot Crossbill
Scottish Crossbill
Common Rosefinch
Sinai Rosefinch
Bullfinch
Hawfinch
Black and White Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Lapland Bunting
Snow Bunting
Pine Bunting
Yellowhammer
Rock Bunting
House Bunting
Mountain Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmars Bunting
Grey-necked Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
Cinereous Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Little Bunting
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Chestnut Bunting
Reed Bunting
Corn Bunting
Indian Silverbill [c]
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Bobolink
Boat-tailed Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
* = Dutch Birding species split [c] = Category C
Can’t Count
Cape Shelduck (escape), Wood Duck (origin unknown), Ringed Teal (escape), Red-billed Teal (escape), Chiloe Wigeon (escape), Hooded Merganser (origin unknown), Red-tailed Hawk (prob escape), American Kestrel (escape), Kumlien's Gull (not split), Green Pheasant (very dodgy/introduced), Reeves Pheasant (escape), Tengmalm’s Owl (heard only), Peruvian Thicknee (escape), Siberian Chiffchaff (not split), African Chaffinch (not split), Sudan Golden Sparrow (escape), Lesser Masked Weaver (unknown origin), Meadow Bunting (escape), Purple Glossy Starling (escape), Peach-faced Lovebird (escape)