Israel bird checklist

579 bird species in 86 families have been recorded in Israel, according to eBird; about 352 of them are seen regularly, and the rest are rarities, vagrants and escaped or introduced birds. Download the full list as a PDF, or tick birds off on your phone, with counts and notes, even without signal.

Species data: eBird.org, updated 13 Oct 2026 · How these lists are made

The most common birds in Israel right now

The top 20, and how they are ranked

Israel bird checklist

579 species · loading the checklist tools…

Ostriches

Common Ostrich

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Wandering Whistling-Duck
Graylag Goose
Swan Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Taiga Bean-Goose
Tundra Bean-Goose
Barnacle Goose
Hawaiian Goose
Red-breasted Goose
Mute Swan
Black Swan
Tundra Swan
Whooper Swan
Egyptian Goose
Ruddy Shelduck
South African Shelduck
Common Shelduck
Spur-winged Goose
Muscovy Duck
Ringed Teal
Wood Duck
Mandarin Duck
Baikal Teal
Garganey
Blue-billed Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Cape Teal
Red-billed Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Marbled Duck
Red-crested Pochard
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Velvet Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Smew
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
White-headed Duck

Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Wild Turkey
Indian Peafowl
Red Junglefowl
Black Francolin
Sand Partridge
Common Quail
Chukar

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon
Stock Dove
Common Wood-Pigeon
European Turtle-Dove
Oriental Turtle-Dove
Eurasian Collared-Dove
African Collared-Dove
Spotted Dove
Laughing Dove
Namaqua Dove
Diamond Dove

Sandgrouse

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Spotted Sandgrouse
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Crowned Sandgrouse
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse

Bustards

Great Bustard
Asian Houbara
Little Bustard

Turacos

Purple-crested Turaco

Cuckoos

Great Spotted Cuckoo
Dideric Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo

Nightjars and Allies

Eurasian Nightjar
Egyptian Nightjar
Nubian Nightjar

Swifts

Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Little Swift

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Water Rail
Corn Crake
African Crake
Spotted Crake
Eurasian Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
African Swamphen
Gray-headed Swamphen
Little Crake
Baillon's Crake

Cranes

Demoiselle Crane
Common Crane

Thick-knees

Eurasian Thick-knee
Senegal Thick-knee

Stilts and Avocets

Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet

Oystercatchers

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Plovers and Lapwings

Black-bellied Plover
European Golden-Plover
American Golden-Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Eurasian Dotterel
Common Ringed Plover
Three-banded Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Red-wattled Lapwing
Sociable Lapwing
White-tailed Lapwing
Caspian Plover
Tibetan Sand-Plover
Greater Sand-Plover
Kittlitz's Plover
Kentish Plover

Painted-Snipes

Greater Painted-Snipe

Sandpipers and Allies

Hudsonian Whimbrel
Eurasian Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Long-billed Dowitcher
Jack Snipe
Eurasian Woodcock
Great Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe
Common Snipe
Wilson's Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Terek Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Redshank
Lesser Yellowlegs
Spotted Redshank
Common Greenshank
Ruddy Turnstone
Great Knot
Red Knot
Ruff
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Temminck's Stint
Long-toed Stint
Red-necked Stint
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Baird's Sandpiper
Little Stint
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper

Crab-Plover

Crab-Plover

Pratincoles and Coursers

Cream-colored Courser
Collared Pratincole
Black-winged Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole

Skuas and Jaegers

Long-tailed Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Little Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
Sabine's Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Gray-hooded Gull
Laughing Gull
Franklin's Gull
Pallas's Gull
Audouin's Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Sooty Gull
White-eyed Gull
Common Gull
Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Armenian Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Sooty Tern
Bridled Tern
Little Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern
Black Tern
White-winged Tern
Arctic Tern
Common Tern
White-cheeked Tern
Roseate Tern
Sandwich Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
Great Crested Tern

Flamingos

Greater Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo

Grebes

Little Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Eared Grebe

Tropicbirds

Red-billed Tropicbird

Loons

Red-throated Loon
Arctic Loon
Pacific Loon

Albatrosses

White-capped Albatross

Southern Storm-Petrels

Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Northern Storm-Petrels

European Storm-Petrel
Leach's Storm-Petrel
Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel

Shearwaters and Petrels

Atlantic Petrel
Streaked Shearwater
Cory's Shearwater
Scopoli's Shearwater
Great Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
Yelkouan Shearwater
Balearic Shearwater
Persian Shearwater

Storks

Black Stork
White Stork
Yellow-billed Stork

Boobies and Gannets

Northern Gannet
Brown Booby

Cormorants and Shags

Pygmy Cormorant
Great Cormorant
European Shag

Ibises and Spoonbills

Glossy Ibis
African Sacred Ibis
Northern Bald Ibis
Eurasian Spoonbill

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Eurasian Bittern
Little Bittern
Black-crowned Night Heron
Little Egret
Western Reef-Heron
Little Heron
Squacco Heron
Chinese Pond-Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Great Egret
Gray Heron
Purple Heron
Black-headed Heron

Pelicans

Great White Pelican
Pink-backed Pelican
Dalmatian Pelican

Osprey

Osprey

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Black-winged Kite
Bearded Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
European Honey-buzzard
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Cinereous Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
White-backed Vulture
Eurasian Griffon
Bateleur
Short-toed Snake-Eagle
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Greater Spotted Eagle
Booted Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Imperial Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Golden Eagle
Verreaux's Eagle
Bonelli's Eagle
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
Levant Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Goshawk
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Red Kite
Black Kite
White-tailed Eagle
Rough-legged Hawk
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard

Barn-Owls

Western Barn Owl

Owls

Eurasian Scops-Owl
Pallid Scops-Owl
Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Little Owl
Tawny Owl
Desert Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl

Hoopoes

Common Hoopoe

Bee-eaters

White-throated Bee-eater
Arabian Green Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
European Bee-eater

Kingfishers

Common Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher

Rollers

European Roller
Broad-billed Roller

Woodpeckers

Eurasian Wryneck
Syrian Woodpecker

Falcons and Caracaras

Lesser Kestrel
Eurasian Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Sooty Falcon
Merlin
Eurasian Hobby
Lanner Falcon
Saker Falcon
Peregrine Falcon

Cockatoos

Cockatiel
Galah

Old World Parrots

Alexandrine Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Plum-headed Parakeet
Red-breasted Parakeet
Northern Rosella
Eastern Rosella
Budgerigar
Gray-headed Lovebird
Red-headed Lovebird
Rosy-faced Lovebird
Fischer's Lovebird
Yellow-collared Lovebird

New World and African Parrots

Gray Parrot
Senegal Parrot
Monk Parakeet
Nanday Parakeet
Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Old World Orioles

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Drongos

Ashy Drongo

Shrikes

Red-backed Shrike
Red-tailed Shrike
Isabelline Shrike
Long-tailed Shrike
Great Gray Shrike
Lesser Gray Shrike
Masked Shrike
Woodchat Shrike

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Eurasian Jay
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
House Crow
Rook
Hooded Crow
Brown-necked Raven
Fan-tailed Raven
Common Raven

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Sombre Tit
Great Tit

Penduline-Tits

Eurasian Penduline-Tit

Larks

Greater Hoopoe-Lark
Thick-billed Lark
Bar-tailed Lark
Desert Lark
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Oriental Skylark
Crested Lark
Horned Lark
Temminck's Lark
Greater Short-toed Lark
Bimaculated Lark
Calandra Lark
Arabian Lark
Mediterranean Short-toed Lark
Turkestan Short-toed Lark

Bearded Reedling

Bearded Reedling

Cisticolas and Allies

Graceful Prinia
Zitting Cisticola

Reed Warblers and Allies

Booted Warbler
Sykes's Warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Upcher's Warbler
Olive-tree Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Moustached Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Common Reed Warbler
Basra Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler

Grassbirds and Allies

River Warbler
Savi's Warbler
Common Grasshopper Warbler

Swallows

Gray-throated Martin
Bank Swallow
Eurasian Crag-Martin
Pale Crag-Martin
Barn Swallow
Ethiopian Swallow
Western House-Martin
Asian House-Martin
European Red-rumped Swallow
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Bulbuls

White-eared Bulbul
White-spectacled Bulbul

Leaf Warblers

Wood Warbler
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Hume's Warbler
Pallas's Leaf Warbler
Radde's Warbler
Dusky Warbler
Willow Warbler
Mountain Chiffchaff
Common Chiffchaff
Green Warbler
Greenish Warbler
Arctic Warbler

Bush Warblers and Allies

Scrub Warbler
Cetti's Warbler

Sylviid Warblers and Allies

Eurasian Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Barred Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Arabian Warbler
Eastern Orphean Warbler
African Desert Warbler
Asian Desert Warbler
Menetries's Warbler
Rüppell's Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Greater Whitethroat
Spectacled Warbler

Laughingthrushes and Allies

Arabian Babbler

Kinglets

Goldcrest
Common Firecrest

Wallcreeper

Wallcreeper

Nuthatches

Western Rock Nuthatch

Wrens

Eurasian Wren

Starlings

European Starling
Rosy Starling
Black-collared Starling
Common Myna
Vinous-breasted Myna
Tristram's Starling

Thrushes and Allies

Mistle Thrush
Song Thrush
Redwing
Eurasian Blackbird
Eyebrowed Thrush
Fieldfare
Ring Ouzel
Black-throated Thrush

Old World Flycatchers

Spotted Flycatcher
Black Scrub-Robin
Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin
European Robin
White-throated Robin
Thrush Nightingale
Common Nightingale
Bluethroat
Red-flanked Bluetail
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Semicollared Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
Common Redstart
Black Redstart
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
Blue Rock-Thrush
Whinchat
European Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat
Pied Bushchat
Northern Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Hooded Wheatear
Desert Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Red-rumped Wheatear
Blackstart
White-crowned Wheatear
Finsch's Wheatear
Mourning Wheatear
Kurdish Wheatear
Persian Wheatear

Hypocolius

Hypocolius

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

Palestine Sunbird

Weavers and Allies

Southern Masked-Weaver
Black-headed Weaver
Red-billed Quelea
Yellow-crowned Bishop

Waxbills and Allies

Zebra Finch
Indian Silverbill
Scaly-breasted Munia
Common Waxbill
Red Avadavat
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
Red-throated Twinspot

Whydahs and Indigobirds

Pin-tailed Whydah
Shaft-tailed Whydah

Accentors

Alpine Accentor
Radde's Accentor
Black-throated Accentor
Dunnock

Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Dead Sea Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Sudan Golden Sparrow
Arabian Golden Sparrow
Yellow-throated Sparrow
Rock Sparrow
Pale Rockfinch

Wagtails and Pipits

Gray Wagtail
Western Yellow Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
White Wagtail
Richard's Pipit
Long-billed Pipit
Blyth's Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Tree Pipit
Olive-backed Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit
Siberian Pipit

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Common Chaffinch
Brambling
Hawfinch
Common Rosefinch
Sinai Rosefinch
Crimson-winged Finch
Trumpeter Finch
Desert Finch
European Greenfinch
Yellow-fronted Canary
Eurasian Linnet
Red Crossbill
European Goldfinch
European Serin
Fire-fronted Serin
Syrian Serin
Eurasian Siskin

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Snow Bunting

Old World Buntings

Black-headed Bunting
Red-headed Bunting
Corn Bunting
Rock Bunting
Yellowhammer
Pine Bunting
Cinereous Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Striolated Bunting
Reed Bunting
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Little Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Chestnut Bunting

Cardinals and Allies

Northern Cardinal

Most common birds in Israel

Ranked by how recently and how widely each was reported to eBird in the 30 days to 2026-10-13, and whether it is one of Israel’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.

Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
White WagtailMotacilla alba
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
GarganeySpatula querquedula
Black StorkCiconia nigra
Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Black KiteMilvus migrans
Rock PigeonColumba livia
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Gray HeronArdea cinerea
Great White PelicanPelecanus onocrotalus
Pygmy CormorantMicrocarbo pygmaeus
Armenian GullLarus armenicus
Spur-winged LapwingVanellus spinosus

Largest bird families in Israel

Among its regular birds.

Old World Flycatchers29
Sandpipers and Allies24
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites22
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers21
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl20
Plovers and Lapwings13
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies13
Larks13

Reported in the last 30 days

310 species reported to eBird in Israel in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:

Eurasian Scops-Owl, Western Marsh Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Eurasian Moorhen, Black Stork, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-throated Kingfisher, Mallard, White-spectacled Bulbul, Pied Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler, Garganey, Black-crowned Night Heron, Pygmy Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Little Egret, Gray Heron, Armenian Gull, Graceful Prinia, Common Kingfisher, Common Myna, Eurasian Kestrel, Spur-winged Lapwing, Eurasian Thick-knee, Hooded Crow, Black Kite, Great White Pelican, Squacco Heron, Crested Lark, Great Tit, Lesser Kestrel, Laughing Dove, European Red-rumped Swallow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Pigeon, Wood Lark, …