Belarus sits at a crossroads of broadleaf forests, marshes and open farmland, so its birdlife reflects both eastern and western European traditions. Seasonal migrations fill the skies in spring and autumn, while quiet reserves and river valleys hold year-round residents and occasional rarities.
There are 100 Birds of Belarus, ranging from Barn Owl to Yellow Wagtail; for each species you’ll find below entries organized with the columns Scientific name,Status,Abundance — a quick way to see identity, conservation notes and how common each bird is, and you’ll find below.
How current is this list and where does the information come from?
This list compiles recent checklists, regional atlases and published survey data, with status and abundance reflecting the latest available reports; for the most up-to-date local changes, check national birding organizations and seasonal surveys which may note new sightings or shifting populations.
How can I use the list when planning birding trips in Belarus?
Use the Status and Abundance columns to pick likely targets and suitable seasons, focus on habitats named in species accounts (wetlands for wagtails, woodlands for owls), and combine the list with local reserve maps and a guide or app to maximize sightings while following ethical birding practices.
Birds of Belarus
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Stork | Ciconia ciconia | breeding resident | abundant |
| Black Stork | Ciconia nigra | breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Common Crane | Grus grus | breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | resident breeder | common |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | resident breeder | common |
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | breeding resident | common |
| Whooper Swan | Cygnus cygnus | migrant/winter visitor | common |
| Greylag Goose | Anser anser | breeding migrant | common |
| Bean Goose | Anser fabalis | migrant | common |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | breeding resident | abundant |
| Eurasian Teal | Anas crecca | migrant/winter visitor | common |
| Northern Shoveler | Spatula clypeata | migrant/breeding | uncommon |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | migrant | uncommon |
| Common Pochard | Aythya ferina | breeding/migrant | common |
| Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | breeding/migrant | common |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | breeding resident | common |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus | breeding resident | common |
| Eurasian Coot | Fulica atra | breeding resident | common |
| Common Shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | migrant | uncommon |
| Common Snipe | Gallinago gallinago | breeding resident | common |
| Eurasian Curlew | Numenius arquata | breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Common Redshank | Tringa totanus | migrant/breeding | uncommon |
| Green Sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | migrant | common |
| Ruff | Calidris pugnax | migrant | uncommon |
| Little Ringed Plover | Charadrius dubius | breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Northern Lapwing | Vanellus vanellus | breeding migrant | common |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | breeding resident | abundant |
| Common Gull | Larus canus | migrant/winter visitor | common |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | migrant/winter visitor | uncommon |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons | migrant | uncommon |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | migrant/breeding | uncommon |
| Eurasian Eagle-Owl | Bubo bubo | rare breeder | rare |
| Tawny Owl | Strix aluco | breeding resident | common |
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | breeding/winter visitor | uncommon |
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | winter visitor/breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | breeding resident | common |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | migrant/breeding | uncommon |
| White-tailed Eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Common Buzzard | Buteo buteo | breeding resident | common |
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Eurasian Sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | breeding resident | common |
| Common Quail | Coturnix coturnix | breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Corn Crake | Crex crex | breeding migrant | rare |
| Black Grouse | Lyrurus tetrix | breeding resident | rare |
| Capercaillie | Tetrao urogallus | breeding resident | rare |
| Hazel Grouse | Tetrastes bonasia | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Common Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | breeding resident | common |
| Woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | breeding migrant | common |
| Common Wood Pigeon | Columba palumbus | breeding resident | common |
| Eurasian Collared Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | breeding resident | common |
| Common Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus | migrant breeder | uncommon |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Eurasian Hoopoe | Upupa epops | migrant/breeding | uncommon |
| European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster | migrant | rare |
| Common Swift | Apus apus | migrant breeder | abundant |
| Eurasian Skylark | Alauda arvensis | breeding resident | common |
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia | migrant breeder | common |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | migrant breeder | abundant |
| House Martin | Delichon urbicum | migrant breeder | common |
| Meadow Pipit | Anthus pratensis | breeding migrant | common |
| Tree Pipit | Anthus trivialis | migrant breeder | uncommon |
| White Wagtail | Motacilla alba | breeding resident | common |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | resident breeder | uncommon |
| Yellow Wagtail | Motacilla flava | breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | breeding resident | common |
| Eurasian Nuthatch | Sitta europaea | breeding resident | common |
| Eurasian Treecreeper | Certhia familiaris | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | breeding resident | common |
| Garden Warbler | Sylvia borin | breeding migrant | common |
| Willow Warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | breeding migrant | common |
| Common Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | breeding resident | common |
| Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | breeding resident | common |
| Sedge Warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | breeding migrant | common |
| Great Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus arundinaceus | breeding migrant | uncommon |
| Eurasian Blackbird | Turdus merula | breeding resident | common |
| Song Thrush | Turdus philomelos | breeding resident | common |
| Mistle Thrush | Turdus viscivorus | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | winter visitor | common |
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus | migrant/winter visitor | common |
| Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | breeding resident | abundant |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | breeding resident | common |
| Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus | breeding resident | common |
| Eurasian Jay | Garrulus glandarius | breeding resident | common |
| Eurasian Magpie | Pica pica | breeding resident | common |
| Hooded Crow | Corvus cornix | breeding resident | common |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Western Jackdaw | Coloeus monedula | breeding resident | common |
| Great Tit | Parus major | breeding resident | common |
| Blue Tit | Cyanistes caeruleus | breeding resident | common |
| Coal Tit | Periparus ater | breeding resident | common |
| Marsh Tit | Poecile palustris | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Willow Tit | Poecile montanus | breeding resident | uncommon |
| Eurasian Siskin | Spinus spinus | migrant/winter visitor | uncommon |
| European Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | breeding resident | common |
| European Greenfinch | Chloris chloris | breeding resident | common |
| Common Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | breeding resident | common |
| Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla | migrant/winter visitor | common |
| Eurasian Bullfinch | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | breeding resident | common |
Images and Descriptions
White Stork
Large white bird with black wing tips and long red bill and legs; nests on rooftops, power poles and wetlands across Belarus, especially Polesie and agricultural lowlands. Iconic summer breeder and visible symbol of rural Belarus.
Black Stork
Shy black-and-white stork with reddish legs and bill; prefers remote forests and floodplain rivers such as the Pripyat and Berezina. Less urban than White Stork and notable for nesting in mature woodlands.
Common Crane
Tall grey bird with red forehead band and trumpeting calls; breeds in marshes and wet meadows (Polesie, Pripyat floodplain), congregates on migration and makes spectacular flocks in spring and autumn.
Grey Heron
Large grey wading bird with long S-shaped neck and dagger-like bill; common on rivers, lakes and marshes including Berezina and Neman valleys. Patient fisher often seen standing motionless along shores.
Great Cormorant
Black waterbird with long neck and hooked bill; perches drying wings on lakes and riverbanks across Belarus. Often seen on larger reservoirs and the Dnieper tributaries, fishing in groups.
Mute Swan
Large white swan with orange bill and black knob; nests on lakes, slow rivers and large wetlands. Common in Polesie and around city parks; territorial pairs defend nests in spring.
Whooper Swan
Large white swan with yellow and black bill; passes and winters on large lakes and wetlands. Loud trumpeting calls on migration; seen in wetlands and open water bodies across Belarus.
Greylag Goose
Bulky grey goose with pink bill and orange legs; breeds in marshy meadows and agricultural fields, common on migration staging areas and wintering flocks on lakes and fields.
Bean Goose
Mid-sized brown goose with dark bill and orange sides to the bill; migrates through Belarus in flocks, often in wetlands and crop fields during spring and autumn.
Mallard
Familiar dabbling duck; male green head and female mottled brown; found on ponds, rivers and city parks across Belarus. Versatile and common breeder, often seen in urban lakes.
Eurasian Teal
Small dabbling duck with male’s green eye patch; frequents shallow marshes and floodplains like Pripyat. Common on passage and in winter in sheltered wetlands.
Northern Shoveler
Distinctive spatulate bill with male colorful plumage; found in shallow marshes and flooded meadows. Feeds by filtering and common on spring/autumn passage in Belarusian wetlands.
Garganey
Small dabbling duck with white eyebrow stripe on males; visits reedbeds and flooded meadows during migration. Attractive spring migrant in wetlands of Polesie and river floodplains.
Common Pochard
Diving duck with chestnut head and pale bill in males; inhabits deeper lakes and reservoirs. Seen in breeding season on larger water bodies and in flocks during migration.
Tufted Duck
Black-and-white diving duck with male’s tufted head; common on lakes and reservoirs across Belarus. Often mixed with Pochard and other diving ducks.
Little Grebe
Small diving bird with rounded body and chestnut neck in summer; nests among reedbeds on ponds and slow rivers. Agile swimmer that often dives to escape danger.
Great Crested Grebe
Elegant grebe with ornate head plumes in breeding season; found on larger lakes and reservoirs like those around Minsk and southern Polesie. Known for elaborate courtship displays.
Eurasian Coot
Black waterbird with white frontal shield; common on freshwater lakes, ponds and marshes. Bold and social, often seen in mixed duck flocks in Belarus.
Common Shelduck
Large, colorful duck with chestnut band and green-black head; occurs on large rivers, lakes and flooded fields during migration and spring staging in Belarus.
Common Snipe
Cryptic brown-striped wader with long straight bill; nests in wet meadows and marshes across Polesie and floodplains. Famous for zigzagging “drumming” display flights at dusk.
Eurasian Curlew
Large curved-bill wader with mottled plumage; breeds in damp meadows and moor-like habitats, now less common but still found in remote wetlands and floodplains.
Common Redshank
Medium wader with red legs and white wedge on rump in flight; uses marsh edges, flooded meadows and riverbanks during migration and breeding.
Green Sandpiper
Slender wader with dark back and white underparts; prefers small pools, river margins and woodland pools during migration in Belarusian wetlands.
Ruff
Medium wader with variable breeding plumage in males; visits flooded meadows and marshes on migration, often in mixed wader flocks in Polesie wetlands.
Little Ringed Plover
Small plover with black eye-line and pale forehead; nests on gravelly riverbanks and reservoirs. Found on sandy shores and sandpits across Belarus in summer.
Northern Lapwing
Chunky crested wader with iridescent green back and black breast; breeds on wet grasslands and agricultural fields, conspicuous in spring with tumbling display flights.
Black-headed Gull
Small gull with chocolate-brown hood in summer; ubiquitous on lakes, rivers, landfill sites and urban parks. Social and noisy, breeds in colonies on marsh islands.
Common Gull
Medium grey-backed gull frequenting coasts and inland lakes; seen at reservoirs and rivers during migration and winter across Belarus.
Herring Gull
Large pale-backed gull with robust bill; appears at large reservoirs, rivers and urban rubbish tips during migration and winter months.
Little Tern
Small elegant tern with black cap and yellow bill; feeds over rivers and sandbars in summer. Local breeder on wide gravel banks and river islands in Belarus.
Common Tern
Graceful white tern with forked tail and black cap; nests on river islands and lake shores, hunting fish over shallow waters in summer.
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Huge mottled owl with ear tufts and deep orange eyes; occurs in secluded forested areas and rocky outcrops where available. Rare but spectacular nocturnal predator in Belarusian woods.
Tawny Owl
Stocky brown owl with rounded head and dark eyes; common in mature deciduous and mixed forests, parks and older villages. Vocal at night with hooting calls.
Long-eared Owl
Slender owl with tall ear tufts and orange eyes; roosts in dense conifers near farmland and wetlands, often visible from roads at dusk.
Short-eared Owl
Diurnal marsh owl with mottled plumage and low flight; hunts over open meadows and marshes. Seen in open wetlands and agricultural fields, especially in winter and migration.
Barn Owl
Pale, heart-faced owl with silent flight; inhabits farmland, villages and old barns. Nocturnal predator of small mammals and a prized but localized breeder in Belarus.
Common Kestrel
Small hovering falcon with rusty back and spotted plumage; hunts rodents over farmland and meadows. Frequently seen perched on poles near fields across Belarus.
Peregrine Falcon
Powerful falcon with dark head and barred underparts; nests on cliffs and tall structures, hunts birds on the wing. Scattered breeder and impressive migrant passerine predator.
Osprey
White-headed fish-eating raptor with dark eye stripe; nests on river islands and tall platforms by lakes. Seen fishing over rivers and reservoirs during migration and breeding season.
White-tailed Eagle
Massive raptor with pale tail and broad wings; uses large lakes, rivers and marshes (Pripyat, Berezina). A top predator often seen soaring or perched by water.
Common Buzzard
Broad-winged raptor with variable plumage; common over mixed farmland and forest edges. Frequently perched on posts scanning for small mammals and birds.
Northern Goshawk
Powerful forest hawk with grey back and bold eye stripe; hunts in mature forests across Belarus, agile in wooded terrain and occasional breeder in large forest tracts.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Small agile hawk with bright orange eyes (male) and barred underparts; hunts small birds near woodlands and towns. Regular breeder near human settlements.
Common Quail
Cryptic brown gamebird of meadows and edges; breeds in grassy fields and stubble; often heard rather than seen as it skulks in vegetation.
Corn Crake
Secretive rail with rasping call heard at night; breeds in tall wet meadows and hayfields in Polesie and remote agricultural areas. Population has declined; listen for males in summer.
Black Grouse
Dark, lekking grouse of mosaic farmland and open forest edges; males show dramatic displays in spring. Present in scattered northern and central Belarusian habitats.
Capercaillie
Large forest grouse of old pine and mixed woods; secretive and declining, confined to remote mature forests. Notable for dramatic male displays in spring.
Hazel Grouse
Small, shy grouse of dense mixed and spruce forests; elusive but present in Belarusian woodlands, often heard rather than seen.
Common Pheasant
Large gamebird with long tail and brightly patterned male plumage; common in farmland, hedgerows and wetland edges; often seen along field margins.
Woodcock
Stout cryptic wader with long bill; breeds in damp woodlands and hedgerows, active at dusk and dawn. Noted for explosive “roding” flight displays in spring evenings.
Common Wood Pigeon
Large pigeon with white neck patch; common in parks, farmland and forests. Clattering wing beats and frequent in flocks at roosts and feeding sites.
Eurasian Collared Dove
Pale dove with narrow black neck crescent; favors villages, farms and gardens. Expanding and often seen on wires or feeding on seeds.
Common Cuckoo
Grey, slim parasitic bird known for loud “cuck-oo” call; lays eggs in other species’ nests and is heard across open woodlands and farmland during spring and early summer.
Common Kingfisher
Tiny bright blue and orange bird with dagger-like bill; nests in riverbanks and feeds on small fish in clear streams and slow rivers. Flashy and often solitary along waterways.
Eurasian Hoopoe
Striking bird with cinnamon plumage and crest; probes soil for insects in open countryside and orchards. Scattered summer visitor and occasional breeder in warm, open areas.
European Bee-eater
Colorful long-tailed migrant with green, blue and chestnut plumage; recorded as an irregular and attractive spring/summer visitor to Belarusian open landscapes and river valleys.
Common Swift
All-dark aerial specialist with crescent wings; nests in buildings and forages over towns and countryside catching insects. Summer resident that arrives early and departs in autumn.
Eurasian Skylark
Song-flighting lark with streaky plumage and long, melodious sky-songs; breeds in open fields, meadows and steppe-like patches across Belarus.
Sand Martin
Small brown-backed swallow with white underparts; nests in burrows on sandy riverbanks and gravel pits. Common migrant and summer breeder along rivers and reservoirs.
Barn Swallow
Familiar glossy blue swallow with forked tail and red throat; nests in barns and bridges and forages over fields and water for flying insects throughout summer.
House Martin
White-backed swallow that builds mud nests under eaves; common in towns and villages where it breeds on buildings and forages above streets and fields.
Meadow Pipit
Subtle brown streaky pipit of grasslands and meadows; sings from low perches and walks on the ground. Common in open agricultural and damp meadow habitats.
Tree Pipit
Slim pipit with streaked breast and song flight; occupies open woodland edges and clearings, singing as it ascends and parachutes down during breeding season.
White Wagtail
Black-and-white slender bird with characteristic tail wagging; common along rivers, roads and in towns. Distinctive pied appearance and tame behaviour near people.
Grey Wagtail
Long-tailed yellow-and-grey wagtail that favors fast-flowing streams and rivers; often seen along forested waterways and bridges, bobbing its tail while feeding on insects.
Yellow Wagtail
Bright yellow underparts in males; breeds in wet meadows and agricultural fields and is common in spring and summer in lowland wetlands and pastures.
Wren
Tiny brown singer with cocked tail; inhabits hedgerows, gardens and dense undergrowth in forests. Bold voice and curious behavior despite small size.
Eurasian Nuthatch
Blue-grey upperparts and buff underparts; climbs tree trunks headfirst and nests in cavities. Found in mature deciduous and mixed woodlands across Belarus.
Eurasian Treecreeper
Small brown bird that spirals up trunks probing bark for insects; prefers mature woodlands and parks with large trees, often heard before seen.
Blackcap
Grey-headed warbler with black (male) or brown (female) cap; sings a rich fluting melody from woodland edges and gardens. Common summer resident in Belarus.
Garden Warbler
Plain brown warbler with melodic song; prefers dense scrub and woodland edges. More often heard than seen and widespread across Belarusian woodlands.
Willow Warbler
Delicate greenish warbler with high descending song; prefers open woodland, parks and scrub. Early spring migrant and common breeder in Belarus.
Common Chiffchaff
Small olive-brown warbler with simple “chiff-chaff” song; common in woodlands, parks and wetlands and often the first leaf warbler in spring.
Reed Warbler
Plain brown warbler of reedbeds and marshes; nests among reed stems and fills wetlands with repetitive chattering song during summer in Polesie and river floodplains.
Sedge Warbler
Speckled-backed warbler with heavy streaking and raucous song; occupies reedbeds and wet scrub, common during breeding season in Belarusian marshes.
Great Reed Warbler
Large loud warbler of extensive reedbeds; males sing powerful, varied songs from reed tops. Found in large wetland complexes like Pripyat and Berezina.
Eurasian Blackbird
Glossy black male and brown female thrush with melodious song; common in gardens, parks and woodlands across towns and countryside. Often feeds on worms and berries.
Song Thrush
Spotted-breasted thrush known for repeating musical phrases; prefers gardens, parks and woodland edges. Feeds on snails and insects, common in Belarus.
Mistle Thrush
Tall thrush with pale underparts and spotted breast; often seen on lawns and open woodlands and feeds on berries in winter. Loud, fluting song from high perches.
Fieldfare
Grey-backed migratory thrush that winters in Belarus in flocks on farmland and orchards, feeding on berries and fruit. Conspicuous in winter fields and hedgerows.
Redwing
Small thrush with orange flank and eye stripe; common on passage and in winter, feeding in hedgerows, woodlands and berry-rich areas across Belarus.
Common Starling
Glossy iridescent bird that forms large flocks and murmuration displays; common in towns, farmland and fields. Versatile feeder of insects and seeds.
House Sparrow
Stocky urban sparrow with grey head (male) and streaked back (female); ubiquitous around farms, towns and villages where it nests in buildings and feeds on scraps.
Tree Sparrow
Smaller brown-backed sparrow with chestnut crown and black cheek patch; common in farmland, hedgerows and villages across Belarus where House Sparrow is less dominant.
Eurasian Jay
Pinkish corvid with blue wing patch and distinctive calls; occupies woodlands and parks, caches acorns and plays a key role in oak dispersal in Belarusian forests.
Eurasian Magpie
Long-tailed black-and-white bird with iridescent wings; bold and adaptable in farmland, towns and woodlands. Often seen collecting shiny objects and vocal in flocks.
Hooded Crow
Grey-bodied crow with black head, wings and tail; abundant across Belarus in fields, towns and coastless inland landscapes, scavenging and highly adaptable.
Common Raven
Large black corvid with wedge-shaped tail and deep croak; found in forests, large wetlands and remote areas. Intelligent and increasingly widespread in suitable habitats.
Western Jackdaw
Small black-and-grey corvid with pale eyes that nests in cavities and chimneys; forms flocks in towns, farmland and around woodland edges.
Great Tit
Bold black-capped tit with yellow underparts; common in gardens, parks and woodlands, easily identified by its loud two-syllable song and frequent visits to nest boxes.
Blue Tit
Small colourful tit with blue crown and greenish back; frequent garden feeder and woodland species, nimble and conspicuous at nest boxes and feeders.
Coal Tit
Tiny tit with black cap and white nape patch; prefers coniferous and mixed woods and often active in flocks during winter in forested Belarusian areas.
Marsh Tit
Small, plain-capped tit of damp woodlands and older hedgerows; often overlooked but present in mature, humid forests and river valleys.
Willow Tit
Similar to Marsh Tit but prefers wet, scrubby woodlands and floodplain forests; local and less common, with a hoarse call and cavity nesting.
Eurasian Siskin
Small streaked finch with forked tail and yellow wing patches; visits alder and spruce stands and sometimes gardens during irruptive winters in Belarus.
European Goldfinch
Bright finch with red face and yellow wing bar; frequents gardens, farmland edges and parks feeding on seeds of thistles and teasels.
European Greenfinch
Chunky greenish finch with stout bill; common in hedgerows, gardens and farmland, often visiting feeders and seen in mixed finch flocks.
Common Chaffinch
Stocky finch with blue-grey cap (male) and chestnut underparts; common in woodlands, parks and gardens with cheerful song and perching display.
Brambling
Bright-winged finch in winter flocks, males show orange breast and white rump; visits woodland edges and winter feeding sites, often with other finches.
Eurasian Bullfinch
Plump finch with thick bill and pinkish underparts (male); prefers woodland edges, orchards and hedgerows. Notable for feeding on buds in early spring.
