The Complete List of Birds of the Czech Republic

Rolling hills, river wetlands and city parks across the Czech Republic support a surprising variety of birdlife, from common garden visitors to species tied to alpine meadows. Whether you’re a day-tripper scanning a pond or a regular at a local reserve, recognizing regional patterns makes birdwatching more rewarding.

There are 91 Birds of the Czech Republic, ranging from Barn Swallow to Yellow Wagtail. Each entry is compact and practical: the data are organized as (Scientific name,National status,Seasonal months) so you can quickly see identification, legal/status notes and when each species is present — you’ll find these details below.

How is “national status” used in this list?

National status indicates a species’ official standing in the Czech Republic (for example resident, breeding, occasional or protected listing) and helps prioritize sightings and conservation attention; consult local checklists or authorities for legal protections tied to a given status.

Are all 91 species likely to be seen in one visit or location?

No — the full list covers species across habitats and seasons, so seeing many requires visiting different sites and times of year; use the Seasonal months column to plan trips when target species are most likely to appear.

Birds of the Czech Republic

Images and Descriptions

Mute Swan

Large white swan with orange bill; common on lowland rivers and reservoirs around Vltava and Elbe basins. Often seen in parks and fishponds, territorial in spring; locally protected and habituated to people.

Whooper Swan

Tall, white swan with long neck and black-yellow bill. Winters on larger reservoirs and floodplain lakes in southern and eastern Czechia; heard flying in V-shaped flocks. Occasional vagrant breeders in recent years.

Greylag Goose

Grey-bodied goose with orange bill; breeds on wetlands, fishponds and floodplains, especially in southern Bohemia. Common migrant flocks pass through in spring and autumn, sometimes grazing on agricultural fields.

Canada Goose

Large black-headed goose introduced for parks and waterbodies; established feral populations around cities and reservoirs. Often forms conspicuous flocks, grazes on lawns and fields, sometimes considered a nuisance by farmers and park managers.

Mallard

Familiar dabbling duck; males with glossy green head, females mottled brown. Widespread on ponds, rivers and urban parks across Czechia. Common breeder and winter resident; flexible and often near people.

Northern Shoveler

Distinctive long-spoon bill, males colourful in breeding plumage. Breeds on shallow fishponds and marshes in lowlands, especially southern Bohemia. Migrant flocks pass through in spring and autumn.

Gadwall

Subtle grey-brown dabbling duck with patterned flanks. Favors shallow ponds and reed margins around fishpond complexes in southern Czechia. Often overlooked but common on mixed waterbodies; nests in dense vegetation.

Eurasian Wigeon

Chestnut-headed male with cream forehead; visits large lakes and wet meadows in winter. Common on reservoirs and floodplain lakes, especially Morava and Elbe regions, often mixed with other dabbling ducks.

Eurasian Teal

Small, fast dabbling duck with green cheek patch on male. Common migrant and winter visitor on wetlands and ponds; favors shallow margins and reedbeds across Czech lowlands.

Common Pochard

Diving duck with chestnut head and black breast in male. Breeds on deeper fishponds and lakes in Bohemia and Moravia; populations have declined but still regular on larger waterbodies.

Tufted Duck

Black-and-white diving duck with distinctive crest on male. Common on reservoirs, gravel pits and fishponds nationwide; nests in reedbeds and feeds by diving for aquatic prey.

Common Goldeneye

White-backed duck with rounded head; males black-and-white with green sheen. Winters on rivers and large reservoirs; seen in wooded river valleys and deeper lakes, often in small loose flocks.

Great Crested Grebe

Elegant grebe with ornate breeding crest and elaborate courtship. Breeds on lakes and fishponds with open water and reed edges, notably in southern Bohemian pond systems; dives for fish.

Black-necked Grebe

Small grebe with striking breeding plumage and red eye. Breeds on shallow fishponds and saline lakes; often found on quiet inland lakes where it feeds on aquatic invertebrates and small fish.

Little Grebe

Tiny brown grebe with rapid diving behaviour. Common in small ponds, canals and reed-fringed waters across Czechia. Secretive but audible; nests among vegetation and feeds on insects and small fish.

Great Cormorant

Large black diving bird that fishes in reservoirs and rivers. Increasingly common on major rivers (Vltava, Elbe) and gravel pits; often seen perched to dry wings and in roosting colonies.

Grey Heron

Tall, long-legged heron found at wetlands, rivers and reservoirs. Widespread across Czechia; nests in trees and reedbeds in colonies, fishes by stalking shallows and banksides.

Little Egret

Small white egret with black bill and yellow feet; increasingly recorded and locally breeding at wetland hotspots. Seen on ponds and river margins, often feeding in shallow shallows among waders.

Cattle Egret

Small buff-and-white heron that follows grazing livestock; rare vagrant sightings in lowland fields and wetlands. Look for them near cattle or mechanical haying, often in summer during range expansions.

Eurasian Spoonbill

Large white wader with spatulate bill; occasional vagrant to large fishponds and shallow wetlands in spring and summer. Distinctive feeding by sweeping bill through water to catch small fish and invertebrates.

Common Buzzard

Stocky broad-winged raptor commonly seen soaring over farmland, forests and uplands. Extremely widespread in Czechia, adaptable hunter of mammals and birds; perches on pylons and trees before stoops.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Small, agile accipiter hunting birds in woodland and urban areas. Frequently seen darting through cover near parks and forests; males slate-grey, females larger with streaked underparts.

Northern Goshawk

Powerful forest raptor of mature woodlands and mountains. Secretive but occasionally seen over forest edges; preys on medium-sized birds and mammals and requires large territories for breeding.

Common Kestrel

Small falcon often seen hovering over open farmland and urban fringes. Common breeder on buildings, old nests and cliffs; feeds on small mammals and large insects in lowland agricultural landscapes.

Eurasian Hobby

Sleek falcon that catches swifts and dragonflies on the wing. Breeds in wooded areas near water and open landscapes; migratory, arriving in spring and departing in autumn for Africa.

Peregrine Falcon

Powerful high-speed falcon nesting on cliffs and city buildings. Present in major river valleys and quarries; patrols open areas for medium-sized birds; conservation success in recent decades.

Osprey

Fish-eating raptor seen at reservoirs and large rivers during migration and breeding attempts. Watches from high perches before plunging feet-first; most records in spring and autumn over major waterbodies.

Common Crane

Tall grey crane seen on migration through wetlands and fields; large wintering and passage flocks in floodplains and fishpond areas. Occasional stopovers in Moravia and southern Bohemia.

Common Moorhen

Black rail-like waterbird with red frontal shield; common in reedbeds and pond margins across Czechia. Secretive but often seen at water edges; nests on floating vegetation and among reeds.

Eurasian Coot

Black waterbird with white facial shield; abundant on lakes, rivers and fishponds. Territorial in breeding season, often forms large winter flocks and dives for vegetation and small animals.

Common Snipe

Cryptic, mottled wader with long straight bill; breeds in wet meadows and boggy margins. Known for aerial “drumming” display in spring and secretive behavior; common in wetter lowland habitats.

Black-tailed Godwit

Large, long-legged wader with long bill; seen on flooded meadows, wet grasslands and fishpond margins during migration. Historically bred locally; now primarily a passage species at wetlands.

Common Sandpiper

Small, bobbing wader with white underparts and brown upperparts. Common migrant along rivers, lakes and reservoirs; distinctive teetering behaviour on shorelines and rocky banks.

Green Sandpiper

Slender wader with dark back and white rump; frequent migrant at ponds, flooded meadows and river margins. Often solitary and wary, feeding along muddy edges and shallow water.

Common Redshank

Medium wader with red legs and mottled brown plumage; passes through wetlands and fishponds in spring and autumn. Calls loudly when disturbed and frequents mudflats and shallow shores.

Little Ringed Plover

Small plover with black forehead band and yellow eye-ring; nests on gravel pits, river shingle and sandbars. Prefers open, sparsely vegetated breeding sites and is common on inland gravel quarries.

Northern Lapwing

Striking crested wader with iridescent green back and dramatic flight displays. Breeds on wet meadows and pastures; populations fluctuate and species is subject to agricultural habitat pressures.

Grey Partridge

Stocky brown gamebird of farmland and fallow fields; common in open agricultural landscapes. Ground-nesting and often in coveys outside breeding season; population declines in some areas due to intensive farming.

Common Pheasant

Colorful introduced gamebird widespread across farmland and wood edges. Released and managed for hunting; males show bright plumage and long tails, often flush from hedgerows.

Western Capercaillie

Large grouse of mature conifer forests in mountainous regions (Krkonoše, Šumava). Secretive and vulnerable; males display with loud calls in spring. Restricted to fragmented strongholds and conservation areas.

Eurasian Skylark

Song-flighting small passerine of open fields and meadows. Notable for long, continuous song flight above farmland. Declines have occurred in intensive agricultural regions; visible in grasslands and pastures.

Common Starling

Glossy black passerine with iridescent plumage and complex social behaviour. Ubiquitous in towns, farmland and parks; forms huge roosts and starling murmurations in autumn and winter.

Common Blackbird

Familiar garden thrush with orange eye-ring in males and streaked females. Common in parks, gardens and woodlands across Czechia; sings year-round and adapts well to urban areas.

Song Thrush

Medium thrush with spotted underparts; favors woodlands, hedges and gardens. Known for melodic repeated phrases; common breeder but locally declining in intensively farmed areas.

Mistle Thrush

Large thrush often seen on tree tops and open fields feeding on berries. Breeds in parks and woodland edges; strong, flute-like song and territorial behavior during winter when defending berry trees.

Fieldfare

Grey-backed migratory thrush arriving in winter to feed on berries and fruit in orchards and hedgerows. Large flocks in farmland and open country, often with noisy calls and ground-foraging behaviour.

Redwing

Small thrush with buff eye-stripe and spotted flanks; common winter visitor feeding on berries and worms in woodlands and parks. Often moves in mixed flocks with fieldfares and starlings.

Ring Ouzel

Black thrush with white crescent on breast; breeds in upland rocky slopes and mountain forests (Krkonoše, Jeseníky). Migratory and secretive; best sought in spring during territorial song flights.

Eurasian Magpie

Bold black-and-white corvid with long tail found in open woodlands, farmland and towns. Opportunistic feeder and noisy; common across Czechia, often seen near human settlements and hedgerows.

Eurasian Jay

Colorful corvid with blue wing patches and strong voice; inhabits broadleaf and mixed woodlands. Important acorn disperser and shy but conspicuous in autumn when hoarding food.

Carrion Crow

Black corvid common in farmland and urban areas; intelligent and adaptable scavenger. Often feeds at landfills and agricultural fields; nests in trees and on buildings in many regions.

Common Raven

Large black corvid of mountains, forests and river valleys. Carries a deep croak and performs aerial displays; more common in uplands and large forested areas, sometimes nesting on cliffs.

Barn Swallow

Familiar aerial insectivore with forked tail and glossy blue back. Nests on buildings and barns across Czech countryside and towns; returns in spring and departs in autumn for Africa.

House Martin

White-bellied swallow building mud nests on buildings. Common in towns and villages, nesting under eaves; feeds on flying insects over water and fields throughout the breeding season.

Sand Martin

Small brown-backed swallow nesting in sandy riverbanks and gravel pits. Common in areas with exposed banks and quarry pits; forms colonies and feeds over water catching insects.

Tree Pipit

Songful pipit of open woodland edge, clearings and mountain meadows. Flies up for song displays and nests on ground; more common in upland and patchy forest landscapes.

Meadow Pipit

Small streaked pipit of meadows, heath and uplands; song-flight similar to skylark. Breeds in open grassy areas and lowland pastures; present in winter in some regions.

Yellow Wagtail

Slim, colourful wagtail of wet meadows and pastures; multiple subspecies occur on migration. Breeds in farmland and floodplain meadows, foraging for insects on wet ground.

White Wagtail

Grey-backed wagtail commonly seen on riverbanks, towns and farmland. Elegant tail-wagging behaviour; common breeder in villages and cities, often near human activity.

Grey Wagtail

Slender yellow underparts and long tail; favours fast-flowing streams, rivers and rocky bridges. More common in upland valleys and riparian habitats; nests on ledges and in bridges.

Eurasian Wren

Tiny, round, loud-singing bird of woodlands, hedgerows and gardens. Secretive but common across Czechia; often flits among dense vegetation and sings year-round from hidden perches.

Eurasian Nuthatch

Blue-grey bird that climbs tree trunks headfirst to forage for insects and seeds. Common in mature deciduous and mixed woodlands, parks and large gardens; nests in cavities and nest boxes.

Eurasian Treecreeper

Small brown bird that spirals up tree trunks probing bark with thin curved bill. Inhabits mature woodlands and parkland; often accompanies tits and nuthatches while foraging.

European Robin

Familiar orange-breasted songbird of gardens, woodlands and hedgerows. Territorial and bold around people; sings throughout much of the year, especially in spring and autumn.

Common Redstart

Attractive warbler-like bird with orange rump and black face in males. Breeds in open woodlands, orchards and parkland; prefers old trees with cavities for nesting.

Black Redstart

Dark-backed redstart often associated with rocky cliffs and urban sites. Common in towns, quarries and industrial areas where it nests on buildings and feeds on invertebrates.

Pied Flycatcher

Small migratory flycatcher of deciduous woodlands and nest-box colonies. Males have bold black-and-white plumage; returns in spring to breed in parks and mature forests.

Spotted Flycatcher

Plain grey-brown flycatcher frequently seen sallying from perches in gardens, woodlands and parks. Declining in some areas; sits quietly before darting to catch flying insects.

Common Chiffchaff

Small olive-brown leaf warbler with repetitive “chiff-chaff” song. Common in woodlands, scrub and parks; an early spring migrant that arrives soon after winter.

Willow Warbler

Delicate pale warbler with descending song; breeds in open woodland, scrub and parks. Arrives in spring and is widespread across lowlands and uplands until autumn migration.

Eurasian Reed Warbler

Brown warbler of reedbeds and wetland margins. Common in large reedbeds around ponds and floodplains in southern Bohemia and Moravia; sings loudly from reed tops.

Great Reed Warbler

Large, powerful reed warbler with loud song; nests in extensive reedbeds of larger wetlands. Best seen in major reed systems and summer breeding colonies near deep fishponds.

Sedge Warbler

Plain brown warbler with streaked crown and loud rattling song. Breeds in reedbeds and wet scrub; active and conspicuous during migration and summer around wetlands.

Garden Warbler

Plain olive-brown warbler with rich song; prefers dense shrubbery, orchards and woodland edges. Common in gardens and parks during breeding season though often secretive.

Eurasian Blackcap

Grey and black-capped warbler with melodious song; common in woodlands, gardens and parks. Male blackcap distinctive; some populations winter in Czechia depending on food availability.

Bearded Reedling

Small, long-tailed reed specialist with orange face in males; inhabits large reedbeds on shallow wetlands. Resident and conspicuous in summer and winter when reedlands are intact.

Goldcrest

Tiny, high-pitched songbird with bright crest; occurs in conifer and mixed forests. One of Europe’s smallest birds, common in upland and lowland woods and often joins mixed feeding flocks.

Firecrest

Small kinglet with bold head pattern and bright eye-stripe; prefers mature broadleaved and mixed woodland. More localized than Goldcrest but common where suitable habitat exists, sings from treetops.

Long-tailed Tit

Fluffy white-and-pink small bird with very long tail; lives in family groups and builds intricate domed nests. Found in hedgerows, woodland edges and parks across Czechia year-round.

Eurasian Blue Tit

Colorful small tit with blue cap and yellow underparts; common in gardens, parks and woodlands. Frequent at feeders and nestboxes; agile forager of caterpillars and insects.

Great Tit

Large, bold tit with black head and yellow breast; widespread in forests, parks and gardens. Adapts to urban areas and uses nestboxes; vocal and territorial during breeding.

Coal Tit

Small grey-backed tit with white nape spot; prefers coniferous and mixed forests. Often accompanies other tits in woodlands and is common in upland spruce stands and gardens.

Marsh Tit

Subtle brown-and-black tit of mature woodlands and broadleaf forest edges. Often skulking, nests in tree cavities; more common in undisturbed deciduous woods and river valleys.

Eurasian Penduline Tit

Tiny passerine that builds elaborate hanging nests in willow and reed margins. Breeds along rivers and wetlands with shrubs; noticeable for its intricate woven nests and acrobatic foraging.

Eurasian Siskin

Small, streaked finch with yellow-green tones; frequent winter visitor and occasional breeder in spruce-dominated forests. Forms flocks at feeders and in treetops especially during seed mast years.

Common Crossbill

Robust finch with crossed bill adapted to extract conifer seeds. Irruptive species that breeds in conifer forests when cones are abundant; most reliable in mountain spruce stands.

European Greenfinch

Chunky olive-green finch frequenting gardens, hedgerows and farmland. Often sings from exposed perches; feeds on seeds and visits feeders in winter and gardens year-round.

European Goldfinch

Bright small finch with red face and black-and-gold wings. Common in farmland hedges, parks and gardens; feeds on thistle and dandelion seeds and nests in shrubs.

Eurasian Linnet

Small streaked finch of open scrub, heath and farmland margins. Males show pinkish breast in breeding season; nests in gorse, hedges and bushes across lowland areas.

Hawfinch

Large, powerful-billed finch that cracks hard seeds and cherries. Secretive in canopy of large deciduous woods and orchards; often visits seed-rich sites and is locally distributed.

House Sparrow

Familiar urban and rural bird with grey crown and buff cheeks in males. Associated with human settlements, farms and towns; nests in buildings and feeds on scraps and seeds.

Birds of Other Countries