The number of species recorded in Central Finland is now 311, the latest additions being Northern Gannet, Red Kite and Caspian Gull. The six columns after the species name describe the occurence of the species in Central Finland. Key to the codes used in the list can be found below the list.

SpeciesScientific name12 3456
Mute SwanCygnus olorMRAA(A)
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusMRR(A)
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusBMVCFCVCU-FC
Bean GooseAnser fabalis(B)MFCRU(A)
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusMR(A)
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsMRR-U
Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropusM(A)
Greylag GooseAnser anserMR(A)A(A)
Canada GooseBranta canadensisBMURR(A)
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis(B)MRAR-U
Brent GooseBranta berniclaMRAR-U
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisM(A)(A)
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaM(A)
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaMA(A)
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataMA(A)
Eurasian WigeonAnas penelopeBMVCFCCR
American WigeonAnas americanaM(A)
GadwallAnas strepera(B)MRRA(A)
Common TealAnas creccaBMVCCCA
Green-winged TealAnas carolinensisM(A)
MallardAnas platyrhynchosBMVCCVCU
Northern PintailAnas acutaBMFCUU(A)
GarganeyAnas querquedulaBMURR
Blue-winged TealAnas discorsM(A)
Northern ShovelerAnas clypeataBMFCUU
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaM(A)
Common PochardAythya ferinaBMUUR(A)
Ring-necked DuckAythya collarisM(A)(A)
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaBMFCUUA
Greater ScaupAythya marilaMRUA
Common EiderSomateria mollissimaMA
King EiderSomateria spectabilisM(A)
Steller's EiderPolysticta stelleriMARR
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisMUAUR
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraMURUR
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaMRAUR
Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaBMVCCCR
SmewMergus albellusMFCRUA
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorBMFCFCFCR
GoosanderMergus merganserBMVCFCCU
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisM(A)
Hazel GrouseBonasa bonasiaBSFCFCFCFC
Willow PtarmiganLagopus lagopusBSRRRR
Black GrouseTetrao tetrixBSFCFCFCFC
Western CapercaillieTetrao urogallusBSUUUU
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSAAA
Common QuailCoturnix coturnix(B)MAR(A)(A)
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusBSUUUU
Red-throated DiverGavia stellataBMURUR
Black-throated DiverGavia arcticaBMFCFCFCR
Great Northern DiverGavia immerM(A)
Yellow-billed DiverGavia adamsiiM(A)(A)
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisMR(A)RR
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusBMVCCCR
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaBMFCFCU(A)
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusBMUUR
Northern GannetMorus bassanusM(A)
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboMRRUR
Great BitternBotaurus stellarisBMRCR(A)
Great EgretEgretta albaM(A)(A)(A)
Grey HeronArdea cinereaMRRUR
Black StorkCiconia nigraM(A)
White StorkCiconia ciconiaMRA(A)(A)
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusM(A)
European Honey BuzzardPernis apivorusBMUUFC
Black KiteMilvus migrans(B)MRRA
Red KiteMilvus milvusM(A)
White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicillaMUAUR
Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosusBMUFCU
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusBMURU
Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusMA(A)
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusM(A)
Northern GoshawkAccipiter gentilisBSUUFCU
Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusBMFCUFCU
Common BuzzardButeo buteoBMFCFCFC(A)
Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus(B)MFCAU(A)
Lesser Spotted EagleAquila pomarinaM(A)
Greater Spotted EagleAquila clangaM(A)R(A)
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosBSRRRR
OspreyPandion haliaetusBMFCFCU
Common KestrelFalco tinnunculusBMFCUU(A)
Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusM(A)(A)A
MerlinFalco columbariusBMURUR
Eurasian HobbyFalco subbuteoBMUFCFC
Gyr FalconFalco rusticolusM(A)(A)
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusMR(A)R
Water RailRallus aquaticusBMAR(A)(A)
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaBMU
Corn CrakeCrex crexBMFC(A)
Common MoorhenGallinula chloropusMRAA(A)
Eurasian CootFulica atraBMCFCUA
Common CraneGrus grusBMCFCC(A)
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusBMURR
Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaM(A)
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubiusBMUFCU
Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaMRRU
Eurasian DotterelCharadrius morinellusMRA
Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulvaM(A)
European Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaBMURU
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaMAR
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusBMVCCU
Red KnotCalidris canutusMAR
SanderlingCalidris albaM(A)R
Little StintCalidris minutaMAU
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiMRU
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosM(A)
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaM(A)R
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaM(A)
DunlinCalidris alpinaMRU
Broad-billed SandpiperLimicola falcinellusMRA
RuffPhilomachus pugnax(B)MFCRU
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusMRRRA
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoBMCCFCA
Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicataM(A)
Great SnipeGallinago mediaMA(A)R
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusM(A)
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaBMCVCFC(A)
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaMR
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaMRR
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusBMURR
Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataBMVCCU
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusMUR
Common RedshankTringa totanusBMRRA
Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilisMA(A)
Common GreenshankTringa nebulariaBMCUFC
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusBMCFCU
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaBMCUC
Terek SandpiperXenus cinereusMA(A)
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosBMCCUA
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresMRA
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusMR(A)A
Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusM(A)
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinusMAA
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticusMRR
Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudusMAA
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaM(A)
Little GullLarus minutusBMCFCR(A)
Black-headed GullLarus ridibundusBMVCVCCA
Mew GullLarus canusBMVCVCVCR
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusBMCCFC
Herring GullLarus argentatusBMVCFCVCU
Caspian GullLarus cachinnansM(A)
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesM(A)
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusMA(A)
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus(B)MRRRA
Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactylaMAA
Caspian TernSterna caspiaMRAR
Common TernSterna hirundoBMVCVCU
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaMA(A)
Little TernSterna albifronsM(A)
Black TernChlidonias nigerMA A
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusM(A)
Brünnich's GuillemotUria lomviaM(A)
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleM(A)
Little AukAlle alleMA
Rock DoveColumba liviaBSCCCC
Stock DoveColumba oenasMRAA(A)
Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbusBMVCVCVC(A)
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto(B)SRRRA
European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturMA(A)
Oriental Turtle DoveStreptopelia orientalisM(A)
Common CuckooCuculus canorusBMFCVCR
Eurasian Eagle OwlBubo buboBSURRR
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusM(A)(A)
Northern Hawk OwlSurnia ululaBSRRRR
Eurasian Pygmy OwlGlaucidium passerinumBSFCUUU
Little OwlAthene noctuaM(A)
Tawny OwlStrix alucoBSUURR
Ural OwlStrix uralensisBSFCURR
Great Grey OwlStrix nebulosaBSRRRR
Long-eared OwlAsio otusBMUU-FCRR
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusBMRRR(A)
Tengmalm's OwlAegolius funereusBSFCURR
European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusBMUU(A)
Common SwiftApus apusBMCVCC
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisMA(A)A(A)
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterM(A)
European RollerCoracias garrulusM(A)(A)(A)
Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epopsMAR(A)
Eurasian WryneckJynx torquillaBMUUA
Grey-headed WoodpeckerPicus canusBSURUU
Black WoodpeckerDryocopus martiusBSFCUUU
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorBSCCCC
White-backed WoodpeckerDendrocopos leucotosBSRRRR
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos minorBSUUUU
Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides tridactylusBSRRRR
Bimaculated LarkMelanocorypha bimaculataM(A)
Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaM(A)
Crested LarkGalerida cristataM(A)
Wood LarkLullula arboreaBMRRA
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisBMCCU
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisMRA
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaBMFCFCU
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaBMVCVCC
Common House MartinDelichon urbicumBMCCC
Richard's PipitAnthus richardiM(A)
Tawny PipitAnthus campestrisM(A)
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisBMCVCC(A)
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisBMCRC(A)
Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinusMRU
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusM(A)(A)
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaBMFCRFC
Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreolaM(A)
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea(B)MAA(A)
White WagtailMotacilla albaBMVCVCVCA
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus(B)MUAFC-VCU-VC
White-throated DipperCinclus cinclus(B)MUAUC
Winter WrenTroglodytes troglodytesBMFCFCUA
DunnockPrunella modularisBMCCC(A)
European RobinErithacus rubeculaBMVCVCCR
Thrush NightingaleLuscinia lusciniaBMRFCA
Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosM(A)
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaMRR
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusMA
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros(B)MR(A)
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusBMFCCU
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraBMFCFCU
Siberian StonechatSaxicola maurusM(A)(A)
Eurasian StonechatSaxicola rubicolaM(A)(A)
Isabelline WheatearOenanthe isabellinaM(A)
Northern WheatearOenanthe oenantheBMFCUFC
Pied WheatearOenanthe pleschankaM(A)
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusMR(A)
Common BlackbirdTurdus merulaBMCCUR-U
FieldfareTurdus pilarisBMVCVCVCR-C
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosBMCVCCA
RedwingTurdus iliacusBMVCVCVCR
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusBMUUUA
Lanceolated WarblerLocustella lanceolataMA
Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaBMFC(A)
River WarblerLocustella fluviatilisBMU
Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioidesM(A)
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusBMUVCU
European Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusBMRA
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisBMU
Blyth's Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorumBMFCA
Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceusMA
Booted WarblerHippolais caligataM(A)
Icterine WarblerHippolais icterinaBMU
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaBMRFCRR
Garden WarblerSylvia borinBMFCVCR
Barred WarblerSylvia nisoriaM(A)
Lesser WhitethroatSylvia currucaBMFCCU
Common WhitethroatSylvia communisBMFCCU
Greenish WarblerPhylloscopus trochiloidesBMR(A)
Arctic WarblerPhylloscopus borealisMAA
Pallas's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus proregulusM(A)
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusMA
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixBMUCA
Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaBMFCFCFC(A)
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusBMVCVCC
GoldcrestRegulus regulusBSCCCUC-FC
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataBMCCU
Red-breasted FlycatcherFicedula parvaBMRU(A)
Collared FlycatcherFicedula albicollisM(A)
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaBMCVCU
Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicusS(A)(A)
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusBSUUUU
Marsh TitParus palustrisM(A)
Willow TitParus montanusBSCCCC
Siberian TitParus cinctusSAA
Crested TitParus cristatusBSFCFCFCFC
Coal TitParus aterBSFCUUU
Blue TitParus caeruleusBSVCVCVCVC
Azure TitParus cyanusM(A)
Great TitParus majorBSVCVCVCVC
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaSA(A)AR
Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiarisBSFCFCFCUC-FC
Eurasian Penduline TitRemiz pendulinusM(A)
Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusBMRUA
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioBMUUU
Lesser Grey ShrikeLanius minorM(A)(A)
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorBMURUR
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusBSCFCCFC
Siberian JayPerisoreus infaustusBSRRRR
Common MagpiePica picaBSVCVCVCVC
Spotted NutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactesBSRRUR
Western JackdawCorvus monedulaBSVCCCC
RookCorvus frugilegusMUAA(A)
Hooded CrowCorvus corone cornixBSVCVCVCVC
Common RavenCorvus coraxBSFCFCFCFC
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisBMFCUUR
Rosy StarlingSturnus roseusM(A)
House SparrowPasser domesticusBSVCVCVCVC
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusBSRRRU
Common ChaffinchFringilla coelebsBMVCVCVCR
BramblingFringilla montifringillaBMCUCR
European SerinSerinus serinusM(A)(A)
European GreenfinchCarduelis chlorisBSVCVCVCVC
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisBSURRU
Eurasian SiskinCarduelis spinusBMVCVCVCR-FC
Common LinnetCarduelis cannabinaBMURRR
TwiteCarduelis flavirostrisMRRA
Common RedpollCarduelis flammeaBMVCUCU-VC
Arctic RedpollCarduelis hornemanniMRRR
Two-barred CrossbillLoxia leucoptera(B)MAARA
Common CrossbillLoxia curvirostraBMCR-CFC-CR-C
Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacusBSRRRA
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusBMCCR
Pine GrosbeakPinicola enucleatorMRR-UR-U
Eurasian BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaBMCCCC
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesMRAAA
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusMUR(A)
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisMURA
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaBSVCVCVCVC
Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulanaBMRRA
Rustic BuntingEmberiza rusticaBMRRR(A)
Little BuntingEmberiza rusticaM(A)
Yellow-breasted BuntingEmberiza aureolaM(A)
Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusBMCCC(A)
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraM(A)

Codes used:

  • Column 1

    B = Breeds in the area annually
    (B) = Breeeding is very rare, uncertain or occasional

  • Column 2

    S = Sedentary in the area
    M = Migratory in the area
  • Some species have dual strategies between sedentary and migratory behaviour. In this table a species is classified as sedentary if a substantial proportion of the population is present year around.

  • Column 3: Occurrence during spring and spring migration
  • Column 4: Occurrence in the breeding season
  • Column 5: Occurrence during autumn and autumn migration
  • Column 6: Occurrence in winter (December-February)
  • VC = Very common, several observed on every trip in a suitable environment and time
    C = Common, observed on every trip in a suitable environment and time
    FC = Fairly common, observed on most trips in a suitable environment and time
    U = Uncommon, not observed on most trips in a suitable environment and time
    R = Rare, less than 20 observations per season
    A = Accidental, not observed every year or season
    (A) = Accidental, less than 5 observations ever, or not observed during the last 20 years
    Blank = Absent, no sightings

    The occurrence estimates used here are designed to describe the sightablity of the species rather than actual numbers of birds present. Estimate is given for a favourable habitat and timing for each species. The values describe a typical or a good year or season for the species. Variation in numbers between years can be significant especially in many migratory species, or species depending on a specific food resource (rodents, conifer seeds or rowanberries).

    Migrating season varies between species in timing and length. It can be very brief or last almost throughout the year. Timing may also shift between years within species. In sedentary species column 3 describes the sightability in the spring, including for example owls' hooting activity before the actual breeding. In migratory species column 3 describes occurrence outside breeding territories.

    Abundance classes are quite broad; belonging to the same class may still mean a substantial difference in the sightability.

    Tuomo Pihlaja & Harri Högmander

    The number of species recorded in Central Finland is now 311