While European avifauna is modest in comparison with other regions, there is plenty of interest and reasons why an American birder should visit our “Old continent”. The combination of diverse habitats, unique species, organized tours, and cultural exchange makes Europe an attractive destination for American birdwatchers. All in all, it is very easy to enjoy species that are absent from North America and to improve ornithological knowledge.
Orders of birds rare in America
There are several orders of birds that are relatively scarce in North America compared to other regions. Here are some notable examples:
- Pelecaniformes: This order includes pelicans, herons, and ibises. While some species like the American White Pelican and Great Blue Heron are present, many other species found in other parts of the world are absent.
- Ciconiiformes: This order primarily consists of storks. In North America, only a few species, such as the Wood Stork, are found, while many stork species are common in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- Columbiformes: While North America has several pigeon and dove species, many species found in other regions, especially in tropical areas, are not present.
- Gruiformes: This order includes cranes and rails. While North America has some species like the Sandhill Crane and American Coot, many species, particularly those found in tropical regions, are absent.
- Charadriiformes: Although this order is diverse, certain families such as the plovers and sandpipers have many species that are more abundant in other parts of the world.
- Tinamiformes: Tinamous are primarily found in Central and South America, with no species present in North America, nore Europe.
- Apodiformes: While North America has species like the Common Nighthawk and various hummingbirds, many species of swifts and hummingbirds found in tropical regions are not found in North America.
- Cuculiformes: This order includes cuckoos and roadrunners. While the Greater Roadrunner is present, many other cuckoo species are absent from North America.
Entire families not present in North America
There are no entire orders of birds present in Europe that are completely absent from the USA.
- Hoopoes (Upupidae).
- Bee-eaters (Meropidae).
- Rollers (Coraciidae).
- Bustards (Otitidae). Found in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia, but not in the Americas.
- Sandgrouses (Pteroclidae) – Primarily found in Africa and Asia.
- Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae) – This family includes species like the European Robin and various flycatchers not found in North America.
- Old World warblers (Sylviidae) – Many warbler species in Europe belong to this family, which is distinct from New World warblers.
- Accentors (Prunellidae).
- Old World orioles (Oriolidae) – The European Golden Oriole belongs to a different family than New World orioles.
- Larks (Alaudidae) – While there are a few lark species in North America, the family is much more diverse in Europe.
- Penduline tits (Remizidae).
- Bearded reedling (Panuridae) – This unique species is found in Europe but has no close relatives in North America.
Monotypic Genera
While not necessarily endemic to Europe, some monotypic bird genera that occur in Europe include.
The genus Erithacus (Robin) contains only one species, the European robin (Erithacus rubecula), which is widespread across Europe.
Wallcreepers Tichodroma is the only known genus in the family Tichodromidae.
Marbled teals (Marmaronetta angustirostris) are truly unique with only one described species in the genus (“monotopic”).
Otis is a genus of bustard containing a single living species, the great bustard (Otis tarda).
Lullula is the genus of woodlarks, songbirds in the family Alaudidae. There is only one remaining extant species, the woodlark.
Alca is a genus of charadriiform bird that contains a single extant species, the razorbill (Alca torda). Many fossil species.
The cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus).
The bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus. is the only species in the family Panuridae.
Also present in North America and just for the record. Pandion is a genus of fish-eating bird of prey, known as ospreys, the only genus of family Pandionidae. The nuthatches (/nʌt.hætʃ/) constitute a genus, Sitta, of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae.
Bird species endemic to Spain
The new European Breeding Bird Atlas (EBBA2) recorded 539 native bird species breeding in Europe, of which 59 are near-endemic (mainly concentrated in Europe) and 40 are found only in Europe.
Birds that are endemic or near-endemic to Europe that can be seen in Spain:
Iberian Peninsula endemics found primarily in Spain
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti).
Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei) – a separate species from the European Green Woodpecker.
Iberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus) – This species breeds in northern Spain and Portugal.
Balearic Warbler (Sylvia balearica) – Endemic to the Balearic Islands.
Iberian Magpie (Cyanopica cooki) – Previously considered a subspecies of Azure-winged Magpie.
Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) – While it ranges widely outside the breeding season, it breeds exclusively in the Balearic Islands.
Iberian Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis).
Cantabrian Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus) is a critically endangered subspecies of the Western Capercaillie that is endemic to the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain.
Canary islands endemics
Canary Islands Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis).
Tenerife Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea).
Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla polatzeki).
Fuerteventura Stonechat (Saxicola dacotiae).
Other European endemics present in Spain
Alpine Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella) the range includes: Northern Spain, Southern France, The Alps.
More taxa you won’t find in North America
15 common birds not in America
Species that are very common in most European backyards but not naturally present in North America:
- European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
- Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
- Great Tit (Parus major)
- Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
- European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
- Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
- Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
- Common Swift (Apus apus)
- European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
- Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
- Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
- Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
- European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
- Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
- Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
More than 40 genera not present in the USA
- Otis (Great Bustard) – Family Otididae
- Upupa (Hoopoe) – Family Upupidae
- Merops (Bee-eaters) – Family Meropidae
- Coracias (European Roller) – Family Coraciidae
- Picus (Green Woodpeckers) – Family Picidae
- Jynx (Wrynecks) – Family Picidae
- Erithacus (European Robin) – Family Muscicapidae
- Luscinia (Nightingales) – Family Muscicapidae
- Saxicola (Stonechats) – Family Muscicapidae
- Oenanthe (Wheatears) – Family Muscicapidae
- Ficedula (Flycatchers) – Family Muscicapidae
- Phoenicurus (Redstarts) – Family Muscicapidae
- Sylvia (Old World warblers) – Family Sylviidae
- Phylloscopus (Leaf warblers) – Family Phylloscopidae
- Regulus (Kinglets) – Family Regulidae
- Parus (Tits) – Family Paridae
- Cyanistes (Blue Tits) – Family Paridae
- Periparus (Crested Tits) – Family Paridae
- Lophophanes (Crested Tits) – Family Paridae
- Poecile (Chickadees and Tits) – Family Paridae
- Sitta (Nuthatches) – Family Sittidae
- Certhia (Treecreepers) – Family Certhiidae
- Garrulus (Jays) – Family Corvidae
- Pica (Magpies) – Family Corvidae
- Pyrrhocorax (Choughs) – Family Corvidae
- Corvus (Crows and Ravens) – Family Corvidae
- Passer (Old World Sparrows) – Family Passeridae
- Petronia (Rock Sparrows) – Family Passeridae
- Fringilla (Chaffinches) – Family Fringillidae
- Chloris (Greenfinches) – Family Fringillidae
- Linaria (Twites and Linnets) – Family Fringillidae
- Acanthis (Redpolls) – Family Fringillidae
- Loxia (Crossbills) – Family Fringillidae
- Carduelis (Goldfinches) – Family Fringillidae
- Serinus (Serins) – Family Fringillidae
- Pyrrhula (Bullfinches) – Family Fringillidae
- Emberiza (Buntings) – Family Emberizidae
- Calcarius (Longspurs) – Family Calcariidae
- Plectrophenax (Snow Buntings) – Family Calcariidae
- Motacilla (Wagtails) – Family Motacillidae
- Anthus (Pipits) – Family Motacillidae
Very disctintive species
Burhinus oedicnemus (Eurasian Stone-curlew or Eurasian Thick-knee) is not naturally present in the USA.
Grifon vultures (Gyps fulvus) – size of European vultures is impressive.
Flamingoes – while the American Flamingo is now rare and mostly limited to occasional sightings or vagrant individuals in the US, the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus phoenicopterus) is abundant in the Mediterranean bassin.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is widespread while the similar species that occurs in the USA is the Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is mostly coastal.
Spain is famous for the richness of its diurnal raptor populations. Number of species around 30 species similar to that of USA althoug 20 times bigger in size. No wonder why Spain is considered a raptor’s paradise.
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