List of birds of Svalbard

This list of birds of Svalbard includes 241 species as of 2024, of which at least three are introduced.

Svalbard is an archipelago of islands in the North Sea. It currently is an unincorporated area of Norway. The largest island, Svalbard or Spitzbergen, is home to about 2,500 people. Other islands include Nordaustlandet, Bjørnøja and Edgeøya.

Breeding status

• Abundant breeder (AB) – breeds annually, with >10,000 breeding pairs
• Common breeder (CB) – breeds annually, with <10,000 breeding pairs
• Irregular breeder (IB) – does not breed annually, and only a few pairs
• Dispersed breeder (DB) – breeds annually, but dispersedly
• Winter visitor (WV) – spends the winter months in Svalbard
• Annual (A) – found in small numbers every year
• Occasional (O) – rare, occasional visitor, not every year
• Vagrant (V) – rare, less than 20 records
• Rare vagrant (RV) – rare, less than 5 records
• Introduced (I) – either introduced purposely or accidentally by humans, or a bird that came to Svalbard with the assistance of humans

Ducks, geese, swans, and eiders

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

Pheasants, grouse, and partridges

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

Swifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae

Cuckoos

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae

Doves and pigeons

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Rails and crakes

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae

Cranes

Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae

Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae

Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriformesFamily: Haematopodidae

Plovers and lapwings

Order: CharadriformesFamily: Charadriidae

References