This is a list of the bird species recorded in Denmark. The avifauna of Denmark included a total of 511 species recorded in the wild by June 2023 according to Bird List of Denmark with supplemental additions from Avibase. Of these species, four have been introduced by humans.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.
The following tags are used by the Danish Ornithologcial Society (Dansk Onitologisk Forening, DOF) to highlight some categories of occurrence. Those without tags are in Category A and "have been recorded in an apparently wild state in Denmark since 1st January 1950" according to DOF.
(B) Category B - species which naturally occurred in Denmark prior to 1 January 1950 but have not been recorded since then (C) Category C - species introduced by humans, directly or indirectly, and which have established feral breeding populations (*) Rarity - species which require submission to the Danish Rarities Committee of DOF for the sighting to be included in the official record.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus (*) Graylag goose, Anser anser Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis Canada goose, Branta canadensis (C) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (*) Mute swan, Cygnus olor Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus (C) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (C) Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (*) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (*) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (*) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (*) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (*) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (*) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (*) Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (*) King eider, Somateria spectabilis Common eider, Somateria mollissima Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (*) Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (*) Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri (*) Common scoter, Melanitta nigra Black scoter, Melanitta americana (*) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (*) (C) White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala (*)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings.
Western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus (*) Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix Gray partridge, Perdix perdix Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (C) Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia
Stock dove, Columba oenas
Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus
European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (*) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (*)