A List of Irish Birds - Joe Hobbs Version 9.0 - South Dublin Branch of BirdWatch Ireland
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A List of Irish Birds Joe Hobbs Version 9.0
A
List of Irish Birds
by
Joe Hobbs
Dedicated to the memory of
Dr. William ‘Willie’ McDowell (1951 - 2006),
who knew the value of a good list.
Version 9.0
Published August 2020
Copyright © 2020 Joe Hobbs
All rights reserved
Cover: Dotterel. Tacumshin Lake, Wexford. June 2013.
Picture by © Victor Caschera.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 1INTRODUCTION SYSTEMATIC LIST
This is a list and brief summary of the status of all spe- The Systematic List includes all species and subspecies
cies and subspecies recorded on the island of Ireland. on the Irish List recorded in at least one of Ussher &
Statistics of rarer species are to 31st December 2018 Warren (1900), Kennedy et al. (1954), Ruttledge (1980),
and have been tallied by the author from published Irish Bird Reports (annual from 1953 to 2003) and Irish
records, with considerable help from Kieran Fahy who Rare Bird Reports (annual from 2004 to 2018).
undertook a methodical analysis of historic records. Other taxa indicated are Order and Family, and when
relevant Suborder and Subfamily. Species that are in-
IRISH RARE BIRDS COMMITTEE cluded solely in Category D and ‘At sea’ are listed at the
The Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC), (www.irbc.ie) is end beginning on pages 62 and 64 respectively.
responsible for maintaining a list of the birds record-
ed in the Republic of Ireland and inshore waters up to Subspecies (aka races or forms) are highlighted in grey.
30km (16.2 nautical miles) from the nearest land or if Some records have not been specifically identified and
relevant the median point between Ireland and Britain. these are indicated in brown.
The committee was founded as the Irish Records Panel The information included with each entry is as follows:
(IRP) in 1971, taking over the role from Major Robert • Vernacular name(s) including subspecies.
F. Ruttledge who had undertaken primary responsibil- • IOC World List name when different.
ity for the assessment of all claims of rare and scarce • AERC Category or Categories.
species in Ireland as editor of the Irish Bird Report from • Scientific name including subspecies concerned.
1953. The name was changed to the present one in • First published record when known.
1984. • Status.
• Locations, dates and age of extremely rare species.
IRISH BIRD RECORDS • Reference citations.
Prior to 1953 records and status of Irish birds were pub-
lished in a number of journals including The Irish Natu- AT SEA RECORDS
ralist, Irish Naturalists’ Journal, The Zoologist and British Species that are recorded more than 30km from land
Birds. A comprehensive account of all Irish species be- but still within the Exclusive Economic Zone, which
tween 1800 and 1900 is described in Birds of Ireland by extends to approximately 370km (200 nautical miles)
R.J. Ussher and R. Warren and subsequent records and offshore or where relevant, the median point between
changes in status up to 1953 in The Birds of Ireland by Ireland and Great Britain are designated as ‘At sea’.
P.G. Kennedy, R.F. Ruttledge and C.F. Scroope. These records are published in Irish Bird and Rare Bird
Reports but are excluded from the statistics. Currently
The first Irish Bird Report for the year 1953 was pub- there are two species solely in the ‘At sea’ category, i.e.
lished in 1954 by the Irish Ornithologists Club. It was Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow and Red-billed Trop-
edited by the late Major Robert F. Ruttledge. The report icbird Phaethon aethereus.
continued in this format until the 23rd report for 1975
was published in 1976. By this time Ken Preston had SEASONS OF BIRDS
taken over as editor from Major Ruttledge. Some species belong to more than one.
Subsequent to 1976 Irish Bird Reports were included in Resident
the journal Irish Birds, published by BirdWatch Ireland Breeding species that are present 12 months of the
(previously known as the Irish Wildbird Conservancy). year.
The 51st and last Irish Bird Report for 2003, edited by Partial migrant
Paul Milne, was in Irish Birds volume 7 number 4, pub- Species whose population consists of both resident and
lished in 2005. In 2005 a decision to amend the scope of migrant birds.
the report was taken by the IRBC which ‘brought forward Summer visitor
a change in the format of rare bird recording in Ireland for Species that arrive during summer months to breed.
2004 and henceforth, which will see the IRBC focus solely Naturalised breeder
on rare bird recording’ (Irish Birds 8(1): 107). Species that have become naturalised and breed.
This new approach was immediately implemented and Occasional breeder
the Irish Bird Report made way for the Irish Rare Bird Species that are intermittent breeders.
Report (IRBR). The first IRBR for 2004 was published in Historic breeder
Irish Birds volume 8 number 1 in 2006 and subsequent Species that have bred in the past.
reports continue to be published in Irish Birds. The most Winter visitor
recent report is for 2018 (Irish Birds 42: 71-94). A list of Species that come to spend the winter months.
notes published by the IRP and IRBC in Irish Birds and Passage migrant
elsewhere can be found on page 66. Species that pass through on their spring and/or au-
tumn migration.
TAXONOMY Vagrant
Scientific nomenclature and species order follows the A bird that is outside and often distant from its normal
IOC World List version 10.2 (Gill et al. 2020), replacing range for the time of year.
the BOU British List (BOU 2013) referenced in earlier Spring Overshoot
versions of this list. The IOC update their world list twice Migrating species that unintentionally fly past their in-
a year (January and June) with the most recent version tended destination as they return from their wintering
released in January 2020. grounds, arriving further north than usual.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 2VAGRANCY STATUS IRISH BIRD REPORT - VOLUMES
The following criteria are used when describing the rar- The following is the full list of Irish Bird Report volumes
ity of vagrant species/subspecies in the list: and their corresponding years:
• Extremely rare - Fewer than 10 records • Volume 1 number 1 - 1st Irish Bird Report (1950-53)
• Very rare - between 10 and 50 records • Volume 1 number 2 - 2nd Irish Bird Report (1954)
• Rare - between 51 and 150 records • Volume 1 number 3 - 3rd Irish Bird Report (1955)
• Scarce - between 151 and 300 records • Volume 1 number 4 - 4th Irish Bird Report (1956)
• Uncommon - between 301 and 500 records • Volume 1 number 5 - 5th Irish Bird Report (1957)
• Volume 1 number 6 - 6th Irish Bird Report (1958)
CATEGORY SYSTEM • Volume 1 number 7 - 7th Irish Bird Report (1959)
The AERC recommend the use of categories when com- • Volume 1 number 8 - 8th Irish Bird Report (1960)
piling national lists of species. The Irish List consists • Volume 1 number 9 - 9th Irish Bird Report (1961)
of all species included in Categories A, B & C, whereas • Volume 1 number 10 - 10th Irish Bird Report (1962)
species in Categories D & E are not included. Whenever • Volume 1 number 11 - 11th Irish Bird Report (1963)
a species is assigned to more than one category, the • Volume 1 number 12 - 12th Irish Bird Report (1964)
higher category only is included in the statistics. • Volume 2 number 1 - 13th Irish Bird Report (1965)
The following is the list of categories in use: • Volume 2 number 2 - 14th Irish Bird Report (1966)
Category A • Volume 2 number 3 - 15th Irish Bird Report (1967)
Species that have been recorded in an apparently natu- • Volume 2 number 4 - 16th Irish Bird Report (1968)
ral state in Ireland at least once since 1st January 1950. • Volume 2 number 5 - 17th Irish Bird Report (1969)
Category B • Volume 2 number 6 - 18th Irish Bird Report (1970)
Species that have been recorded in an apparently natu- • Volume 2 number 7 - 19th Irish Bird Report (1971)
ral state in Ireland at least once up to 31st December • Volume 2 number 8 - 20th Irish Bird Report (1972)
1949, but have not been recorded subsequently. • Volume 2 number 9 - 21st Irish Bird Report (1973)
Category C1 • Volume 2 number 10 - 22nd Irish Bird Report (1974)
Species that, although originally introduced by man, • Volume 2 number 11 - 23rd Irish Bird Report (1975)
have established feral breeding populations in Ireland
which apparently maintain themselves without neces- NORTHERN IRELAND RECORDS
sary recourse to further introduction. The Northern Ireland Rare Birds Committee (NIRBC) as-
Category C2 sesses rare bird records in Northern Ireland and main-
Species that have occurred, but are considered to have tains the Northern Ireland List. Recent decisions made
originated from established naturalised populations by the NIRBC of rare and scarce birds from 2008 that
outside Ireland. are posted on their website will not be incorporated to
Category D1 this list and the species totals until they have been pub-
Species that would otherwise appear in Categories A lished in a more permanent format.
or B except that there is a reasonable doubt that they
have ever occurred in a natural state. HYPERLINKS
Category D2 Hyperlinks are indicated by this colour.
Species that have arrived through ship or other human
assistance. SOURCES & ABBREVIATIONS
Category D3 References begin page 66. Abbreviations on page 64.
Species that have only ever been found dead on the
tideline. VERSION
Category D4 Version 9.0.
Species that would otherwise appear in Category C1
except that their feral populations may or may not be
PENDING RECORDS
Claims of Two-barred Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus
self-supporting.
plumbeitarsus and Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis, and
Category E
an 'at sea' category South Polar Skua Stercorarius mac-
Species that have been recorded as introductions,
cormicki all from 2019, and Cayenne Tern Thalasseus
transportees or escapes from captivity.
acuflavidus eurygnathus and Short-tailed Shearwater
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN Ardenna tenuirostris from 2020 all await assessment by
The breakdown of species on the Irish list at 31st De- the IRBC and if accepted would be additions to the Irish
cember 2018 by category was as follows: List.
Category A 470 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Category B 14 I am especially grateful to Dave Allen, Dermot Breen,
Derek Charles, Tom Cooney, Dick Coombes, Kieran
Category C 3 Fahy, Aidan G. Kelly, Kieran Grace, Michael O'Clery,
Total 487 Clive Mellon, Paul Moore, Killian Mullarney, Tom Shev-
Category D 11 lin, Pat Smiddy, Dave Suddaby and Dennis Weir for all
their help in compiling this list.
At Sea 2
Joe Hobbs, August 2020.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 3SYSTEMATIC LIST, Cats A, B & C Order: Anseriformes
Order: Galliformes Family: Anatidae
Family: Phasianidae Subfamily: Anserinae
Capercaillie B Brent Goose A
Tetrao urogallus urogallus (Linnaeus) Branta bernicla hrota (Müller)
IOC World List name: Western Capercaillie. IOC World List name: Brant Goose.
Alternative name: Pale-bellied Brent Goose (hrota).
Status: Former resident. The validity of its claim as a
native Irish bird has long been debated, however the Status: Winter visitor from the east Canadian High Arc-
discovery of Capercaillie bones at a Mesolithic site near tic. Upon arrival (about the end of August) the majority
Coleraine, Derry in 1982 confirms its presence during congregate around Strangford Lough before dispers-
prehistoric times. Other discoveries confirm its survival ing to other sites where they spend most of the winter,
to medieval times and possibly even in to the 17th cen- then moving on to grasslands from about mid-winter
tury (D’Arcy 1999). In the 19th century there were failed until departing for the breeding grounds in the spring
attempts at reintroductions in Cork and Sligo. (Lewis et al. 2019).
References: Deane 1979, Hall 1981, Kelly & Fox 1995, - Dark-bellied Brent Goose
McDowell 1995. B.b. bernicla (Linnaeus)
Status: Scarce winter visitor from Arctic Russia and Si-
Red Grouse A beria.
Lagopus lagopus scotica (Latham)
IOC World List name: Willow Ptarmigan. - Black Brant
B.b. nigricans (Lawrence)
Status: Uncommon local resident on raised and blan-
ket bogs, where it is associated with the heather that First record: Two birds. Strangford Lough, Down, 10th
it requires for food, shelter and nesting. Recent signifi- November 1978 (Irish Birds 3(2): 299). One remained to
cant decreases in numbers and range. 18th November and the other to 30th December.
It is generally regarded as a subspecies of Willow Status: Very rare winter visitor or vagrant, probably
(Grouse) Ptarmigan but is sometimes treated as a full from western Canada with 39 records.
species in its own right. Some studies have determined The taxonomic status of the so-called Grey-bellied or
that Irish birds should be placed in a separate subspe- Lawrence’s Brent Goose is yet to be fully established
cies hibernicus. but may well prove to be a credible subspecies. Shields
References: Allen et al. 2005, Cummins et al. 2015, Kelly (1990) has proposed it is a valid taxon on the basis of
et al. 2016, Lance 2015, Ryan 1992, Witherby 1923. preliminary DNA analysis and morphology, concluding
that it is not an example of a stable hybrid population.
Grey Partridge A / C1 There have been several reports of this type in Dublin,
Perdix perdix perdix (Linnaeus) Down, Louth and Mayo.
Status: Uncommon local resident whose numbers are References: Hutchinson & Keys 1973, McGeehan 1992,
periodically augmented by release programmes. It is Ó Briain 1985, Ruttledge 1976, 1977, 1984, Tierney et al.
likely that the only population of genuinely wild birds 2016, van den Berg et al. 1984.
remaining in Ireland is at Lough Boora, Offaly, although
this population is also boosted by introduced birds. Red-breasted Goose A / D1
Branta ruficollis (Pallas)
Quail A Status: Single record from Arctic Siberia.
Coturnix coturnix coturnix (Linnaeus) • Adult. WWR, North Slob, Wexford, 26th October 1997
IOC World List name: Common Quail. to 16th March 1998 (Irish Birds 7(1): 107). Originally
Status: Uncommon summer visitor to cereal and hay assigned to Category D1, it was later reassigned to
fields. In 2017 a calling male was heard in Tipperary on Category A in 2016 following a review by the IRBC.
12th June; a single bird was on Great Saltee Island on In addition, there is a Category D1 record of an adult at
28th May; and another near Tacumshin Lake, Wexford Dingle Marina, Kerry from 16th to 17th April 2005.
on 5th August (Newton 2017). In June 2018 searches Monotypic.
over four nights at Blainroe, Wicklow failed to find any
(Burke et al. 2020a). Canada Goose A / C1
Branta canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus)
Pheasant C1 Alternative name: Atlantic Canada Goose.
Phasianus colchicus ssp. (Linnaeus)
First record: Two birds. WWR, North Slob, Wexford,
IOC World List name: Common Pheasant.
27th October 1969 to 30th April 1970 (IBR 17: 16 & 18:
Status: Common widespread resident. Introduced in 27, IRBC 2013, Merne 1970).
the late 16th century from the Caucasus and in the late
- Todd’s Canada Goose
18th century from China. Numbers augmented by the
B.c. interior (Todd)
release of hand-reared birds. Nowadays the population
Alternative names: Interior Canada Goose, Hudson Bay
is largely comprised of intra-subspecific hybrids.
Canada Goose.
References: Potts 1980, Robertson & Whelan 1987.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 4First record: Two birds. WWR, North Slob, Wexford, 1st Greylag Goose A / C1
November 1993 to at least April 1994 (IRBC 2013, Irish Anser anser anser (Linnaeus)
Birds 5(3): 362 & 5(4): 452, Merne 1970). One of these Status: Local winter visitor from Iceland. Uncommon
was trapped and ringed at the North Slob, Wexford local feral resident.
on 1st November 1993, and was subsequently shot at
Dorchester, Maryland, USA on 14th January 1995. References: Ruttledge & Watt 1958.
Status (canadensis & interior): Very rare vagrant from Taiga Bean Goose A
North America with 44 records that includes records of Anser fabalis fabalis (Latham)
Todd’s Canada Goose and some others showing char- Regarding the historic status of this goose Kennedy et
acteristics of this form. Local feral resident largely as a al. (1954) point out there is potential confusion with
result of introductions to wildfowl collections. other geese species as the name was sometimes mis-
applied.
Barnacle Goose A / C1
Branta leucopsis (Bechstein) First record: A bird shot near Downpatrick, Down on
11th February 1908 (Deane 1954) is possibly the earli-
Status: Local winter visitor from Greenland mainly to est reliable record.
the west and northwest with a preference for coastal
pasture land and some offshore islands. Rare local feral Status: Scarce winter visitor from north Russia and
resident. northeast Siberia with 128 records since 1950.
The entire Greenland breeding population winters in References: Hearn 2004, Ruttledge & Watt 1958.
Ireland and Scotland (Mitchell & Hall 2013). Pink-footed Goose A
References: Cabot & West 1973, Crowe et al. 2014, Anser brachyrhynchus (Baillon)
Doyle et al. 2018/2019, Merne & Walsh 2003, Walsh & Status: Uncommon winter visitor from Iceland and
Crowe 2008. eastern Greenland to scattered locations.
Monotypic.
References: Robinson 1932, Ruttledge & Watt 1958.
Cackling Goose A Monotypic.
Branta hutchinsii hutchinsii (Richardson)
Alternative name: Richardson’s Cackling Goose.
Tundra Bean Goose A
Anser serrirostris rossicus (Buturlin)
First record: WWR, North Slob, Wexford, 6th October
First record: Two adults. Braganstown, Louth, 22nd
1970 to 28th April 1971 (IBR 18: 27 & 19: 32, IRBC 2013).
November 1993 to 28th January 1994 (Dowdall & Lar-
This bird paired with a Barnacle Goose and they pro-
rissey 2000, Irish Birds 5(3): 339 & 8(3): 374).
duced four hybrid offspring. A 'Canada' and Barnacle
Goose pair with three hybrid young were at Longfield Status: Very rare winter visitor from tundra regions of
Point, Lough Foyle, Derry on 11th November 1971 Eurasia with 37 records.
(Marsh 1975); they might possibly be the Wexford birds? References: Hearn 2004.
Status: Very rare vagrant from North America with 32
Tundra / Taiga Bean Goose
records. Previously treated as a small Canada Goose.
Anser sp.
Canada / Cackling Goose There are 3 records of Bean Goose that are not identifi-
Branta sp. able as either Taiga or Tundra Bean Goose.
There are 61 records of ‘Canada’ geese that are not
White-fronted Goose A
identifiable as either Canada or Cackling Goose but are
Anser albifrons flavirostris (Dalgety & Scott)
considered to be genuine vagrants from North America.
IOC World List name: Greater White-fronted Goose.
Snow Goose A / D1 Alternative name: Greenland White-fronted Goose.
Anser caerulescens caerulescens (Linnaeus) Status: Winter visitor from west Greenland. About one-
Alternative name: Lesser Snow Goose. third of the world population winter on the WWR.
First record: Two immatures. Tacumshin Lake, Wex- - Russian White-fronted Goose
ford, November 1871 (Ussher & Warren). Shot. A.a. albifrons (Scopoli)
- Greater Snow Goose Status: Scarce winter visitor from northern Eurasia
A.c. atlanticus (Kennard) with 173 records. About one-third of these in Wexford.
First record: Two shot from a party of seven. Termon- At least 50 were recorded at Ballough, near Lusk and
carragh, Mullet Peninsula, Mayo, October 1877 (Ussher Rogerstown Estuary in north Dublin from 5th January to
& Warren). 26th February 1947 (Kennedy et al. 1954).
Status (caerulescens & atlanticus): Rare vagrant or win- References: Fox et al. 2003, 2006, 2012, 2018/2019,
ter visitor from North America with 120 records, often Merne 1975, Norriss & Wilson 1988, Ruttledge & Watt
arriving in the company of Greenland White-fronted 1958, Ruttledge 1974b.
Geese. The status of some records is suspect and the
Lesser White-fronted Goose A
possibility of escapes can not always be ruled out, espe-
Anser erythropus (Linnaeus)
cially those turning up away from traditional locations.
Status: Single record from Asia.
References: Barlee & Ruttledge 1947, Cabot 1973, Rut-
• Adult. WWR, North Slob, Wexford, 23rd & 30th March
tledge & Watt 1958.
1969 (IBR 17: 28).
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 5Mute Swan A / C1 Subfamily: Tadorninae
Cygnus olor (Gmelin)
Status: Widespread resident. Winter visitor. Shelduck A
Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus)
References: Christmas et al. 2014, Collins 1984, Merne
IOC World List name: Common Shelduck.
2006, Smiddy 2015b, Taylor 2018.
Monotypic. Status: Widely dispersed resident around the coast
with a preference for salt marshes and estuaries. Rare
Bewick’s Swan A inland. Winter visitor with slight but steady declines
Cygnus columbianus bewickii (Yarrell) since the 1990s. Breeds in old rabbit burrows etc. at
IOC World List name: Tundra Swan. coastal sites and Loughs Neagh and Erne. Winter visitor
Status: Winter visitor from maritime tundra regions of from continental Europe.
European Arctic Russia to a few favoured sites, most Following breeding many adults undertake a moulting
notably in Wexford at the WWR, North Slob, Tacumshin migration to favoured areas of the Wadden Sea on the
Lake and Killag. Numbers have seriously declined in re- southeastern shore of the North Sea, leaving behind
cent years. large crèches of flightless youngsters in the care of a
- Whistling Swan few adults.
C.c. columbianus (Ord) References: Hutchinson & Keys 1973.
Status: Extremely rare vagrant from North America Monotypic.
with 5 records.
Ruddy Shelduck B / D1
1. Lough Gill, Kerry, 31st December 1978 to 1st Febru-
Tadorna ferruginea (Pallas)
ary 1979 (Irish Birds 1(4): 562).
2. Ballycotton, Cork, 24th February 1979 (Irish Birds First record: The Murrough, Wicklow, 7th July 1847
1(4): 562). (Ussher & Warren). Shot.
3. Ballycotton, Cork, 3rd to 18th February 1983, upon Status: There are 75 records prior to 1950 that are
which date it also visited nearby Ballymacoda, and probably genuine vagrants from southeast Europe or
presumed same, Ballycotton, 15th January to 27th central Asia. The majority of these were in the 19th cen-
February 1985 (Irish Birds 2(4): 550 & 3(2): 296). tury, including an invasion of about 50 in 1892, the year
4. South Slob, Wexford, 3rd March to late March 1985, that a summer drought across southern Europe caused
and presumed same back at the South Slob from a widespread northward movement of Ruddy Shelduck
31st December 1985 to 15th February 1986 (Irish with some reaching as far as Iceland and Greenland
Birds 3(2): 296 & 5(4): 451). (Ussher & Warren). More recently, records have been
5. WWR, North Slob, Wexford, 29th December 1990, considered to be of doubtful origin and assigned to Cat-
2nd to 3rd March 1991, 29th December 1991, 25th egory D.
January 1992 and 1st February 1992. All these occur- References: Vinicombe & Harrop 1999.
rences are presumed to involve the same returning Monotypic.
individual (Irish Birds 4(3): 431, 4(4): 578 & 10(2): 237).
References: Boland 2012, Boland et al. 2010, Colhoun Subfamily: Not fully resolved
et al. 2001, Crowe et al. 2005, 2015, Merne 1971, 1977,
Rees et al. 1997, Ruttledge 1991, Wordan et al. 2006. Mandarin Duck C1
Aix galericulata (Linnaeus)
Whooper Swan A First record: Female. South Slob, Wexford, 19th De-
Cygnus cygnus (Linnaeus) cember 1971 (IBR 19: 55). Shot.
Status: Winter visitor from Iceland to areas with suit- Status: Resident that was introduced from the Eastern
able wetland and open farmland habitat, especially in Palearctic. A small self-sustaining and sedentary breed-
western, northern and midland counties. Displays a ing population became established along the River
preference for grazing on land, especially on winter ce- Shimna, Tollymore Forest Park, Down (Mathers 1993)
reals. Very vocal possessing a deep honking call. but now appears to be extinct (Newton 2016). Captive
Has bred on a few occasions in the west and north. In or feral birds may be encountered in many urban parks.
2016 five pairs were confirmed breeding at Lough Beg, Monotypic.
Derry in July; at Inch Lake, Donegal two pairs were pre-
sent on 8th July with one of these accompanied by a Subfamily: Anatinae
cygnet; a pair was at Lough Neagh on 17th July but no
young observed (Newton 2016). In 2017 a pair was at Baikal Teal A / D1
Lough Neagh but again, no young observed (Newton Sibirionetta formosa (Georgi)
2017). In 2018 a pair with a cygnet was present at Lower Status: Single record from central Asia.
Lough Erne, Fermanagh (Burke et al. 2020a). • Male. Tacumshin Lake, Wexford, 19th to 24th Febru-
References: Boland 2012, Boland et al. 2010, Colhoun ary 2010 (Irish Birds 9(2): 288).
et al. 2001, Cropper 1937, Crowe et al. 2005, 2015, Kirby In addition there is a Category D1 record from Crom Es-
et al. 1992, Merne & Murphy 1986, Murphy 1992, 1993, tate, Newtownbutler, Fermanagh on 13th January 1967
Rees et al. 1997, Salmon & Black 1986, Smiddy 2015b, (IBR 15: 19, Irish Birds 3(2): 335). The mounted specimen
Stirnemann et al. 2012, Wells 1996. is in the Ulster Museum.
Monotypic. Monotypic.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 6Garganey A Wigeon A
Spatula querquedula (Linnaeus) Mareca penelope (Linnaeus)
Status: Uncommon summer visitor first recorded IOC World List name: Eurasian Wigeon.
breeding at Lough Neagh in 1956. Spring and autumn Status: Widespread winter visitor from Iceland, Scan-
passage migrant. Some few probably remain to winter. dinavia and Russia. The most numerous of Ireland's
In 2016 breeding probably took place in Wexford at winter ducks. Has bred on at least four occasions, most
Tacumshin Lake and Cahore Marsh (Newton 2016), but recently in 2005 (Hillis 2007), and presumably non-
there was no evidence of breeding anywhere in 2017 breeding individuals, are occasionally encountered dur-
(Newton 2017). In 2018, male and female birds were ing summer months.
seen at Tacumshin Lake in May and late July and a pair References: Hutchinson & Keys 1973.
frequented suitable habitat at Portmore Lough, Antrim Monotypic.
throughout the summer, however breeding was not re-
corded at either site (Burke et al. 2020). American Wigeon A
Monotypic. Mareca americana (Gmelin)
Alternative name: Baldpate.
Blue-winged Teal A First record: Pair. North Bull Island, Dublin, 23rd &
Spatula discors (Linnaeus) 27th February 1954 (IBR 2: 9).
First record: Immature female. Ballycotton, Cork, 9th Status: Scarce vagrant and/or possible winter visitor
September 1910 (Kennedy et al. 1954, Nichols 1911). from North America with 147 records, many of these
Shot. are returning over a number of years.
Status: Rare vagrant from North America with 115 re- References: Votier et al. 2003.
cords, most recently two in 2018 with one at Inishmore, Monotypic.
Aran Islands in September and another at Trabeg on
the Dingle Peninsula, Kerry in October. Mallard A / C1
Monotypic. Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos (Linnaeus)
Shoveler A Status: Common widespread resident with a prefer-
Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus) ence for freshwater and coastal wetlands. It is the most
IOC World List name: Northern Shoveler. urban of ducks, often found in city parks and streams.
Feral resident that is known to interbreed with wild
Status: Uncommon resident mostly in the north and birds. Winter visitor from Britain, near continent and
midlands. Some of these may depart for the winter. probably Iceland. Apart from Muscovy Duck, all domes-
Common widespread winter visitor from northern and tic breeds of duck are descended from the Mallard.
central Europe.
References: Cabot 1977, Whilde 1977.
In 2018 birds were seen in suitable breeding habitat
in 12 counties, with breeding confirmed at Portmore American Black Duck A
Lough, Antrim, Lerrig Lake, Kerry and at a small lake Anas rubripes (Brewster)
on cutover bog in Tipperary, and there was probable First record: Listrolin, near Mullinavat, Kilkenny, Feb-
breeding at Upper and Lower Lough Erne, Fermanagh ruary 1954 (IBR 2: 8, Kennedy 1955a). Shot early in the
and Lough Gara, Sligo (Burke et al. 2020). month, the carcass was received at Flanagan’s Poultry
References: Hutchinson & Keys 1973. Shop, Waterford on 5th February. 1st WP record.
Monotypic. Status: Very rare vagrant from North America with 22
records, most recently a male at Baltimore, Cork in Feb-
Gadwall A
ruary 2016. Some have returned to the same location
Mareca strepera (Linnaeus)
over a number of years.
Status: Scarce resident at scattered sites mostly in the
References: Cadbury 1961, Scott, Peter 1955.
south and west and at Lough Neagh. Breeding was first
Monotypic.
recorded in 1933 (British Birds 27: 265). Widespread but
uncommon and thinly distributed winter visitor mainly Pintail A
from northwest Europe. Anas acuta (Linnaeus)
In 2016 breeding was confirmed at Lough Neagh, Port- IOC World List name: Northern Pintail.
more Lough, Antrim and Our Lady's Island Lake, Wex- Status: Uncommon local winter visitor from northern
ford and probable breeding at Lower Lough Erne, Fer- Europe and western Siberia to favoured sites, especial-
managh (Newton 2016). Then in 2017 a minimum of ly at Lough Foyle, Little Brosna Callows, Dundalk Bay,
12 females accompanied by 38 young (representing a Tacumshin Lake, Wexford, Strangford Lough and North
mean brood size of 3.2) were at Lough Neagh (Newton Bull Island, Dublin. Passage migrant.
2017). In 2018 breeding took place at Lough Neagh,
Very rare and occasional breeder since first recorded in
Lough Leane, Kerry and Lough Ree, Longford and prob-
Roscommon in 1917, although it is possibly overlooked
able breeding was at Upper Lough Erne, Fermanagh
and breeds more regularly (Whilde 1993). One ringed in
and Tacumshin Lake, Wexford (Burke et al. 2020).
Canada was shot in Sligo in 1974 and one ringed at the
References: Fox 1988, Hutchinson & Keys 1973. North Slob in 1972 was shot in northeast Italy in 1982.
Monotypic.
References: Fox & Meek 1993, Hutchinson & Keys 1973.
Monotypic.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 7Teal A Ferruginous Duck A
Anas crecca (Linnaeus) Aythya nyroca (Güldenstädt)
IOC World List name: Eurasian Teal. Alternative name: White-eyed Pochard.
Status: Thinly distributed resident. Some may depart First record: Unknown location in county Down, about
during the autumn to winter on the continent, although 1866 (Kennedy et al. 1954). Shot. The carcass was dis-
this may be weather dependent. Widespread and com- covered in a Belfast poultry shop.
mon winter visitor mainly from Iceland, Britain, near Status: Very rare winter visitor or vagrant from Europe
continental Europe, Scandinavia and the Baltic states. and Asia with 35 records, most recently at Tacumshin
References: Hutchinson & Keys 1973. Lake, Wexford in January 2011.
Monotypic. References: Vinicombe 2000.
Green-winged Teal A Monotypic.
Anas carolinensis (Gmelin) Ring-necked Duck A
First record: Two males. Near Ballycolla, Laois, 30th Aythya collaris (Donovan)
November 1953 (IBR 1: 8). First record: Adult male. Lurgan Park Lake, Armagh,
Status: Ostensibly a scarce vagrant from North Amer- 20th March to 1st May 1960 (Ennis 1961, IBR 8: 7). Pre-
ica with 173 records (all males) to the end of 2011, al- sumed same individual returned annually until the
though some have possibly become resident or at least winter of 1969-70. Also observed at Kinnego Harbour,
regularly returning. Occurs in most years. Lough Neagh, Armagh during this time.
The Nearctic counterpart to Teal, with which it was pre- Status: Uncommon vagrant from North America with
viously lumped, now regarded as a full species by most 323 records to the end of 2011. It is the Nearctic coun-
but not BirdLife International. terpart of Tufted Duck, in whose company it is often
References: King 1956. found.
Monotypic. Monotypic.
Subfamily: Aythyinae Tufted Duck A
Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus)
Red-crested Pochard A Status: Common breeder mainly in the north and west.
Netta rufina (Pallas) Most are resident with some presumed to depart for
First record: Male. Near Tralee, Kerry, 18th January the winter, but to what extent is not clear. Winter visitor
1881 (Ussher & Warren). Shot. from Britain, Iceland, Scandinavia, near continent and
Baltic states with recent declines. The largest winter
Status: Rare with 69 records, most recently a female at
concentrations are at Loughs Neagh and Beg.
Inch Island Lake and Blanket Nook, Lough Swilly, Don-
egal in September and November 2012. How many of References: Benington 1934, Cooney 2015, Tománko-
these are genuine vagrants from Europe is difficult to vá et al. 2014.
establish with some possibly originating from wildfowl Monotypic.
collections etc.
Scaup A
Monotypic.
Aythya marila marila (Linnaeus)
Redhead A IOC World List name: Greater Scaup.
Aythya americana (Eyton) Status: Winter visitor from western Siberia, European
Status: Single record from North America. Russia, Fennoscandia and Iceland mainly to the north-
• Male. Lough Errul, Cape Clear Island, Cork, 12th to east and southwest coasts and at Loughs Neagh and
15th July 2003 (Irish Birds 7(4): 552). 6th WP record. Beg. Possibly occurs on passage.
Monotypic. Breeding was confirmed in July 1997 just south of Sandy
Bay, Lough Neagh, Antrim (Allen & Tickner 1999), when
Pochard A six chicks were observed with adults. On 10th June 2017
Aythya ferina (Linnaeus) two females with broods of four each were reported
IOC World List name: Common Pochard. with Tufted Duck and Mallard at Lough Neagh, but the
Status: Uncommon local resident becoming rarer. Scaup were not observed subsequently (Newton 2017).
Breeding was first confirmed in Monaghan in 1907. This potential breeding record is under review with the
Common winter visitor from northwest and northeast Irish Rare Breeding Birds Panel (Burke et al. 2020).
Europe and probably further east with the main con- References: Salmon 1988.
centrations at Loughs Neagh and Beg. Numbers have
declined in recent years. Lesser Scaup A
In 2017 a minimum of 12 females with 31 young (repre- Aythya affinis (Eyton)
senting a mean brood size of 2.6) were at Lough Neagh First record: Male. Corbet Lake, Down, 13th February
(Newton 2017). In 2018 recently fledged young were at to 14th April 1988 (Irish Birds 4(1): 87, Mullarney 1989).
Upper Lough Erne, Fermanagh and in July females ac- Presumed that the same individual returned annually
companied by broods of various sizes were at Lough until the winter of 1993-94. Also observed at Oxford Is-
Neagh (Burke et al. 2020). land and Lurgan Park Lake, Armagh and Hillsborough
Monotypic. Lake, Down during this time.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 8Status: Very rare vagrant from North America with 43 Stejneger's Scoter A
records, most recently a returning adult male at Lough Melanitta stejnegeri (Ridgway)
Gara, Sligo in October 2018. Status: Single record from the Far East.
A male that was fitted with a nasal saddle in Portugal • Adult male. Off Rossbeigh, Kerry, 1st February to 11th
in 2013 was shot at Lough Neagh in 2016 (Copland & April 2011 (Farrar & Jones 2011, Irish Birds 9(3): 453).
Collins 2017). It is possible the same individual had been present
Monotypic. since December 2010 or perhaps even during the
previous winter of 2009-10.
Subfamily: Merginae Previously treated as a subspecies of White-winged
Scoter M. deglandi.
King Eider A
Somateria spectabilis (Linnaeus) Common Scoter A
First record: Belfast Lough, Down, 11th March 1850 Melanitta nigra (Linnaeus)
(Ussher & Warren). Status: Rare local resident mainly in Sligo, Mayo and
Status: Very rare vagrant from High Arctic coasts and Galway with recent decreases. Winter visitor to all
islands with 36 records. coasts. Passage migrant.
References: Suddaby et al. 1994. There are no confirmed breeding records in any of the
Monotypic. three Rare Breeding Bird Reports covering the years
2014 to 2017 (Newton 2015, 2016, 2017), although four
Eider A males were present at Lough Corrib, Galway in summer
Somateria mollissima mollissima (Linnaeus) 2017 but no females or young were reported. In 2018
IOC World List name: Common Eider. there were at least ten adults on Lough Ree in May and
Status: Local resident mainly confined to rocky coasts in July there were two pairs there with broods; at Lough
in the north and northwest. Winter visitor in uncertain Gara, Sligo a pair was seen in late April but not subse-
numbers (as some flocks may be too far off land to be quently; of a minimum number of 16 on Lough Corrib
accurately counted), to shallow, inshore coastal waters in mid-May some might have been paired (Burke et al.
mainly along northerly and easterly coastlines with 2020).
Lough Foyle particularly favoured. References: Cohen 1934, Ferguson 1971, Gittings &
- Northern Eider Delany 1996, Heffernan & Hunt 2004, Hunt et al. 2012,
S.m. borealis (Brehm) Ruttledge 1961, 1987, Tierney et al. 2001, Underhill et
al. 1998.
Status: Very rare winter visitor from Arctic Canada,
Monotypic.
Greenland and Iceland.
- Dresser’s Eider Black Scoter A
S.m. dresseri (Sharpe) Melanitta americana (Swainson)
Alternative name: American Scoter.
Status: Single record from northeast North America.
• Male. Glasagh Bay, Fanad Head, Donegal, 2nd January Status: Single record from North America.
to 21st February 2010 (Farrelly & Charles 2010, Irish • Adult male. Off Mountain Stage, near Rossbeigh,
Birds 9(2): 288). Presumed same individual returned Kerry, 8th January to 3rd April 2015. Presumed same
off Inishowen Peninsula, Donegal from 8th to 19th individual returned to winter off Rossbeigh annually
June 2011 (Irish Birds 9(3): 452). 1st WP record. to 2018 (Irish Rare Bird Reports for 2016, 2017, 2018).
Monotypic.
References: Alexander 1940a, Cohen 1934, Leonard
2010, Murray & Cabot 2002, Patten 1915, Robinson Long-tailed Duck A
1912. Clangula hyemalis (Linnaeus)
Alternative name: Oldsquaw.
Surf Scoter A
Melanitta perspicillata (Linnaeus) Status: Uncommon winter visitor (although unknown
numbers probably winter far offshore in deep water
First record: Adult male. Ballyholme Bay, Belfast Lough,
out of sight of land) to all coasts from Iceland, Green-
Down, 9th September 1846 (Ussher & Warren). Shot.
land, northern Europe and western Siberia.
Status: Scarce winter visitor or vagrant from North
Monotypic.
America with 271 records. It has been recorded off all
counties with a coastline except Leitrim and Limerick Bufflehead A
and inland at Loughs Neagh and Erne. Between January Bucephala albeola (Linnaeus)
and April 2016 up to nine were in Blacksod Bay, Mayo,
Status: Extremely rare vagrant from North America
with all nine present on 2nd April (Irish Birds 10(4): 547),
with 3 records.
which is probably a record for the Western Palearctic.
1. Female. The Gearagh, Macroom, Cork, 18th January
Monotypic.
to 8th March 1998 (Irish Birds 6(3): 386).
Velvet Scoter A 2. First-year male. Lough Atedaun, Clare, 6th January to
Melanitta fusca (Linnaeus) 4th March 2007 (Irish Birds 8(4): 587).
3. Adult female. Ballinacarriga Lake, Cork, 26th Novem-
Status: Uncommon and thinly distributed winter visitor
ber to 15th December 2018 (Irish Birds 42: 74).
to all coasts probably from northwest Eurasia.
Monotypic.
Monotypic.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 9Goldeneye A Red-breasted Merganser A
Bucephala clangula clangula (Linnaeus) Mergus serrator (Linnaeus)
IOC World List name: Common Goldeneye. Status: Uncommon resident mainly in the west and
Status: Common widespread winter visitor from Fen- northwest, dispersing to the coast in winter. Winter visi-
noscandia and Russia and possibly from the small, but tor from northern Europe, Iceland and eastern Green-
recently increasing, breeding population in the Scottish land.
Highlands and Aberdeenshire, with the largest num- References: Gittings & O’Donoghue 2016.
bers at Loughs Neagh and Beg. Monotypic.
Barrow’s Goldeneye A Subfamily: Oxyurinae
Bucephala islandica (Gmelin)
Status: Single record, probably from Iceland. Ruddy Duck C1 / C2
• Adult male. Quoile Pondage NNR, Downpatrick, Oxyura jamaicensis (Gmelin)
Down, 20th November 2005 to 15th April 2006 (Irish First record: Male. Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island, Lough
Birds 8(3): 376). Presumed same individual returned Neagh, Armagh, 16th March to 16th April 1973 and 26th
annually until the winter of 2007-08. June 1973 (Culbert & Furphy 1978). An adult female
Monotypic. with four young was observed the following 1st to 10th
October at Closet Bay, Lough Neagh.
Smew A
Mergellus albellus (Linnaeus) Status: North American stiff-tailed duck that became
naturalised following escapes from wildfowl collec-
Status: Uncommon mid-winter visitor from the east
tions in Britain (Hudson 1976). By the mid 1990s, over-
mainly to northern counties. Numbers vary depending
all numbers had peaked at about 200 and a tentative
on conditions further east.
estimate at the breeding population during the years
Monotypic.
1995 to 1998 was about 50 pairs (Perry et al. 1999). It
Hooded Merganser A / D1 has now become very rare, possibly as a result of cull-
Lophodytes cucullatus (Linnaeus) ing undertaken since 2005 to reduce the possibility of
inter-breeding with the vulnerable White-headed Duck
Status: Extremely rare vagrant from North America
O. leucocephala.
with 6 records, including two pairs.
1-2. Pair. East Ferry, Cobh Harbour, Cork, December References: Allen et al. 2006, Wells & Smiddy 1995.
1878 (Ussher & Warren). Shot. 1st WP record. Monotypic.
3. Female. Shannon Estuary off Ballylongford, Kerry,
January 1881 (Ussher & Warren). Shot. Order: Caprimulgiformes
4. Female or immature. Acton Lake (aka Lough Shark),
Poyntzpass, Armagh, 21st December 1957 (IBR 5: 8). Family: Caprimulgidae
5-6. Pair. South Lake, near East Town, Tory Island, Don-
egal, 19th to 23rd May 2015 (Irish Birds 10(3): 396, Common Nighthawk A
Meenan 2015). Chordeiles minor (Forster)
Monotypic. Status: Extremely rare vagrant from North America
with 2 records.
Goosander A 1. Juvenile. Ballydonegan, Cork, 24th October 1999
Mergus merganser merganser (Linnaeus) (Irish Birds 6(4): 563).
IOC World List name: Common Merganser. 2. First-winter. Caherciveen, Kerry, 24th to 25th Octo-
Status: Very rare resident breeding near rivers and ber 2009 (Irish Birds 9(2): 271). Found exhausted and
lakes in Wicklow where they seem to rely largely on the taken in to care by a local vet who held it overnight,
availability of nestboxes to breed. Uncommon winter releasing it the following day near Caherciveen.
visitor. Very secretive duck that is easily spooked. Race not determined.
The largest congregations recorded have been at Glen-
dalough where up to about 30 have been seen.
Nightjar A
Caprimulgus europaeus europaeus (Linnaeus)
A Wicklow nestbox pair produced eight young in 2015; IOC World List name: European Nightjar.
subsequently a female and five young were at Lough Alternative name: Goatsucker.
Dan on 3rd June and a female and about five young
Status: Very rare and probably intermittent summer
were at Trooperstown Bridge on 13th August. It is not
visitor to conifer plantations in southern counties from
clear if these were the 2015 nestbox family or others
northwest Africa. Most active during hours of darkness
that utilised natural tree holes to nest (Newton 2015).
when it delivers a continuous 'churring' call.
In 2016 two nestbox pairs from near the Avonmore
River fledged seven and eight young and in August five It has not been reported in any of the Irish Rare Breed-
females were at Glendalough (Newton 2016). In 2018 ing Bird Reports covering the years 2013 to 2016 and
four pairs were confirmed breeding in Wicklow. Each the entries in the 2012 and 2017 reports do not confirm
pair produced ten eggs with between six and ten of breeding. In 2018 one was heard churring early in June
each pair hatching (Burke et al. 2020). somewhere in Wexford, however thereafter nothing
further was heard (Burke et al. 2020).
References: Coombes 1995, Humphreys 1920, Meek &
Little 1977, Sheppard 1978. References: Gribble 1983.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 10Order: Apodiformes 2. Howth Head, Dublin, 9th August 1993 (Irish Birds
5(2): 224, O’Toole 1994a, 1994b). Picked up in an ex-
Family: Apodidae hausted state and later died in care.
3. Dundalk, Louth, 24th April 1998 (Irish Birds 6(3): 397).
White-throated Needletail A 4. Bray Seafront, Wicklow, 27th to 28th March 2006
Hirundapus caudacutus (Latham) (Irish Birds 8(3): 407).
Alternative name: Needle-tailed Swift. Race not determined.
Status: Single record from Asia. Little Swift A
• Ballyieragh, Cape Clear Island, Cork, 20th June 1964 Apus affinis (Gray)
(IBR 12: 30).
Status: Extremely rare vagrant or spring overshoot
Race not determined.
from southern Europe or north Africa with 2 records.
Chimney Swift A 1. Cummer, Cape Clear Island, Cork, 12th June 1967
Chaetura pelagica (Linnaeus) (IBR 15: 36).
2. Great Saltee Island, Wexford, 16th May 2002 (Irish
First record: Alderwood, Cape Clear Island, Cork, 23rd
Birds 10(2): 251).
October 1999 (Irish Birds 6(4): 563).
Race not determined.
Status: Very rare vagrant from North America with 17
records, all occurring during two mini-influxes in 1999
(when seven were recorded in counties Cork, Wexford
Order: Otidiformes
and Wicklow) and 2005 (when ten were recorded in
Family: Otididae
counties Cork, Kerry and Waterford). The 2005 influx
was courtesy of Hurricane Wilma. Great Bustard B
Monotypic. Otis tarda tarda (Linnaeus)
Alpine Swift A Status: Extremely rare vagrant with 3 records.
Tachymarptis melba melba (Linnaeus) 1-2. Female and one other. Near Thurles, Tipperary,
First record: Ten nautical miles south of Cape Clear Is- December 1902 (Kennedy et al. 1954). Female shot
land, Cork, Summer 1829 (Irish Birds 10(2): 251, Ussher 20th December.
& Warren). Shot. 3. Female. Near Castletownberehaven, Cork, 9th De-
cember 1925 (Kennedy et al. 1954). Shot.
Status: Rare vagrant or spring overshoot from south-
ern Europe with 86 records, most recently two in Octo- Little Bustard B
ber 2018, with one at Galley Head, Cork and another at Tetrax tetrax (Linnaeus)
Greenore Point, Wexford. First record: Two birds. Killough, near Powerscourt,
References: Coombes & Jordan 1992, Fahy 1992. Wicklow, 23rd August 1833 (Ussher & Warren). One was
shot and the survivor remained in the locality for some
Swift A time.
Apus apus apus (Linnaeus)
IOC World List name: Common Swift. Status: Very rare vagrant with 10 records, most recent-
ly at Skerries, Dublin during November 1931.
Status: Widespread summer visitor that nests in natu-
Monotypic.
ral holes and cavities in buildings, as well as nestboxes.
Individuals often return to the same site with the same
mate over a number of years. One of the last summer
Order: Cuculiformes
migrants to arrive and one of the first to depart. Their
call is a very characteristic sound of summer evenings,
Family: Cuculidae
especially when they gather around the breeding area
Great Spotted Cuckoo A / D3
in ‘screaming parties’. Young birds don't return for two
Clamator glandarius (Linnaeus)
years and don't breed until they are four.
Status: Extremely rare vagrant from southern Europe
Recent declines, especially in the west, have prompted
mainly as a spring overshoot with 7 records.
BirdWatch Ireland to undertake a National Swift Survey
1. First-year. Omey Island, near Clifden, Galway, about
in 2017, requesting help from the public to report sight-
March 1842 (Ussher & Warren). While pursued by
ings.
hawks it flew to a crevice in a stone wall to avoid cap-
References: Merne 1997, Perry 2003, Whelan et al. ture. Unfortunately, its bolt-hole was noticed by pas-
2018/2019. sers-by who captured it alive. It survived in captivity
for four days on potatoes and water!
Pallid Swift A
2. Great Skellig Rock, Kerry, 30th April 1897 (Irish Birds
Apus pallidus (Shelley)
9(3): 475).
Status: Extremely rare vagrant from Europe with 4 re- 3-4. Near Cahirciveen, Kerry, Spring 1918 (Kennedy et
cords. al. 1954). Two birds, one found dead.
1. St. John’s Point, Down, 30th October 1913 (Irish Birds 5. Juvenile. Mahee Island, Strangford Lough, Down, 9th
5(2): 224). Killed striking the lighthouse. The speci- to 16th September 1975 (IBR 23: 21).
men was originally labelled as a Common Swift in the 6. First-summer. Carnsore Point, Wexford, 3rd to 14th
Natural History Museum, Dublin. The correct identifi- April 2002 (Irish Birds 7(3): 404).
cation was not established until 1990.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 117. First-summer. Ringaskiddy, Cork, 15th February Family: Columbidae
2009 (Diggin 2009, Irish Birds 9(2): 270).
In addition there is a Category D3 record of a first-year Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon A
bird that was found dead on the tideline at North Bull Columba livia livia (Gmelin)
Island, Dublin on 13th March 1983 (Irish Birds 2(4): 569). Status: Resident. The Rock Dove is the wild ancestor of
References: Lansdown 1995. the Feral Pigeon. True Rock Doves are confined to more
Monotypic. remote parts of the southwest and northeast coasts.
Considerable numbers of Feral Pigeons are found in cit-
Yellow-billed Cuckoo A ies and towns in a wide variety of plumages.
Coccyzus americanus (Linnaeus)
First record: Near Youghal, Cork, Autumn 1825 (Ussher Stock Dove A
& Warren). Killed. 1st WP record. Columba oenas oenas (Linnaeus)
Status: Very rare vagrant from North America with 10 Status: Resident with recent declines, mainly in the east
records, most recently in Ballycogley, Wexford in Octo- and south favouring woods, parks and open country-
ber 2011. side near agricultural lands, especially of cereal crops.
Often seen in the company of Woodpigeons. Breeding
References: MacLochlainn 2017. was first recorded in the 1870s.
Monotypic.
Woodpigeon A
Black-billed Cuckoo B Columba palumbus palumbus (Linnaeus)
Coccyzus erythropthalmus (Wilson) IOC World List name: Common Woodpigeon.
Status: Single record from North America. Status: Widespread and common resident in rural and
• Killead, near Aldergrove, Antrim, 25th September urban areas that is only absent from higher ground.
1871 (Clermont 1872, Ussher & Warren). Shot. 2nd WP Winter visitor from Britain and continental Europe.
record. Largest Irish pigeon.
Monotypic.
Can be encountered in huge flocks numbering in the
Cuckoo A thousands, especially in areas where there is plenty of
Cuculus canorus canorus (Linnaeus) food available. The song is the very familiar five note
IOC World List name: Common Cuckoo. 'coo-CROOO-coo-coo-coo'.
Status: Widespread summer visitor with recent de- References: Ó hUallacháin & Dunne 2006, Ó hUal-
clines, which might be the result of a decrease in Mead- lacháin 2014.
ow Pipit numbers, its principle host. The first arrivals
in spring often get reported in the letter pages of na- Turtle Dove A
tional newspapers and although often misidentified, Streptopelia turtur turtur (Linnaeus)
the male's two note song is one of Ireland's best known. IOC World List name: European Turtle Dove.
References: Sealy et al. 1996. Status: Uncommon spring and autumn passage mi-
grant or spring overshoot that has bred on a few occa-
sions.
Order: Pterocliformes
References: O’Mahony 1939.
Family: Pteroclididae Collared Dove A
Streptopelia decaocto decaocto (Frivaldszky)
Pallas’s Sandgrouse A
IOC World List name: Eurasian Collared Dove.
Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pallas)
First record: Locations in Dublin, Down and Galway,
First records: Locations in Dublin, Fermanagh and
Spring 1959 (IBR 10: 20-21).
Donegal, June 1863 (Clermont 1864, Ussher & Warren).
Status: Common widespread resident. Breeding was
Status: A central Asian species that is prone to occa-
first recorded in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin in 1959.
sional irruptions as happened at least twice in the 19th
In the same year another pair summered in Comber,
century during 1863 (when 18 occurred in three coun-
Down but there was no evidence of breeding. Its trisyl-
ties) and 1888 (when 110 occurred in 14 counties as far
labic 'coo-COOO-coo' song is sometimes mistakenly re-
apart as Dublin, Tyrone, Galway and Cork, beginning
ported as the first returning Cuckoos.
in May and with some still present in early December).
There was also a record of two birds at Kilcock, Kildare Beginning early in the 20th century this species em-
sometime in 1876. barked on a rapid range expansion westwards across
Europe from Turkey and the Balkans where it had
A record of two birds in sandhills near Raven Point,
spread (or was possibly introduced) and become es-
Wexford in May 1954 were probably this species, how-
tablished from rural India by about 1930; reaching
ever Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis can
Germany by 1945; Britain by 1955; Ireland by 1959 and
not be completely ruled out (IBR 3: 19 & 14: 56). Treated
the Faroes in the 1970s, by which time it had also suc-
as a Category A species on the basis of these two post
cessfully colonised most Irish counties. Despite several
1950 records.
theories proffered the exact cause of this expansion re-
Monotypic.
mains a mystery.
Order: Columbiformes References: Hudson 1965, 1972.
A List of Irish Birds version 9.0 - Joe Hobbs Page 12Mourning Dove A In addition, there is an ‘At sea’ record of one captured
Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus) on a ship in the North Atlantic 100 nautical miles west
Status: Extremely rare vagrant from North America of Ireland in February 1920.
with 3 records. Monotypic.
1. Inishbofin, Galway, 2nd to 15th November 2007 Spotted Crake A
(Irish Birds 8(4): 600, McGeehan 2008). It is presumed Porzana porzana (Linnaeus)
to be the same individual that was later observed in
Status: There are 54 records since 1950, however it is
northeast Germany and at Skagen, Denmark during
very difficult to assess its true status on account of its
the following May 2008.
secretive nature. Possibly occurs as a vagrant or rare
2. Garinish, West Beara, Cork, 25th October 2009 (Irish
summer visitor from Africa to suitable wetlands. Has
Birds 9(2): 270).
bred in the past and possibly still does in small num-
3. Doonloughaun, near Ballyconneely, Galway, 12th to
bers. Its presence is often revealed by its far-carrying
16th November 2018 (Irish Birds 42: 82).
whiplash-like song that is generally delivered only after
Race not determined.
darkness has set in.
Order: Gruiformes In addition, there is an 'At sea' record of one that came
aboard the fishing vessel Atlantic Rose while approxi-
Family: Rallidae mately 70 nautical miles south-southeast of Old Head
of Kinsale, Cork on 25th September 2015.
Water Rail A References: Stroud et al. 2012.
Rallus aquaticus aquaticus (Linnaeus) Monotypic.
Status: Resident with a scattered distribution, favour-
Moorhen A
ing permanent wetland with still or slow-moving fresh
Gallinula chloropus chloropus (Linnaeus)
water, dispersing more widely in winter. Winter visitor
IOC World List name: Common Moorhen.
from Iceland and continental Europe.
Status: Common widespread resident favouring fresh-
A bird that is more often heard than seen, its distinctive
water habitats, especially where there is emergent or
call, resembling a squealing pig, coming from dense
fringe vegetation, even in urban parks where they can
vegetation is often the only evidence of its presence.
become very tame. Generally stays close to breeding
References: Jenkins 1999. areas throughout the year but in winter some descend
to lower ground. Winter visitor from Britain and Conti-
Corncrake A
nental Europe.
Crex crex (Linnaeus)
IOC World List name: Corn Crake. Coot A
Status: Summer visitor from Africa to a few coastal Fulica atra atra (Linnaeus)
and island locations mainly in Donegal and west Con- IOC World List name: Eurasian Coot.
naught. The scientific name is onomatopoeic mimicking Status: Common resident throughout a wide variety of
the male's distinctive call. low-lying and shallow wetlands, dispersing more widely
Historically widespread and common in most parts in winter. A noisy bird with a wide range of calls and
where there were suitable hay fields to breed in. It is grunts, particularly an explosive 'kowk'. Winter visitor
estimated that as many as 50,000 pairs were breeding from Britain and Europe.
in 1950. In 2016 the population was estimated at 168 An obvious feature is the white frontal patch on the
pairs (that being a 27% decline over the previous two Coot's forehead just above the bill. This has given rise
years) of which 60 were in west Connaught and 108 in to the expression 'Bald as a Coot'.
Donegal (Newton 2016). Changes in farming practices,
References: Irwin & O’Halloran 1997.
especially the move from hand to machine cutting of
hay as well as the early production of spring silage has American Coot A
adversely affected breeding success. Fulica americana (Gmelin)
References: Casey 1999, Copland 2002, Fox 1993, Status: Extremely rare vagrant from North America
Green & Stowe 1993, Green 1996, Mayes & Stowe 1989, with 4 records of long staying individuals.
O’Meara 1979, 1986, Sheppard & Green 1994. 1. Ballycotton, Cork, 7th February to 4th April 1981
Monotypic. (Hutchinson et al. 1982, 1984, Irish Birds 2(2): 209).
4th WP record.
Sora A 2. First calendar-year. Termoncarragh Lake, Mayo, 15th
Porzana carolina (Linnaeus)
November 2010 to 9th April 2011 (Irish Birds 9(2): 294
Alternative name: Sora Rail.
& 9(3): 460, Suddaby 2011).
Status: Extremely rare vagrant from North America 3. Murlach, Ballyconneely, Galway, 28th November
with 2 records. 2012 to 13th April 2013 (Irish Birds 9(4): 588 & 10(1):
1. Adult male. Slyne Head Lighthouse, Galway, 11th 80).
April 1920 (Kennedy et al. 1954, Patten 1920). Killed 4. Lough Gill, Kerry, 5th November 2014 to 5th March
striking the lighthouse. 2015 (Irish Birds 10(2): 244 & 10(3): 402).
2. Adult. Tacumshin Lake, Wexford, 2nd to 4th August Race not determined.
1998 (Irish Birds 6(3): 389).
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