How many birds are there in Estonia? There are 328 species of birds in Estonia. They belong to 63 families of 20 orders. The most numerous of them is the order of the Passeres with 128 species. The systematic list of Estonian birds provides a survey of different groups of birds.

Which species of birds are characteristic of Estonia? Estonian national bird is swallow. Its habitats are our rural settlements. Yet it is not the most numerous breeder in Estonia. These are chaffinch (2 - 3 million pairs) and willow warbler (1 - 2 millions) in our groves. As to larger birds the most widespread are black-headed gull (up to 100,000 pairs) and mallard (30,000 pairs). Buzzard (2,000 - 3,000 pairs) is the most common among raptorial birds. White stork (2,000 pairs) is numerous in the villages in the continent. Estonia is situated at migratory roads of several birds. Thus it is possible to observe a lot of migratory long tailed ducks (several millions of birds), mallards, barnacle geese, and bean geese (more than 100,000) on the islands and seashore of western Estonia in autumn and spring. There are lots of migratory passerines as well but it is more difficult to observe their migration.

Where do Estonian birds live? Birds are found all over Estonia: in settlements and bogs, on the seashore and in thick forest. Approximately half of Estonia birds prefers groves. There are mostly passerines: chaffinch, willow warbler, wood warbler, chiffchaff, robin, garden warbler, blackcap and tree pipit. There are also gallinaceous birds (black grouse, hazel grouse), hawks (goshawk, sparrowhawk) and owls (Ural owl, long-eared owl) in forests. A large number of forest birds accounts for the fact that 40 % of Estonian territory is covered by forests. About 20 % of our birds is connected with water bodies and coastal areas. Long and indented coast favours breeding and feeding of a lot of birds. The most numerous are black-headed gull, herring gull, common gull, common tern, redshank, mallard, eider and tufted duck on the islands and seashore. Coot, water rail, spotted crace, and bittern live in reeds. Several lapwings, snipes, ruffs, curlews and skylarks can be seen in open lands (meadows, grasslands and fields). Buzzard and kestrel also hunt here. Doves, swifts, house martins and house sparrows are common in human settlements. White stork, swallow, tree sparrow and pied wagtail are common in rural settlements. What is the importance of Estonian birds? Birds make not only Estonian landscape but entire surroundings more diverse. Birds eating insects bring direct benefit to agriculture and forestry destroying pests. Birds have a significant role in almost all ecological systems. They are also essential bio-indicators for observing and evaluating the condition of our environment. Several bird have always been hunted: bean goose, greylag goose, mallard, snipe, woodcock, hazel grouse and partridge. It is allowed to hunt them in autumn. The eggs of goosander have been used instead of hen's eggs by people living on a shore.

What influences Estonian birds? Estonian birds are in a constant change. The number of several species decreases, some become extinct. It is connected with the lack of suitable breeding places due to human activities. First and foremost large raptorial birds and other species afraid of people such as white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, osprey, peregrine, black stork, quail, corncrake, roller and great grey shrike suffer. At the same time some species begin to breed here more numerously, e.g. herring gull, mute swan, eider, cormorant, collared dove, bearded tit, Blyth's reed warbler, greenish warbler, scarlet rosefinch and penduline tit. Several birds have become bolder due to emerge and increase of human settlements and they have moved to live nearer and nearer to people. It has also been caused by creation of nesting places (starling, white stork) and extra feeding (great tit, mallard). The use of pesticides and other chemicals in agriculture and pollution has its negative influence on Estonian birds without any doubt. 222 species of birds are under protection in Estonia. There is more information about them under the link Protected birds in Estonia.