Check list of birds in and around Kiruna
This is a check list of birds that are regularly observed.

All species listed, except possibly the ones marked with an asterisk, breed in the Kiruna area. The arrival date is the median date of observations since 1976. N gives the number of years with arrival observations. The departure dates are based on sporadic observations and are uncertain. "0" means that I do not have relevant information. Wintering species are marked by "all year" in the arrival column. ** marks less common or rare species. For a few species there are foot notes below the table.

The list is based on observations in the area covered by maps 29 I (Kebnekaise), 29 J (Kiruna), 29 K NV (Jukkasjärvi), 30 J (Rensjön), and 30 K SV (Vittangijärvi). I would like to thank Torbjörn Westin, Rolf Gustafsson, Bengt Johansson, and Bo Reichenberg for supplying observations.

Please send suggestions for additions and changes to Ingrid Sandahl, ingrid@irf.se

First some bird links:
Norrbotten Ornithological Society
Bird links in Sweden by Bengt Stridh

Some birding sites in Kiruna
Click here for some suggestions (in Swedish)

Checklist

Index

  • Divers and Grebes
    		•
    No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    001 Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica Storlom 13 May 21 August
    002 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata Smålom 4 May 23 0
    005 Horned (Slavonian) Grebe Podiceps auritus Svarthakedopping 22 May 8 October 5
  • Ducks, Geese, and Swans
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    012 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Gräsand 23 April 24 October 10
    013 Teal Anas crecca Kricka 21 May 13 October 10
    016 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Bläsand 22 May 15 October 10
    017 Pintail Anas acuta Stjärtand 18 May 13 0
    018 Shoveler ** Anas clypeata Skedand 3 May 23 0
    019 Scaup Aythya marila Bergand 2 June 5 September 10
    020 Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Vigg 4 May 12 October 10
    022 Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Knipa 22 April 23 October 10
    023 Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Alfågel 6 May 30 0
    024 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Sjöorre 5 May 21 September 30
    025 Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca Svärta 6 June 2 September 30
    027 Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator Småskrake 12 May 22 October 10
    028 Goosander Mergus merganser Storskrake 20 May 4 October 5
    029 Smew Mergus albellus Salskrake 11 May 21 October 5
    033 Bean goose Anser fabalis Sädgås 11 May 13 September 30
    034 Canada goose Branta canadensis Kanadagås 4 April 29 0
    036 Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus Sångsvan 23 April 21 October 10
  • Raptors
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    037 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Kungsörn - All year -
    040 Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Fjällvråk 24 April 29 October 10
    041 Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Sparvhök - All year -
    042 Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Duvhök - All year -
    045 White-tailed Eagle Haliaetus albicilla Havsörn - All year -
    048 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Blå kärrhök 5 May 13 September 5
    051 Osprey Pandion haliaetus Fiskgjuse 2 May 25 0
    055 Merlin Falco columbarius Stenfalk 4 May 13 August 15
    057 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Tornfalk 7 May 27 September 10
  • Game Birds
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    058 Willow Grouse Lagopus lagopus Dalripa - All year -
    059 Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus Fjällripa - All year -
    060 Black Grouse ** Lyrurus tetrix Orre - All year -
    061 Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Tjäder - All year -
    062 Hazel Hen Tetrastes bonasia Järpe - All year -
  • Cranes and Waders
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    066 Crane Grus grus Trana 8 May 3 0
    075 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Tofsvipa 21 May 1 July 10
    076 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Större strandpipare 8 May 27 August 15
    079 Dotterel ** Charadrius morinellus Fjällpipare 1 June 10 August 25
    080 Golden Plover Pluvialis aparicaria Ljungpipare 17 May 17 August 25
    082 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Enkelbeckasin 15 May 19 August 25
    084 Jack snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Dvärgbeckasin 4 May 21 0
    085 Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Morkulla 3 June 11 0
    086 Curlew ** Numenius arquata Storspov 3 May 12 0
    087 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Småspov 21 May 14 August 15
    089 Bar-tailed Godwit ** Limosa lapponica Myrspov 1 May 19 0
    091 Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola Grönbena 19 May 22 August 15
    092 Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Drillsnäppa 18 May 21 August 25
    093 Redshank Tringa totanus Rödbena 5 May 24 0
    094 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Svartsnäppa 17 May 19 July 30
    095 Greenshank Tringa nebularia Gluttsnäppa 22 May 15 July 25
    097 Temminck«s Stint Calidris temminckii Mosnäppa 3 May 29 August 20
    098 Dunlin Calidris alpina Kärrsnäppa 6 May 25 0
    100 Ruff Philomachus pugnax Brushane 22 May 21 0
    102 Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Smalnäbbad simsnäppa 10 May 30 July 30
  • Skuas, Gulls, and Terns
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    103 Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus Fjällabb 2 May 22 0
    107 Herring Gull ** Larus argentatus Gråtrut 6 May 19 0
    108 Common Gull Larus canus Fiskmås 23 May 7 September 1
    110 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Skrattmås 24 May 5 August 30
    115 Arctic Tern Sterna paradiseaea Silvertärna 19 May 23 August 20
  • Doves, Cuckoos, Owls, Swifts, and Woodpeckers
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    122 Domestic Pigeon Colomba livia domest Tamduva - All year -
    126 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Turkduva - All year -
    127 Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Gök 15 June 2 July 15
    131 Hawk Owl Surnia ulula Hökuggla 7 April 20 0
    132 Pygmy Owl ** Glucidium passerinum Sparvuggla - All year -
    134 Ural Owl Strix uralensis Slaguggla - All year -
    135 Great Grey Owl ** Strix nebulosa Lappuggla - All year -
    137 Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Jorduggla 14 May 10 0
    138 Tengmalm«s Owl Aegolius funereus Pärluggla - All year -
    140 Swift Apus apus Tornseglare 2 June 29 -
    146 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major Större hackspett - All year -
    148 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ** Dendrocopus minor Mindre hackspett - All year -
    150 Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylos Tretåig hackspett - All year -
  • Swallows
    • 155 Skylark ** Alauda arvensis Sånglärka 6 May 16 August 15
    157 Swallow ** Hirundo rustica Ladusvala 6 May 29 August 15
    158 House Martin Delichon urbica Hussvala 12 May 26 August 25
    159 Sand Martin Riparia riparia Backsvala 6 May 29 August 15
  • Crows
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    161 Raven Corvus corax Korp - All year -
    162 Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix Kråka - All year -
    165 Magpie Pica pica Skata - All year -
    167 Jay Garrulus glandarius (2) Nötskrika - All year -
    168 Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus Lavskrika - All year -
  • Tits and Dippers
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    170 Great Tit Parus major Talgoxe - All year -
    171 Blue Tit ** Parus caeruelus Blåmes - All year -
    172 Coal Tit ** Parus ater Svartmes - All year -
    174 Siberian Tit Parus cinctus Lappmes - All year -
    176 Willow Tit Parus montanus Talltita - All year -
    180 Dipper Cinclus cinclus gularis Strömstare - All year -
  • Thrushes and Chats
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    182 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Dubbeltrast 3 May 22 0
    183 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Björktrast 24 May 9 October 20
    184 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Taltrast 5 May 23 0
    185 Redwing Turdus iliacus Rödvingetrast 23 May 24 October 10
    186 Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Ringtrast 4 May 24 0
    187 Blackbird ** Turdus merula Koltrast 3 April 17 0
    188 Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Stenskvätta 19 May 21 August 25
    189 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Buskskvätta 5 May 29 August 15
    191 Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Rödstjärt 18 May 20 August 10
    193 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Blåhake 22 May 22 September 5
    194 Robin (6) Erithacus rubecula Rödhake 2 April 21 October
  • Warblers, Flycatchers, Dunnock
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    201 Sedge Warbler Acrosephalus shoenobaenus Sävsångare 1 June 10 September 15
    203 Blackcap ** Sylvia atricapilla Svarthätta 0 0 September
    205 Garden Warbler ** Sylvia borin Trädgårdssångare 0 0 0
    208 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Lövsångare 20 May 22 August 30
    214 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Grå flugsnappare 7 June 5 August 15
    215 Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Svartvit flugsnappare 16 May 20 0
    218 Dunnock Prunella modularis Järnsparv 3 May 8 October 10
  • Pipits, Wagtails, Waxwing, Shrikes, Starling
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    219 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Ängspiplärka 12 May 20 September 25
    221 Tree pipit Anthus trivialis Trädpiplärka 3 May 17 August 15
    222 Red-throated Pipit ** (3) Anthus cervinus Rödstrupig piplärka 0 0 0
    224 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba Sädesärla 23 May 1 September 25
    226 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Gulärla 16 May 24 September 10
    227 Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Sidensvans - All year -
    228 Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Varfågel 3 April 16 September 30
    230 Starling Sturnus vulgaris Stare 17 April 25 October 5
  • Finches and Sparrows
    • No English Scientific Swedish N Arrival Departure
    232 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Grönfink 22 March 26 October 10
    234 Siskin Carduelis spinus Grönsiska 6 June 5 0
    236 Redpoll Carduelis flammea Gråsiska - All year -
    237 Arctic Redpoll (1) Carduelis hornemanni Snösiska - All year -
    240 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Domherre - All year -
    242 Pine Grosbeak (4) Pinicola enucleator Tallbit - All year -
    243 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Mindre korsnäbb - All year 0
    247 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Bofink - May 2 September 5
    248 Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Bergfink 23 May 15 September 15
    249 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Gulsparv 23 May 4 September 5
    252 Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Videsparv 1 June 16 0
    254 Reed Bunting Emberiza shoeniculus Sävsparv 19 May 15 September 10
    255 Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Lappsparv 13 May 16 0
    256 Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Snösparv 24 April 8 October 30
    257 House Sparrow Passer domesticus Gråsparv - All year -
    258 Tree Sparrow ** (5) Passer montanus Pilfink - All year -

    Comments

    (1) Arctic Redpoll present at least in Winter.
    (2) Jay has arrived in the area during the last few years
    (3) Red-throated Pipit has bred in the area
    (4) Pine Grosbeak moves away during the winter some years
    (5) Tree Sparrow observed a few times during 1998
    (6) One Robin ringed in Central Kiruna October 23, 1999

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    Updated January 15, 2000