Birds of Latvia

Latvia is home to around 400 birds. Several species of avifauna rarer in the rest of Europe are common in this country. These include the Black Stork, the Common Crane, the Corn Crake, the Lesser Spotted Eagle, and the White-backed Woodpecker.

The national bird of Latvia is the White Wagtail. It is part of Latvian culture and is even mentioned in a few of the nation’s folk songs.

List of Common Birds Found in Latvia

Native Birds

Black-headed Gull
Black-tailed Godwit
Black Stork
Black Woodpecker
Blue Tit
Brambling
Carrion Crow
Coal Tit
Common Blackbird
Common Blackcap
Common Buzzard
Common Chaffinch
Common Chiffchaff
Common Crane
Common Cuckoo
Common Goldeneye
Common Grasshopper Warbler
Common Greenshank
Common Kestrel
Common Kingfisher
Common Merganser
Common Pochard
Common Redpoll
Common Redstart
Common Reed Bunting
Common Rosefinch
Common Sandpiper
Common Snipe
Common Swift
Common Tern
Common Woodpecker
Common Wood Pigeon
Corn Crake
Crested Tit
Dunnock
Eurasian Blackbird
Eurasian Blackcap
Eurasian Blue Tit
Eurasian Bullfinch
Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Curlew
Eurasian Hobby
Eurasian Jackdaw
Eurasian Jay
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Nuthatch
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Eurasian Siskin
Eurasian Skylark
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Teal
Eurasian Treecreeper
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wren
European Bee-eater
European Crested Tit
European Goldcrest
European Golden Plover
European Goldfinch
European Greenfinch
European Green Woodpecker
European Herring Gull
European Linnet
European Nightjar
European Penduline Tit
European Pied Avocet
European Pied Flycatcher
European Robin
European Roller
European Serin
European Starling
European Stonechat
European Turtle Dove
Fieldfare
Garden Warbler
Gray-headed Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Hawfinch
Hooded Crow
House Sparrow
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Little Stint
Long-tailed Tit
Mallard
Marsh Tit
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Mistle Thrush
Northern Lapwing
Northern Shoveler
Osprey
Red-backed Shrike
Redwing
Reed Bunting
Ruff
Sedge Warbler
Short-toed Treecreeper
Song Thrush
Spotted Redshank
Stock Dove
Tawny Owl
Tufted Duck
Western Marsh Harrier
Whimbrel
White Stork
White-backed Woodpecker
White-tailed Eagle
White Wagtail
Willow Tit
Willow Warbler
Wood Sandpiper
Wood Warbler
Yellowhammer

Non-native Birds

Baillon’s Crake
Canada Goose
Collared Pratincole
Macqueen’s Bustard
Pectoral Sandpiper
Red Phalarope
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Ross’s Gull
Wilson’s Phalarope
Wood Duck

Some of Latvia’s best places for birdwatching include Pape Nature Park, Kemeri National Park, and Engure Nature Park. The peak birding season in Latvia generally occurs during the spring and early summer months. The prime time for birdwatching in Latvia is from April to June. During this period, many bird species are migrating back to their breeding grounds or nesting and raising their young.