Birds

Wodniczka

In Poleski National Park around 200 bird species were recorded, from which around 150 were regarded as breeding birds. We often find here such exotic species as the great egret and little egret. The bittern, which occurs here in large numbers, has the highest density here in the country. On the Park’s turflands, Montagu's Harriers hatch. Until recently, the Northern Harrier also nested; however, in last few years its hatchings were not confirmed. Nevertheless, it is regularly seen. The corn crake, the great snipe and the ferruginous duck nesting here belong to other rare species. These birds belong to an endangered species in the global scale; whereas the ferruginous duck has one of the few positions in the Park in the entire region. After years of absence, the white-tailed eagle returned to the Park, and it is our biggest bird of prey it is probably a prototype of our national emblem. The crane should also be mentioned, as it is also in the Poleski National Park coat of arms.

It is the biggest domestic bird (over 1m in height), and birds pair for their entire life. An interesting curiosity is that every year in spring, the males, after their flights, adore the females, performing a complicated mating dance and producing in addition their characteristic voice, called the hong. In the Park and in the buffer zone, owls are both heard and observed, with the largest one of them, the eagle-owl, being in the lead. However, the most numerous is the tawny owl. The inconspicuous aquatic warbler belongs to birds at risk of becoming extinct in the global scale. It is a little sparrow bird occurring most numerously in Belarus and in Poland. In the Park, the number of aquatic warblers is estimated to around 300 singing males - birds do not form typical pairs, as in the majority of the bird species. It is the third, in size of population, in the country after the Biebrza Marshes and the carbonate turflands near Chelm. The black stork is another interesting bird, which is different from the white stork (apart from colouration) with its hidden lifestyle – it builds nests in the forest. The black grouse has returned, thanks to the restitution programme, and it can again be observed in the PNP area. A complex mating behaviour characterises these birds. In the spring time, spectacular display calls occur, during which males fight fierce duels with each other.

The Poleski National Park area is one of the richest areas in avifauna - the diversity of natural habitats ensure the vast diversity of bird species, including birds associated with water. They constitute pleasant- to the eye and ear- variety of the Poleski landscape especially during spring-autumn hikes.


You will find the list of recorded bird species in the Park here (List of birds).

Item Number

Species name

(Latin)

 

Species protection

Red List of Threatened Animals in Poland

Polish Red Data Book of Animals

Natura 2000

Close

Partial

1.      

Philomachus pugnax

+

 

EN

EN

+

2.      

Phasianus colchicus

 

 

 

 

 

3.      

Ixobrychus minutus

+

 

VU

VU

+

4.      

Botaurus stellaris

+

 

LC

LC

+

5.      

Oenanthe oenanthe

+

 

 

 

+

6.      

Calidris alpina

+

 

EN

EN

+

7.      

Haliaeetus albicilla

+

 

LC

LC

+

8.      

Mergus albellus

+

 

 

 

+

9.      

Circus pygargus

+

 

 

 

+

10.   

Circus aeruginosus

+

 

 

 

+

11.   

Circus cyaneus

+

 

VU

VU

+

12.   

Ciconia ciconia

+

 

 

 

+

13.   

Ciconia nigra

+

 

 

 

+

14.   

Parus maior

+

 

 

 

+

15.   

Trinia erythropus

+

 

 

 

+

16.   

Actitis hypoleucos

+

 

 

 

+

17.   

Riparia riparia

+

 

 

 

+

18.   

Locustella luscinioides

+

 

 

 

+

19.   

Sylvia communis

+

 

 

 

+

20.   

Tetrao tetrix

+

 

EN

EN

+

21.   

Anas crecca

 

 

 

 

+

22.   

Anas querquedula

+

 

 

 

+

23.   

Vanellus vanellus

+

 

 

 

+

24.   

Ergretta alba

+

 

 

 

+

25.   

Ergretta garzetta 

+

 

 

 

+

26.   

Ardea  cinerea

 

+

 

 

+

27.   

Parus montanus

+

 

 

 

 

28.   

Aythya fuligula

 

 

 

 

+

29.   

Parus cristatus

+

 

 

 

+

30.   

Carduelis spinus

+

 

 

 

+

31.   

Cred crex

+

 

 

 

+

32.   

Turdus iliacus

+

 

 

 

+

33.   

Falco columbarius

+

 

 

 

+

34.   

Gallinago media

+

 

VU

VU

+

35.   

Upupa epops

+

 

DD

 

+

36.   

Hirundo rustica

+

 

 

 

+

37.   

Dendrocopos leucotos

+

 

NT

NT

+

38.   

Dendrocopos major

+

 

 

 

+

39.   

Dryocopus martius

+

 

 

 

+

40.   

Dendrocopos medius

+

 

 

 

+

41.   

Picus canus

+

 

 

 

+

42.   

Picus viridis

+

 

 

 

+

43.   

Dendrocopos minor

+

 

 

 

+

44.   

Carpodacus erythrinus

+

 

 

 

+

45.   

Carduelis chloris

+

 

 

 

+

46.   

Circaetus gallicus

+

 

CR

CR

+

47.   

Sylvia borin

+

 

 

 

+

48.   

Corvus frugilegus

 

+

 

 

 

49.   

Bucephala clangula

+

 

 

 

+

50.   

Lanius collurio

+

 

 

 

+

51.   

Anser anser

 

 

 

 

+

52.   

Anser fabalis

 

 

 

 

+

53.   

Anser erythropus

+

 

 

 

+

54.   

Anser albifrons

+

 

 

 

+

55.   

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

+

 

 

 

+

56.   

Aythya ferina

+

 

 

 

+

57.   

Accipiter gentilis

+

 

 

 

+

58.   

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

+

 

 

 

+

59.   

Columba palumbus

 

 

 

 

+

60.   

Bobasa bonasia

 

 

DD

 

+

61.   

Sylvia nisoria

+

 

 

 

+

62.   

Accipiter gentilis

+

 

 

 

 

63.   

Bombycilla garrulus

+

 

 

 

+

64.   

Fringilla montifringilla

+

 

 

 

+

65.   

Apus apus

+

 

 

 

+

66.   

Arenaria interpres

+

 

 

 

+

67.   

Milvus migrans

+

 

NT

NT

+

68.   

Milvus milvus

+

 

NT

NT

+

69.   

Sylvia atricapilla

+

 

 

 

+

70.   

Saxicola torquata

+

 

 

 

+

71.   

Falco vespertinus

+

 

EX

EXP

+

72.   

Falco subbuteo

+

 

 

 

+

73.   

Gallinula chlorops

+

 

 

 

+

74.   

Phoenicurus ochropus

+

 

 

 

+

75.   

Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis

 

+

 

 

+

76.   

Turdus merula

+

 

 

 

+

77.   

Sitta europaea

+

 

 

 

 

78.   

Anas strepera

+

 

 

 

+

79.   

Coracias garrulus

+

 

CR

CR

+

80.   

Jynx torquilla

+

 

 

 

+

81.   

Accipiter nisus

+

 

 

 

+

82.   

Porzana porzana

+

 

 

 

+

83.   

Corvus corax

 

+

 

 

 

84.   

Tringa totanus

+

 

 

 

+

85.   

Anas platyrhynchos

 

 

 

 

+

86.   

Gallinago gallinago

+

 

 

 

+

87.   

Cuculus canorus

+

 

 

 

+

88.   

Numenius arqata

+

 

VU

VU

+

89.   

Serinus serinus

+

 

 

 

+

90.   

Perdix perdix

 

 

 

 

 

91.   

Turdus pilaris

+

 

 

 

+

92.   

Trinia nebularia

+

 

 

 

+

93.   

Caprimulgus europaeus

+

 

 

 

+

94.   

Lulla arborea

+

 

 

 

+

95.   

Cygnus olor

+

 

 

 

+

96.   

Tringa galareola

+

 

CR

CR

+

97.   

Clangula hyemalis

+

 

 

 

+

98.   

Acrocephalus palustris

+

 

 

 

+

99.   

Fulica atra

 

 

 

 

+

100.   

Carduelis cannabina

+

 

 

 

+

101.   

Passer montanus

+

 

 

 

 

102.   

Larus minutus

+

 

LC

LC

+

103.   

Larus canus

+

 

 

 

+

104.   

Larus fuscus

+

 

 

 

+

105.   

Larus cachinnans

 

+

 

 

+

106.   

Parus caeruleus

+

 

 

 

+

107.   

Muscicapa striata

+

 

 

 

+

108.   

Ficedula hypoleuca

+

 

 

 

+

109.   

Ficedula albicollis

+

 

 

 

+

110.   

Ficedula parva

+

 

 

 

+

111.   

Regulus regulus

+

 

 

 

+

112.   

Buteo buteo

+

 

 

 

+

113.   

Buteo lagopus

+

 

 

 

+

114.   

Gavia arctica

+

 

 

 

+

115.   

Mergus merganser

+

 

 

 

+

116.   

Tadorna tadorna

+

 

LC

LC

+

117.   

Delichon urbica

+

 

 

 

+

118.   

Aquila clanga

+

 

CR

CR

+

119.   

Aquila pomarina

+

 

LC

LC

+

120.   

Emberiza hortylana

+

 

 

 

+

121.   

Nucifraga caryocatactes

+

 

 

 

 

122.   

Aquila chrysateus

+

 

EN

EN

+

123.   

Turdus viscivorus

+

 

 

 

+

124.   

Certhia familiaris

+

 

 

 

+

125.   

Caerthia brahydactyla

+

 

 

 

 

126.   

Podiceps cristatus

+

 

 

 

+

127.   

Podiceps grisegena

+

 

 

 

+

128.   

Tachybaptus ruficollis

+

 

 

 

+

129.   

Phylloscopus trochillus

+

 

 

 

+

130.   

Sylvia curruca

+

 

 

 

+

131.   

Phylloscopus collybita

+

 

 

 

+

132.   

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

+

 

 

 

+

133.   

Motacilla alba

+

 

 

 

+

134.   

Moticilla flava

+

 

 

 

+

135.   

Anas clypeata

+

 

 

 

+

136.   

Tyto alba

+

 

 

 

+

137.   

Aythya nyroca

+

 

EN

EN

+

138.   

Luscinia svecica

+

 

NT

NT

+

139.   

Saxicola rubetra

+

 

 

 

+

140.   

Prunella modularis

+

 

 

 

+

141.   

Miliaria calandra

+

 

 

 

 

142.   

Emberiza schoeniclus

+

 

 

 

+

143.   

Coturnix coturnix 

+

 

 

 

+

144.   

Athene noctua

+

 

 

 

 

145.   

Bubo bubo

+

 

NT

NT

+

146.   

Falco numanni

+

 

EX

EXP

+

147.   

Falco tinnunculus

+

 

 

 

+

148.   

Strix aluco

+

 

 

 

 

149.   

Aegithalos caudatus

+

 

 

 

 

150.   

Remiz pendulinus

+

 

 

 

+

151.   

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

+

 

 

 

+

152.   

Anas acuta

+

 

EN

EN

+

153.   

Erihacus rubecula

+

 

 

 

+

154.   

Chlidonias leucopterus

+

 

NT

NT

+

155.   

Chlidonias hybridus

+

 

LC

LC

+

156.   

Chlidonias niger

+

 

 

 

+

157.   

Sterna caspia

+

 

 

 

+

158.   

Pandion haliaetus

+

 

VU

VU

+

159.   

Limosa limosa

+

 

 

 

+

160.   

Tringa ochropus

+

 

 

 

+

161.   

Plviaris squatarola

+

 

 

 

+

162.   

Charadrius dubius

+

 

 

 

+

163.   

Prus

 palustris

+

 

 

 

 

164.   

Columba oenas

+

 

 

 

+

165.   

Alauda arvensis

+

 

 

 

+

166.   

Scolopax rusticola

 

 

 

 

+

167.   

Luscinia megarhynchos

+

 

 

 

+

168.   

Luscinia luscinia

+

 

 

 

+

169.   

Parus ater

+

 

 

 

+

170.   

Garrulus glandarius

+

 

 

 

 

171.   

Pica pica

 

+

 

 

 

172.   

Lanius excubitor

+

 

 

 

+

173.   

Lacustella fluviatilis

+

 

 

 

+

174.   

Troglodytes

+

 

 

 

 

175.   

Carduelis carduelis

+

 

 

 

+

176.   

Sturnus vulgaris

+

 

 

 

 

177.   

Tordus philomelos

+

 

 

 

+

178.   

Anthus trivialis

+

 

 

 

+

179.   

Anthus pratensis

+

 

 

 

+

180.   

Anthus campestris

+

 

 

 

+

181.   

Anthus cervinus

+

 

 

 

+

182.   

Locustella naevia

+

 

 

 

+

183.   

Anas penelope

+

 

CR

CR

+

184.   

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

+

 

 

 

+

185.   

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

+

 

 

 

+

186.   

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

+

 

 

 

+

187.   

Pernis apivorius

+

 

 

 

+

188.   

Emberiza citrinella

+

 

 

 

 

189.   

Streptopelia turtur

+

 

 

 

+

190.   

Asio otus

+

 

 

 

+

191.   

Asio flammeus

+

 

 

 

+

192.   

Panurus biarmicus

+

 

LC

LC

+

193.   

Oriolus oriolus

+

 

 

 

+

194.   

Acrocephalus paludicola

+

 

VU

VU

+

195.   

Rallus aquaticus

+

 

 

 

+

196.   

Corvus corone

 

+

 

 

 

197.   

Passer domesticus

+

 

 

 

 

198.   

Hippolais icterina

+

 

 

 

+

199.   

Porzana parva

+

 

NT

NT

+

200.   

Fringilla coelebs

+

 

 

 

+

201.   

Alcedo atthis

+

 

 

 

+

202.   

Merops apiaster

+

 

NT

NT

+

203.   

Grus grus

+

 

 

 

+