Bird watching was not something I was into pre-corona. But one of my suggestions for dealing with travel blues during this time was to learn a new skill in preparation for future travels. Somehow I ended up with an exhaustive guide to birds in Europe, and all of a sudden I was an amateur bird watcher. Shorter hikes and suboptimal weather days have been transformed into exciting birdwatching outings. With each trip, C and I become a little better at knowing what to look for when identifying the difference between species, like Kohlmeise and Blaumeise, and in general we’ve learned a lot as birdwatching beginners in Germany. Any birdwatching beginner is bound to identify some of these common, unmistakable, fascinating birds in Germany. From tiny robins to storks and cranes, you’ll find them here in this guide.
As we’ve been having so much fun learning about our feathered-friends here, I wanted to share some of the birding joy with you too. Maybe it’s a first adventure into nature for you, or a mini bird-themed journey to Germany, but I hope you find out something new about birds and my chosen home.
Since I’m a birding amateur and a non-native European, I’ve chosen birds that are unusual for me and very easily identified. If you find yourself beginning to do some birdwatching in Germany, you too will be able to spot and identify many of the birds on this list.
We can also add photography to my list of amateur qualities. All photos here are my own and birds are really tough to photograph, so thank you for bearing with me. 😉
Table of Contents
Waterfowl
I spend most of my free weekends hiking and biking around Brandenburg, whose superpower I commonly mention is water. Needless to say, there are lots of aquatic fowl like geese, ducks, and diver ducks. Mallards (Stockente in German) are as common in Germany as they are in the northeastern US, so I haven’t included them, but they are also very easily identifiable.
Gänsesäger
The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) only winters in central Germany, but can be found year-round in the north. Either way, it’s is a delight to see. This bird has a brown head, white breast, and grey body, but only in winter. Males have an all-black head in the summer. Its bill is very thin and narrow with a downward hook at the end. The hairdo is quite interesting: depending on its mood, the Merganser will raise or lower its crest. Fish is the main meal on the menu, but they will also eat crabs and water insects. Not yet endangered, the Commen Merganser is on Germany’s pre-warn list, with the population increasing.
Haubentaucher
The elegant Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) can be found all over Europe, and year-round in Germany. Is one of the most well-known Grebes (an order and family called Lappentaucher in German), well-equipped for life in the water with its streamlined body and set-back feet. The Great Crested Grebe has a long, thin neck which is white in front and black in the back. In breeding plumage, the males have a black crest which looks like elongated eyelashes coming out of the top of their heads and brown-black neck feathers.
Blässhuhn
Recognizable by its clucking sound in ponds, lakes, swamps, canals, and streams, you can find the Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) in many parks in the city. Its black chicken-like body is actually more closely related to cranes. To identify the Eurasian Coot from the Common Moorhen (Teichhuhn – Gallinula chloropus) look at the color of the frontal shield (its forehead). Eurasian Coots have a white frontal shield while the Moorhen has a red one. Both birds have 4 long toes and walk or swim through the water along the shore. You’ll see Coots in groups unless its breeding time, then pairs will defend their territory.
Graugans
Although easily mistakable for the Bean Goose and Great White-footed Goose (Saatganz, and Blässgans – Anser fabalis and anser albifrons), the Greylag Goose (Anser anser) is the most common. These three geese are quite similar: brownish grey, orange feet and orange bill. While Saat- and Blässgans spend the winter in northern Germany, migrating from central Europe to Scandinavia and Russia in the summer, the Greylag Goose is here year round. In the spring and fall you can find fields full of flocks of geese with hundreds of birds.
geese migration near the Havel River
Kormoran
I have been lucky enough to see these birds in enormous mass. The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) breeds in large groups, either on the side of cliffs, or in trees if there are no cliffs, like in Berlin. Due to massive hunting in the first half of the 20th century, the Cormorant population was in extreme decline but have now made a comeback. The large, dark-colored bird has a yellow bill and a white spot on its throat. You can often see them holding their wings open to dry in the sun or breeze. Thanks to its sleek body, Cormorants can dive up to nine meters to catch fish (that’s up to 30 feet!).
Crow Relatives
I know, you might not think that crows were all that interesting, but you’d be wrong. Despite their annoying, but unmistakable, calls, these observant birds are interesting to watch. Best of all, they’re very easily identified, which is good news for anyone beginning birdwatching in Germany.
Elster
The Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) is one of those things, like quince, that I have heard of from British literature, but is nonexistent because it wasn’t part of growing up in New Jersey. Despite the ugly English name, the Elster is quite beautiful. It has a sleek black body, a white belly, and white and blue bands on its wings. In the right light, its long tail has a gorgeous shimmering emerald sheen. Although stereotyped as notorious for stealing shiny things, this legend actually bears no real truth. Magpies are quite intelligent. They hide their food in holes in the ground and have to remember where to find it later, sometimes fighting off other birds from their bounty. Magpies are not picky eaters and will even sometimes eat the eggs and young of other birds!
Eichelhäher
At first, I thought Eurasian Jay (Garrulous glandarius) was just the female version of the Magpie because it has a similar build and white and blue wings. The Eichelhäher differs from the Magpie in that it has a rosy red-brown head and body, although the tail and beak remain black. Another obvious characteristic of its appearance are the black and white stripes and shiny colorful blue spot on the wings. They’re really great at climbing up branches in trees. Like squirrels, Eurasian Jays hide food for the winter. They can carry up to 10 acorns in a pouch in their throats! We see them a lot in trees in the city, but they can also be seen in light forests with beech and oak trees.
Nebelkrähe
Interestingly, the Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) will sometimes pair with the Carrion Crow (Rabenkrähe – Corvus corone), but Hooded Crows are mainly found in eastern Germany, while Carrion Crows are more often spotted in the west, and the hybrid pairs are found in the middle. The Hooded Crow is unmistakable for its fog grey and black coloring (Nebel is the word for “fog” in German). They will eat just about anything from seeds and berries to roadkill and garbage. Despite their reputation as shabby scavengers, I find Hooded Crows interesting to watch. They waddle about, and are curious, observant and not shy. You can find them in cities but also in agricultural fields.
Star
I was shocked to learn that the Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is listed as endangered in Germany. Almost mistakable for the Blackbird, the Common Starling is also black, but with metallic colors and white spots mixed in, as well as a longer tail. Unlike the Blackbird, the Starling does not hop along the ground, but walks along in its search for food. They like to hang out in groups and can be observed flying in huge flocks. You can find them in gardens, parks, and meadows. They are quite common to see around Berlin.
Woodpeckers
If you are in the forest, you will often here the rapid fire tap-tap-tap of a woodpecker hammering away. Don’t be surprised if you can’t spot him, because the tapping can be heard hundreds of meters away. Often if you do find them, the shy guys will hop around to the other side of the tree so you can’t see them. Sneaky buggers!
Buntspecht
The Great Spotted Woodpecker’s scientific name, Dendrocopos major, translates to “giant tree hammerer.” If you have Woody the Woodpecker in mind when you think of woodpeckers, then you’ve got a pretty good idea of what the Buntspecht looks like: black coat, white belly, red bottom, black and white striped wings and tail. Males have red at the back of their head, while females have an all-black cap. The Mittelspecht (Middle Spotted Woodpecker) has similar markings, but is much less common in Germany. They hammer away at dead wood to find insects, but will also eat seeds from spruce and pine trees.
Grünspecht
The European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) has a similar looking sibling, the Grauspecht (Grey-headed Woodpecker) although he’s much less common (actually, endangered with a reducing population). Both birds have a green back and white belly with an oval spot on their cheek. The difference is that the Green Woodpecker has a red crown while the Grey-headed woodpecker…has a grey head. I often notice Green Woodpeckers while they are on the ground in a field or in the grass in a park. Once they notice that I am too close (usually before I see them), they fly away into a tree. Interestingly, the Green Woodpecker has a laughing voice and its tongue can be up to four inches long, which it uses for licking ants out of trees.
Tiny
NABU, the biggest conservation group in Germany, has an excellent video (in German) about the 10 most common garden birds and how to identify them. Several of them are listed here in this “tiny” section, while others like the Common Starling and Magpie were in other sections.
Rotkehlchen
It’s easy to see why the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) won Bird of the Year in 2020 and 2021: its just so cute! The European Robin is much smaller than the American Robin because they are actually from different families, but they both have a beautiful red breast. Unlike American Robins, the belly is white and the coat is brown. Young birds have a spotted brown chest instead of a red one. Robins are at home in parks, forests, and gardens. They eat mostly insects, spiders, and worms they find on the ground but will also eat berries and fruit.
Kohlmeise
Great Tits (Parus major) are quite the singers! They are capable of many sounds and even imitating other birds. They like to nest in holes in trees, but will sometimes even use mailboxes. These little musicians have black heads with white cheeks, yellow bellies with a single long black stripe down the middle, and a greenish coat. In the summer, Great Tits often eat insects and their larvae, while their diet is mostly seeds in the winter. You can find them year round in Germany, in forests and gardens.
Blaumeise
Eurasian Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) are easily identified by their yellow bellies and blue wings. They have a white face with a black stripe through the eye and a blue crown. Their extremely light weight (about as much as a 20-cent European coin) allows them to hang upside down, even on very thin branches. They are sometimes aggressive towards other birds at the birdfeeder, although their grub of choice includes insects, larvae, and spiders they find in trees.
Eisvogel
One of the most colorful native birds of Germany, the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) seems anything but common once you spot it. The tiny bird’s head and coat are a shimmering cobalt or azure blue, while the belly is a reddish brown, and the face has a spot of the same color. Despite the bright colorings, they birds are quick to dart away and usually sit hidden on a thin tree branch overlooking the water. When it spots something to eat (fish and other aquatic life), the Kingfisher dives rapidly into the water grabbing its prey with its long thin beak. We have even spotted this bird along the canal in Berlin Tiergarten.
Amsel
Not exactly tiny, the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) belongs to the family of thrushes, like the American Robin. What I love about the Blackbird, is its lovely melodic song which contains quite a repertoire of tones. You can find this black bird with yellow beak in parks, gardens, and cities usually hopping along the ground searching through the leaves for worms, snails, and other insects. The female Blackbird is similar in size and body structure to the male, but a dusty brown color with stripes on its breast. Unless they’re hanging out as a pair, you’ll mostly find Blackbirds on their own.
male Blackbird 
female Blackbird
Big
Large birds are exciting to see! And they can be easy to recognize even from a distance. Several of the birds listed here can also be identified from their flight pattern, which is harder to do with smaller birds.
Weißstorch
For many Americans, the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is more of a mythical baby-bringing being than an actual bird, since we don’t have them across the Atlantic. Their elegant form, stark black and white markings, and red legs and bill make them impossible to mistake. The birds travel back and forth from their winter residence in Africa to their summer homes in Europe, where they breed. They prefer open areas with wet fields where they search for mice, reptiles, amphibians, worms, and insects to eat. You can see them in their giant nests perched on top of buildings, usually on towers or chimneys, and seldom in trees. The baby-bringers are endangered in Germany, although increasing in numbers. They don’t have much of a voice, but are known for the clapping sound they make with their bills.
Kranich
Even from a distance, I find the Common Crane (Grus grus) easy to pick out. They have a body shape unlike most other birds and are larger than storks. They have a light blue-grey color and bushy black tail feathers. Another unmistakable quality is their trumpeting squawk. In northeastern Germany, you can find Cranes year round. They migrate over central Germany on their way to Spain and northern Africa for the summer. When they migrate, Cranes gather in large groups, sometimes numbering in the thousands. During breeding times or when they are provoked, the Cranes are known for their courting dances, where they stick their heads and necks straight up and give their classic call.
Graureiher
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinera) is Europe’s most common heron. They are mostly grey with wide black bands at the ends of their wings and a black stripe on their heads. In flight, they differ from storks and cranes in that they pull in their head instead of stretching it out. You can find them on the shores of lakes, rivers, and streams but they also hang out in fields and wetlands. Grey Herons prefer fish and amphibians, but will also eat mice, insects, and worms. Since they are so common, large, and not super shy, you can get quite a good look at them.
Exotic
Though not everywhere, they are easy to identify. These colorful exotic birds can actually be spotted in the wild in Germany!
Mandarinente
Definitely not a native to Europe, the Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) comes from eastern Asia. Once brought to Europe, some pairs escaped and established populations throughout the continent. I often see them in the Tiergarten in Berlin and along the water in Potsdam. The drakes (males) are brightly colored: red beak, metallic green, red, and white head, orange beard-like feathers at the cheeks, brown orange body feathers, and a long black tale. The females are plainer with grey, brown, and olive tones. They prefer quiet lakes and ponds and breed in tree holes up to 9 meters (30 feet!) off the ground. Although not endangered in Europe, Mandarin Ducks are endangered in eastern Asia.
Flamingos
Yes, you can see FLAMINGOS in Germany! The Zwillbrocker Venn, located at the western edge of Münsterland on the border with the Netherlands, has been a breeding ground for a handful of flamingos since 1983, but the birds have been seen in the area as far back as 1970. Chilean, American, and Lesser Flamingos are most likely escaped captive birds, while the Greater Flamingo (Rosaflamingo – Phoenicopertus ruber) is native to southern Europe. The colony of approximately 40 birds comes to Zwillbrocker Venn for the plankton, plentiful from the sufficient doo-doo of thousands of Black-headed Gulls which also breed in the area. You might spot the pink birds from April to July and can explore the region on the 450 km Flamingoroute bike trail (which I intersected while biking the 100 Schlösser Route) or via the many hiking paths through the park and its observation stations.
Halsbandsittich
I am sad to say that I haven’t seen a wild Rose-ringed Parakeet (psittacula krameri) in Germany myself, but you might if you visit Cologne, Wiesbaden, or Mannheim. Originally from forested savannahs and alpine forests in Asia and Africa, this is another story of captive birds brought to Europe which escaped. The first brood was recorded in 1969 in Cologne and they have since spread to other cities. The bright green parrots with red beak and black throat band are unmistakable (although females do not have a black band). The 15 inch-long birds can have tails which are up to 8 inches long.
So get out there! Even if you’re in the capital, you can see many of these birds on Berlin’s Best Hikes. Or perhaps on a Quality Hike like the Westweg or in the Premium Hike paradise, Frau Holle Land. Wherever you go birdwatching in Germany, even beginners are bound to spot some of these fascinating creatures 🙂
In researching this article, I found the NABU website extremely helpful, especially the page about all 307 bird species in Germany. The bird book C and I have been using is the Kosmos Vogelführer, which has more than 4,000 color drawings for over 900 bird species found in Europe.