An island cut off early after the Ice Age: only 27 native land mammals, one native lizard, no snakes, and birds by the hundred. Here are the ones you are likely to meet, in English, Irish and Latin.
Bird names are as Wikipedia's List of birds of Ireland ↗ gives them; the list says most are from téarma.ie ↗, the National Terminology Database. Mammal and other names are the titles of the matching articles on the Irish-language Wikipedia, Vicipéid. Some are formal terms (Broc Eorpach, "European badger") rather than everyday words (broc). Where we found no published name, we leave it blank.
Native or introduced status for mammals follows the List of mammals of Ireland ↗, based on the 2019 Ireland Red List: "naturalised" means brought in before 1500, "introduced" after. For birds, IRBC category A means recorded wild; C means introduced but self-sustaining.
| English | Irish | Scientific | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish hare A subspecies of mountain hare native to Ireland; it now competes with the introduced brown hare. Wikipedia ↗ |
Giorria sléibhe ↗ ga.wikipedia's name for the mountain hare, the species the Irish hare belongs to |
Lepus timidus hibernicus | Native |
| Red squirrel Populations have fallen in Ireland in recent years. Wikipedia ↗ |
Iora rua ↗ | Sciurus vulgaris | Native |
| Pine marten Still rare but recovering, with strongholds in the Burren and Killarney; its return is credited with cutting grey squirrel numbers. Wikipedia ↗ |
Cat crainn ↗ | Martes martes | Native |
| Otter Ireland's strong otter population is thought to keep American mink numbers low. Wikipedia ↗ |
Dobhrán Eoráiseach ↗ | Lutra lutra | Native |
| Badger In Irish mythology badgers are shape-shifters, kin to Tadg, foster father of Cormac mac Airt. Wikipedia ↗ |
Broc Eorpach ↗ | Meles meles | Native |
| Irish stoat An Irish subspecies; one of the common native mammals. Wikipedia ↗ |
Easóg Éireannach ↗ | Mustela erminea hibernica | Native |
| Hedgehog Listed as native, though its species article says it may have been introduced to Ireland. Wikipedia ↗ |
Gráinneog ↗ | Erinaceus europaeus | Native |
| Red deer Killarney National Park holds Ireland's only remaining wild herd of native red deer, in Ireland for about 4,000 years. Wikipedia ↗ |
Fia rua ↗ | Cervus elaphus | Native |
| Red fox Common, including in suburban Dublin. Wikipedia ↗ |
not found | Vulpes vulpes | Native |
| Pygmy shrew Ireland's native shrew, listed among the common mammals. Wikipedia ↗ |
not found | Sorex minutus | Native |
| Wood mouse Its native range may be under pressure from the introduced bank vole. Wikipedia ↗ |
Luch fhéir ↗ | Apodemus sylvaticus | Native |
| Lesser noctule (Leisler's bat) Rare across most of its range but common in Ireland, its global stronghold. Wikipedia ↗ |
Ialtóg Leisler ↗ | Nyctalus leisleri | Native |
| Lesser horseshoe bat Recorded in Galway, south Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Cork and Kerry. Wikipedia ↗ |
Crú-ialtóg bheag ↗ | Rhinolophus hipposideros | Native |
| Grey seal Largest Irish colonies: Inishkea (Mayo), Connemara islands, Donegal islands, Blaskets, Saltees. Wikipedia ↗ |
Rón glas ↗ | Halichoerus grypus | Native |
| Harbour seal Listed among Ireland's marine mammals. Mammal list ↗ |
Rón cuain ↗ | Phoca vitulina | Native |
| Rabbit The first Irish references suggest the Normans brought it; myxomatosis reached Ireland by 1954. Wikipedia ↗ |
Coinín ↗ | Oryctolagus cuniculus | Naturalised (before 1500) |
| Fallow deer Introduced before 1500 and thoroughly naturalised. Mammal list ↗ |
Fia buí ↗ | Dama dama | Naturalised (before 1500) |
| Grey squirrel North American; pine marten recovery is credited with reducing it. Wikipedia ↗ |
Iora glas ↗ | Sciurus carolinensis | Introduced (after 1500) |
| Sika deer In Killarney it threatens the genetic integrity of the native red deer, though no crossbreeding has been recorded there. Wikipedia ↗ |
Fia Seapánach ↗ | Cervus nippon | Introduced (after 1500) |
| American mink Not farmed in Ireland until the early 1950s; now widespread. Wikipedia ↗ |
Minc Mheiriceánach ↗ | Neogale vison | Introduced (after 1500) |
| Bank vole Accidentally introduced to the south-west in the 1950s; it changed the barn owl's diet. Wikipedia ↗ |
Vól bruaigh ↗ | Clethrionomys glareolus | Introduced (after 1500) |
| Greater white-toothed shrew Discovered in Ireland in April 2008 and spreading fast through the southern counties. Wikipedia ↗ |
Dallóg bhánfhiaclach ↗ | Crocidura russula | Introduced (after 1500) |
| English | Irish | Scientific | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natterjack toad Ireland's only native toad, endangered here: Dingle and Derrynane in Kerry, and introduced to a dune site in Wexford. Wikipedia ↗ |
Cnádán ↗ | Epidalea calamita | Native |
| Smooth newt Ireland's only newt; protected under the Wildlife Act 1976. Wikipedia ↗ |
Earc coiteann ↗ | Lissotriton vulgaris | Native |
| Common frog Long thought introduced, but genetics suggest some south-western populations are native; the Irish population is probably mixed. Wikipedia ↗ |
not found | Rana temporaria | Disputed |
| English | Irish | Scientific | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viviparous lizard Ireland's only native land reptile. Wikipedia ↗ |
Earc luachra ↗ | Zootoca vivipara | Native |
| English | Irish | Scientific | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerry slug Found only in south-west Ireland and north-west Iberia; described in 1843 and protected in all three countries. Wikipedia ↗ |
Drúchtín ballach ↗ | Geomalacus maculosus | Native |
| English | Irish | Scientific | IRBC |
|---|---|---|---|
| European robin One of the four most widespread birds, found in 90% of the land area. Wikipedia ↗ |
Spideog | Erithacus rubecula | A |
| Eurasian wren Among the four most widespread birds in Ireland; the bird of Wren Day. Wikipedia ↗ |
Dreolín | Troglodytes troglodytes | A |
| Eurasian blackbird Among the four most widespread birds in Ireland. Wikipedia ↗ |
Lon dubh | Turdus merula | A |
| Eurasian chaffinch Among the four most widespread birds in Ireland. Wikipedia ↗ |
Rí rua | Fringilla coelebs | A |
| Rook Among the most numerous and commonly seen birds. Wikipedia ↗ |
Rúcach | Corvus frugilegus | A |
| Common starling Among the most numerous and commonly seen birds. Wikipedia ↗ |
Druid | Sturnus vulgaris | A |
| Great tit Among the most numerous and commonly seen birds. Wikipedia ↗ |
Meantán mór | Parus major | A |
| Eurasian blue tit Among the most numerous and commonly seen birds. Wikipedia ↗ |
Meantán gorm | Cyanistes caeruleus | A |
| Coal tit Ireland has its own subspecies, hibernicus. Wikipedia ↗ |
Meantán dubh | Periparus ater | A |
| White-throated dipper Ireland has its own subspecies, hibernicus. Wikipedia ↗ |
Gabha dubh | Cinclus cinclus | A |
| Eurasian jay Ireland has its own subspecies, hibernicus. Wikipedia ↗ |
Scréachóg | Garrulus glandarius | A |
| Song thrush The subspecies hebridensis lives in western Ireland, clarkei in the rest. Wikipedia ↗ |
Smólach ceoil | Turdus philomelos | A |
| Mistle thrush Continued to decline, with changes in farming blamed. Wikipedia ↗ |
Smólach mór | Turdus viscivorus | A |
| Eurasian skylark Continued to decline, with changes in farming blamed. Wikipedia ↗ |
Fuiseog | Alauda arvensis | A |
| Common swift Continued to decline, with changes in farming blamed. Wikipedia ↗ |
Gabhlán gaoithe | Apus apus | A |
| Common kestrel Continued to decline, with changes in farming blamed. Wikipedia ↗ |
Pocaire gaoithe | Falco tinnunculus | A |
| Barn swallow A summer visitor from Africa that breeds here. Wikipedia ↗ |
Fáinleog | Hirundo rustica | A |
| Common house martin A summer migrant; listed in IRBC category A. Bird list ↗ |
Gabhlán binne | Delichon urbicum | A |
| Hooded crow Breeds throughout Ireland; in folklore it sits on the dying Cú Chulainn's shoulder. Wikipedia ↗ |
Caróg liath | Corvus cornix | A |
| Eurasian magpie The bird of the "One for Sorrow" rhyme in Ireland and Britain. Wikipedia ↗ |
Snag breac | Pica pica | A |
| Eurasian jackdaw A common crow; listed in IRBC category A. Bird list ↗ |
Cág | Corvus monedula | A |
| Common raven More common in Ireland than in much of Britain, where gamekeeping cleared it. Wikipedia ↗ |
Fiach dubh | Corvus corax | A |
| Common wood pigeon Pigeon numbers were stable or rising over 1997–2007. Wikipedia ↗ |
Colm coille | Columba palumbus | A |
| House sparrow A common resident; listed in IRBC category A. Bird list ↗ |
Gealbhan binne | Passer domesticus | A |
| European goldfinch Finch numbers were stable or rising over 1997–2007. Wikipedia ↗ |
Lasair choille | Carduelis carduelis | A |
| Grey heron Often called a "crane" in Ireland. Wikipedia ↗ |
Corr réisc | Ardea cinerea | A |
| Mute swan About 2,500 pairs in Ireland; mostly non-migratory. Wikipedia ↗ |
Eala bhalbh | Cygnus olor | A |
| Mallard The Irish name in the list is the same word as the English. Bird list ↗ |
Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | A |
| Northern gannet Little Skellig, Co. Kerry, is the largest Irish colony: about 30,000 pairs in one part of Wikipedia's article, 35,000 pairs in 2011 in another. Wikipedia ↗ |
Gainead | Morus bassanus | A |
| Atlantic puffin Breeds on Irish coasts and islands. Wikipedia ↗ |
Puifín | Fratercula arctica | A |
| European storm petrel Ireland has the largest breeding numbers in the world. Wikipedia ↗ |
Guairdeall | Hydrobates pelagicus | A |
| Common kingfisher Breeds from Ireland east to Romania and western Russia. Wikipedia ↗ |
Cruidín | Alcedo atthis | A |
| Common buzzard Recolonised Ireland in the 1950s after dying out as a breeder. Wikipedia ↗ |
Clamhán | Buteo buteo | A |
| Eurasian sparrowhawk Ireland's most common bird of prey, breeding even near Dublin city centre. Wikipedia ↗ |
Spioróg | Accipiter nisus | A |
| Peregrine falcon Listed in IRBC category A. Bird list ↗ |
Fabhcún gorm | Falco peregrinus | A |
| Western barn owl The introduced bank vole is now its main prey where their ranges overlap. Wikipedia ↗ |
Scréachóg reilige | Tyto alba | A |
| Long-eared owl In Ireland, with no native voles, it hunts other prey. Wikipedia ↗ |
Ceann cait | Asio otus | A |
| Common cuckoo A summer visitor, ranging from Ireland to Japan. Wikipedia ↗ |
Cuach | Cuculus canorus | A |
| Great spotted woodpecker Extirpated in the 17th century; returned naturally, first proven nesting Co. Down 2007. Wikipedia ↗ |
Mórchnagaire breac | Dendrocopos major | A |
| Little egret First bred in Ireland in 1997, in Co. Cork; in most counties by 2010. Wikipedia ↗ |
Éigrit bheag | Egretta garzetta | A |
| Corn crake Ireland holds an important population; BirdWatch Ireland reported its near-extermination as a farmland bird. Wikipedia ↗ |
Traonach | Crex crex | A |
| Red-billed chough Breeds on the western coasts of Ireland. Wikipedia ↗ |
Cág cosdearg | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | A |
| Eurasian curlew Down over 90% in Ireland between 1996 and 2016. Wikipedia ↗ |
Crotach | Numenius arquata | A |
| Northern lapwing Declared the Republic's national bird by the Irish Wildlife Conservancy in 1990. Wikipedia ↗ |
Pilibín | Vanellus vanellus | A |
| Eurasian oystercatcher Present all year round in Ireland. Wikipedia ↗ |
Roilleach | Haematopus ostralegus | A |
| Black-headed gull A common gull; listed in IRBC category A. Bird list ↗ |
Sléibhín | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | A |
| European herring gull A common gull; listed in IRBC category A. Bird list ↗ |
Faoileán scadán | Larus argentatus | A |
| Brent goose Three-quarters of the world's pale-bellied brent geese winter on Strangford Lough. Wikipedia ↗ |
Cadhan | Branta bernicla | A |
| Greater white-fronted goose About 10,000 of the Greenland race winter on the North Slob, Wexford. Wikipedia ↗ |
Gé bhánéadanach mhór | Anser albifrons | A |
| Roseate tern Rockabill, Co. Dublin, holds over 75% of the European population. Wikipedia ↗ |
Geabhróg rosach | Sterna dougallii | A |
| Hen harrier In a critical state in Ireland; afforestation has taken much of its range. Wikipedia ↗ |
Cromán na gcearc | Circus cyaneus | A |
| Yellowhammer Red-listed (severely declining) in Ireland. Wikipedia ↗ |
Buíóg | Emberiza citrinella | A |
| Common pheasant Introduced; IRBC category C. It was scarce in Ireland as late as 1950. Wikipedia ↗ |
Feasán mhuinceach | Phasianus colchicus | C (introduced) |
All birds are named as in the bird list except the lapwing: the list gives "Saotharcán Tuaisceartach", while the English Wikipedia lapwing article gives the familiar pilibín, which we show. We left out the red grouse because the list's Irish name for it, Tarmachan, is the usual word for the ptarmigan.
27 terrestrial species, including nine bats, according to the List of mammals of Ireland, which follows the 2019 Ireland Red List. Others, such as the rabbit and fallow deer, were brought in before 1500, and the grey squirrel, mink and bank vole after.
The golden eagle (Donegal, from 2001), white-tailed eagle (Kerry, from 2007) and red kite (Wicklow, from 2007) were reintroduced. The common crane bred again in 2021, and the buzzard, little egret and great spotted woodpecker returned on their own.
Wikipedia and Vicipéid text is CC BY-SA 4.0. Read October 2026.
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