Common Birds of Romania

The Danube Delta holds one of the world's largest Dalmatian Pelican breeding populations — flocks of 100+ fly to fishing grounds in formation, creating one of Europe's greatest spectacles.

Europe's smallest cormorant — nests in enormous mixed colonies with herons, egrets, and spoonbills in flooded willow and alder forest throughout the delta.

One of Europe's most threatened wildfowl species — the Danube Delta's maze of quiet oxbow lakes and reed-fringed channels supports a significant breeding population.

Nests in large colonies in the delta's flooded willows — sweeps the spatula-shaped bill through shallow water in tight feeding groups that thrash the shallows into a frenzy.

Breeds in vast colonies on floating vegetation mats in the delta — the dark-bellied breeding-plumage tern is one of the most attractive of the marsh terns.

Breeds in thousands at the delta — at close range, the supposedly "dark brown" ibis reveals extraordinary iridescent green and purple plumage in breeding condition.

Breeds alongside Dalmatian Pelicans in massive colonies — the two species can be told apart in flight by the pattern of black in the wing (white in White, gray in Dalmatian Pelican).

Romania's farmland and forest edge still support significant populations — one of Europe's most spectacularly colored birds, performing tumbling aerial displays.