National birds & flowers of European countries

Maciamo

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National symbols are common all over the world. Birds and flowers are some of the most popular symbol associated with a country.

Here is a list of national birds for European countries (Latin name into brackets). All of them are official unless otherwise mentioned. Non-listed countries do not have a national bird.

Austria : Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Belgium : Common Kestrel (falco tinnunculus)
Denmark : Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Estonia : Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
France : Rooster (Gallus gallus)
Finland : Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Germany : White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Hungary : Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
Iceland : Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)
Latvia : White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Lithuania : White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Luxembourg : Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
Malta : Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
Norway : Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
Poland : White-tailed Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Romania : White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) [proposed]
Sweden : Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
United Kingdom : European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Note that Austria and Estonia have the same national bird, and so do Germany and Lithuania. Denmark and Finland both have swans, while Belgium and Iceland have falcons (different species).


As for the national flowers or plants :

Austria : Gentian
Bulgaria : Rose
Denmark : Red Clover
England : Tudor Rose
Estonia : Blue Cornflower
Finland : Lily of the Valley, White Rose
France : Lily (Ancien Régime, until 1789)
Greece : Laurel branch
Iceland : White Dryas (Dryas octopetala)
Ireland : Shamrock (or Trefoil)
Malta : Maltese Rock Centaury
Netherlands : Tulip
Norway : Heather
Portugal : Lavender, Olive leaves
Russia : Camomile
Scotland : Thistle, Scottish Bluebell (Harebell), Heather
Serbia : Plum
Slovenia : Carnation
Switzerland : Edelweiss
Wales : Daffodil, Leek

Note that England, EStonia, Germany, Italy and Moldova also have the Oak as national tree. Other national trees include the beech (Denmark), the birch (Finland, Russia), the lime (Czech Republic), the Scots Pine (Scotland), the olive (Portugal, Albania), the tilia (Slovenia) and the teraclinis (Malta).



I don't know if this is a sign of my national character as I didn't know about national birds until today, but the common krestel was my favourite childhood's bird. The lily has always been one of my favourite flowers.
 
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Thanks for the list! It's interesting to look at these. :)
I will tease my pal mercilessly for having the Great Bustard as his national bird... :D
Robins are cute and i like their red plumage! plus they get an extra point from me for being easy to recognise :giggle: (I'm not very good at identifying birds :bluush: ) But my favourite birds have always been birds of prey - particularly the kestrel, and various sorts of falcon. :)
I like roses, I think that's a cool flower to have as national flower. :) I also have a weakness for thistles - must be my 1/8 part of Scottish blood! :D
 
Albania = Aquila heliaca (Eagle)
 

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