The British ornithologist A.Vittery, with the contribution of a few German scientists from the University of Munich, compiled the first checklist of the birds of Kefalonia, which numbers 222 species of birds, about 50% of the total National list. Of these, 58 breed on the island, 28 appear mainly in winter and the remainder is encountered during the spring or autumn migrations.
48 species of birds have been recorded on Ainos itself, most of which species can be found throughout Greece. Such birds are:
Owl (Athene noctua)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
Coal Tit (Parus ater)
Finches (Fringillidae)
Various other species are also present, but the fact that they can be found on a mountainous island is of special ecological significance.
Such birds are the Rock partridge (Alectoris graeca), the Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and others. There are also at least 15 kinds of diurnal birds of prey who come to winter in the mountains. Species such as: Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
Short toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos)
Vultures (Gyps fulvus)
Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus).
With some luck, a keen observer may see, some rare species, such as: Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
Lanner (Falco biarmicus)
Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug)
and more...
Nevertheless, the most important feathered inhabitant of the island is the Black Woodpecker (Drycopus martius), the largest woodpecker in Europe. It has jet black plumage and a red crown. It lives mainly in the cool depths of the forest at high altitudes.
The White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopus deucotos) the smallest of the woodpecker family. Also there is the Raven (Corvus corax) and the Goldcrest (Pegulus regulus).
