List of birds of Great Britain
This list of birds of Great Britain comprises all bird species that have been recorded in a wild state in Great Britain. In general the avifauna of Britain is similar to that of the rest of Europe, although with fewer breeding species. There are 620 species of birds on the British list as of 2019, the latest addition being the white-rumped swift. The species order and scientific names used here follow those of the official British list, maintained by the British Ornithologists' Union. Decisions relating to the British list are published by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee in its annual reports in the Ibis, the journal of the BOU. These reports were formerly geographically based and included the whole of the British Isles, but records for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are now published by their own ornithological associations. Records from the Isle of Man are adjudicated by the Manx Ornithological Society.
The BOU uses the following categories for British bird species:
- A: species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.
- B: species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.
- C: species that, although originally introduced by man, either deliberately or accidentally, have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, which maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.
- D: species that would otherwise appear in categories A or B except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state.
- E: species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees, or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations are not believed to be self-sustaining.
Species listed here as "rare" are those for which a full description is required for acceptance of the record by the British Birds Rarities Committee. Other species have an indication of their breeding and wintering status in Great Britain.
Because of its mild winters, Great Britain has a considerable population of wintering species, particularly ducks, geese and swans. There are also a number of species, such as the oystercatcher, that are resident on the island of Great Britain, but migrants elsewhere. Also, because of its position, Britain receives a number of vagrants from Asia and North America. Some American gulls, ducks and waders are regular enough not to be considered rare; these include the ring-billed gull, surf scoter and pectoral sandpiper. There is one endemic bird species found in Great Britain, the Scottish crossbill.
Table of contents |
Non-passerines: [|Ducks, geese and swans] • [|Grouse] • [|Pheasants, partridges and quail] • [|Divers] • [|Albatrosses] • [|Shearwaters and petrels] • [|Austral storm petrels] • [|Northern storm petrels] • [|Tropicbirds] • [|Gannets and boobies] • [|Cormorants] • [|Frigatebirds] • [|Pelicans] • [|Bitterns, herons and egrets] • [|Ibises and spoonbills] • [|Storks] • [|Grebes] • [|Buzzards, kites and allies] • [|Osprey] • [|Falcons] • [|Rails, crakes and coots] • [|Cranes] • [|Bustards] • [|Oystercatchers] • [|Avocets and stilts] • [|Thick-knees] • [|Pratincoles and coursers] • [|Plovers and lapwings] • [|Sandpipers and allies] • [|Skuas] • [|Gulls, terns, and skimmers] • [|Auks] • [|Sandgrouse] • [|Pigeons and doves] • [|Parrots] • [|Cuckoos] • [|Barn owls] • [|Typical owls] • [|Nightjars] • [|Swifts] • [|Kingfishers] • [|Bee-eaters] • [|Rollers] • [|Hoopoe] • [|Woodpeckers] |
Passerines: [|Tyrant flycatchers] • [|Old World orioles] • [|Shrikes] • [|Vireos] • [|Crows and allies] • [|Kinglets] • [|Penduline tits] • [|Tits] • Bearded tit • [|Larks] • [|Swallows and martins] • [|Bush warbler] • [|Long-tailed tits] • [|Leaf warblers] • [|Typical warblers] • [|Grasshopper warblers] • [|Reed warblers] • [|Cisticolas] • [|Waxwings] • [|Wallcreeper] • [|Nuthatches] • [|Treecreepers] • [|Wrens] • [|Mockingbirds and allies] • [|Starlings] • [|Dippers] • [|Thrushes] • [|Old World flycatchers and chats] • [|Accentors] • [|Sparrows] • [|Wagtails and pipits] • [|Finches] • [|Longspurs] • [|Cardinals and allies] • [|Buntings] • [|American sparrows] • [|Icterids] • New World warblers |
Species awaiting acceptance See also Footnotes References |
Ducks, geese and swans
Order: AnseriformesFamily: AnatidaeThe swans, ducks and geese are medium to large birds that are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet and bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent. In many ducks the male is colourful while the female is dull brown. The diet consists of a variety of animals and plants. The family is well represented in Britain, especially in winter when large numbers visit from Greenland, Scandinavia and Russia. There are 174 species worldwide with 62 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Brent goose | A winter visitor | |
Red-breasted goose | A rare vagrant | |
Greater Canada goose | A & C resident introduced population, some wild vagrants | |
Barnacle goose | A & C winter visitor and resident introduced population | |
Cackling goose | A rare vagrant | |
Snow goose | A & C resident introduced population, some wild vagrants | |
Greylag goose | A & C resident wild and feral populations, winter visitor | |
Taiga bean goose | A winter visitor | |
Pink-footed goose | A winter visitor | |
Tundra bean goose | A winter visitor | |
Greater white-fronted goose | A winter visitor | |
Lesser white-fronted goose | A rare vagrant | |
Mute swan | A & C resident breeding species | |
Tundra swan or Bewick's swan | A winter visitor | |
Whooper swan | A winter visitor and occasional breeder | |
Egyptian goose | C resident introduced population | |
Ruddy shelduck | B Records since 1946 are presumed escapes from captivity | |
Common shelduck | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Mandarin duck | C resident introduced population | |
Baikal teal | A rare vagrant | |
Garganey | A breeding summer visitor | |
Blue-winged teal | A rare vagrant | |
Northern shoveler | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Gadwall | A & C resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Falcated duck | A rare vagrant | |
Eurasian wigeon | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
American wigeon | A scarce migrant | |
Mallard | A & C resident breeder, winter visitor and naturalised releases | |
American black duck | A rare vagrant | |
Northern pintail | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Eurasian teal | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Green-winged teal | A scarce migrant | |
Red-crested pochard | A & C scarce migrant and introduced breeder | |
Canvasback | A rare vagrant | |
Redhead | A rare vagrant | |
Common pochard | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Ferruginous duck | A scarce migrant | |
Ring-necked duck | A scarce migrant | |
Tufted duck | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Greater scaup | A winter visitor and occasional breeder | |
Lesser scaup | A rare vagrant | |
Steller's eider | A rare vagrant | |
King eider | A rare vagrant | |
Common eider | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Harlequin duck | A rare vagrant | |
Surf scoter | A scarce migrant | |
Velvet scoter | A winter visitor | |
White-winged scoter | A rare vagrant | |
Common scoter | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Black scoter | A rare vagrant | |
Long-tailed duck | A winter visitor and occasional breeder | |
Bufflehead | A rare vagrant | |
Common goldeneye | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Barrow's goldeneye | A rare vagrant | |
Smew | A winter visitor | |
Hooded merganser | A rare vagrant | |
Goosander | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Red-breasted merganser | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Ruddy duck | C: introduced species currently subject to an eradication programme |
Grouse
Order: GalliformesFamily: TetraonidaeGrouse are sturdy, medium-sized terrestrial birds of the Northern Hemisphere. They have feathered feet and nostrils and short, rounded wings. They feed mainly on plant material and lay their eggs in a simple scrape on the ground. They are gamebirds and large numbers were shot in the past in moorland areas. There are 20 species worldwide, four in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Red grouse | A resident breeding species | |
Ptarmigan | A resident breeding species | |
Black grouse | A resident breeding species | |
Western capercaillie | C resident reintroduced population |
Pheasants, partridges and quail
Order: GalliformesFamily: PhasianidaeThese are terrestrial species, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings. There are about 155 species worldwide with six in Britain. Four of these were introduced for hunting or ornamental purposes but one has now apparently died out.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Red-legged partridge | C resident introduced population | |
Grey partridge | A & C resident breeder and introduced gamebird | |
Common quail | A breeding summer visitor | |
Common pheasant | C resident introduced population | |
Golden pheasant | C resident introduced population | |
Lady Amherst's pheasant | C introduced population now extinct |
Divers
Order: GaviiformesFamily: GaviidaeDivers are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. They swim well and fly adequately but are almost helpless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body. They feed on fish and other aquatic animals. There are five species worldwide, all of which occur in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Red-throated diver | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Black-throated diver | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Pacific diver | A rare vagrant | |
Great northern diver | A winter visitor, has bred | |
White-billed diver | A rare vagrant |
Albatrosses
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: DiomedeidaeThe albatrosses are among the largest flying birds, with long, narrow wings for gliding. The majority are found in the Southern Hemisphere with only vagrants occurring in the North Atlantic. There are 22 species worldwide with two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Black-browed albatross | A rare vagrant | |
Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross | A rare vagrant |
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: ProcellariidaeThese are highly pelagic birds with long, narrow wings and tube-shaped nostrils. They feed at sea on fish, squid and other marine life. They come to land to breed in colonies, nesting in burrows or on cliffs. There are 95 species worldwide, 10 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Northern fulmar | A resident and migrant breeder, passage migrant | |
Capped petrel | B rare vagrant | |
Cory's shearwater | A scarce migrant | |
Scopoli's shearwater | A rare vagrant | |
Great shearwater | A passage migrant | |
Sooty shearwater | A passage migrant | |
Manx shearwater | A breeding summer visitor | |
Yelkouan shearwater | A rare vagrant | |
Balearic shearwater | A passage migrant | |
Macaronesian shearwater | A rare vagrant |
Austral storm petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: OceanitidaeThe austral storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on plankton and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. They nest in colonies on the ground, most often in burrows. There are eight species worldwide, with two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Wilson's storm petrel | A rare vagrant, more regularly seen well offshore | |
White-faced storm petrel | A rare vagrant |
Northern storm petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: HydrobatidaeThe northern storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on plankton and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. They nest in colonies on the ground, most often in burrows. There are 17 species worldwide, with three species in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
European storm petrel | A breeding summer visitor | |
Leach's storm petrel | A breeding summer visitor | |
Swinhoe's storm petrel | A rare vagrant |
Tropicbirds
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: PhaethontidaeThere are three species worldwide, with one in Britain occurring only as a vagrant.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Red-billed tropicbird | A rare vagrant |
Gannets and boobies
Order: SuliformesFamily: SulidaeGannets are large seabirds that plunge-dive for fish and nest in large colonies. They have a torpedo-shaped body, long, narrow, pointed wings and a fairly long tail. There are ten species worldwide with two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Northern gannet | A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant | |
Red-footed booby | A rare vagrant |
Cormorants
Order: SuliformesFamily: PhalacrocoracidaeCormorants are medium to large aquatic birds with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin and sharply hooked for catching fish and aquatic invertebrates. They nest in colonies by water, usually by the sea or on the banks of rivers. There are 41 extant species worldwide, three in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Great cormorant | A resident breeding species | |
Double-crested cormorant | A rare vagrant | |
European shag | A resident breeding species |
Frigatebirds
Order: SuliformesFamily: FregatidaeThere are five species worldwide, with two species in Britain, both of which are rare.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Magnificent frigatebird | A rare vagrant | |
Ascension frigatebird | A rare vagrant |
Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: PelecanidaePelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are eight species worldwide, only one recorded in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Dalmatian pelican | A very rare migrant |
Bitterns, herons and egrets
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: ArdeidaeHerons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive. They all fly with their necks retracted. The sharp bill is used to catch fish, amphibians and other animals. Many species nest in colonies, often in trees. There are 64 species worldwide and 14 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Great bittern | A resident breeding species and winter migrant | |
American bittern | A rare vagrant | |
Little bittern | A scarce migrant, recently bred | |
Black-crowned night heron | A scarce migrant, has bred | |
Green heron | A rare vagrant | |
Squacco heron | A rare vagrant | |
Chinese pond heron | A rare vagrant | |
Cattle egret | A scarce but increasing resident, recently bred | |
Little egret | A resident breeding species and passage migrant | |
Snowy egret | A rare vagrant | |
Great egret | A resident breeding species, first bred 2012 | |
Grey heron | A resident breeding species and winter migrant | |
Great blue heron | A rare vagrant | |
Purple heron | A scarce migrant, recently bred |
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: ThreskiornithidaeA family of long-legged, long-necked wading birds. Ibises have long, curved bills. Spoonbils have a flattened bill, wider at the tip. There are 34 species worldwide with two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Glossy ibis | A rare vagrant | |
Common spoonbill | A scarce migrant, recently bred |
Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: CiconiidaeStorks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They fly with the neck extended. There are 20 species worldwide with two occurring in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Black stork | A rare vagrant | |
White stork | A scarce migrant, formerly bred. Birds from an introduced population bred at Knepp Castle in 2020. |
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: PodicipedidaeGrebes are small to medium-large diving birds with lobed toes and pointed bills. They are seen mainly on lowland waters and coasts. They feed on aquatic animals and nest on a floating platform of vegetation. There are 22 species worldwide with six in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Pied-billed grebe | A rare vagrant | |
Little grebe | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Great crested grebe | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Red-necked grebe | A winter visitor, has bred | |
Slavonian grebe | A resident breeder and winter visitor | |
Black-necked grebe | A resident breeder and winter visitor |
Buzzards, kites and allies
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: AccipitridaeA family of birds of prey which includes hawks, buzzards, eagles, kites and harriers. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight. There are about 240 species worldwide, 16 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
European honey buzzard | A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant | |
Black kite | A scarce migrant | |
Red kite | A & C resident breeder and widespread introductions | |
White-tailed eagle | A & C resident breeder and widespread introductions | |
Egyptian vulture | B rare vagrant | |
Short-toed snake eagle | A rare vagrant | |
Western marsh harrier | A resident breeder and passage migrant | |
Hen harrier | A resident breeder, winter visitor and passage migrant | |
Pallid harrier | A rare vagrant | |
Montagu's harrier | A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant | |
Northern goshawk | A & C resident breeder and naturalised escapes | |
Eurasian sparrowhawk | A resident breeder and passage migrant | |
Common buzzard | A resident breeder and passage migrant | |
Rough-legged buzzard | A winter visitor | |
Greater spotted eagle | B rare vagrant | |
Golden eagle | A resident breeding species |
Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: PandionidaeA large fish-eating bird of prey belonging to a family of its own. It is mainly brown above and white below with long, angled wings.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Osprey | A breeding summer visitor |
Falcons
Order: FalconiformesFamily: FalconidaeA family of small to medium-sized, diurnal birds of prey with pointed wings. They do not build their own nests and mainly catch prey in the air. There are 65 extant species worldwide, 10 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Lesser kestrel | A rare vagrant | |
Common kestrel | A resident breeding species | |
American kestrel | A rare vagrant | |
Red-footed falcon | A scarce migrant | |
Amur falcon | A rare vagrant | |
Merlin | A resident breeding species | |
Hobby | A breeding summer visitor | |
Eleonora's falcon | A rare vagrant | |
Gyr falcon | A rare vagrant | |
Peregrine falcon | A resident breeding species |
Rails, crakes and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: RallidaeThese birds mainly occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, marshes or rivers. Many are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. There are 156 species worldwide, 12 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Water rail | A resident breeding species | |
Spotted crake | A scarce breeding summer visitor | |
Sora | A rare vagrant | |
Little crake | A rare vagrant | |
Baillon's crake | A rare vagrant, formerly bred | |
Corn crake | A breeding summer visitor | |
Common moorhen | A resident breeding species | |
Western swamphen | A rare vagrant, first recorded in 2016. | |
Allen's gallinule | A rare vagrant | |
American purple gallinule | A rare vagrant | |
Coot | A resident breeding species | |
American coot | A rare vagrant |
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: GruidaeCranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are fifteen species worldwide, two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Common crane | A resident breeding species and passage migrant | |
Sandhill crane | A rare vagrant |
Bustards
Order: OtidiformesFamily: OtididaeLarge, sturdy birds of open plains with long legs and necks and strong feet. There are twenty-six species worldwide, three in Britain. They are all rarities.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Little bustard | A rare vagrant | |
Macqueen's bustard | B rare vagrant | |
Great bustard | A rare vagrant and recently reintroduced breeding resident species |
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: HaematopodidaeThe oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy wading birds with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are eleven species worldwide with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Eurasian oystercatcher | A resident breeding species |
Avocets and stilts
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: RecurvirostridaeA family of fairly large wading birds. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are ten species worldwide with two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Black-winged stilt | A rare vagrant and occasional breeder | |
Pied avocet | A resident breeding species |
Thick-knees
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: BurhinidaeA small family of medium to large waders with strong black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. There are ten species worldwide with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Stone curlew | A breeding summer visitor |
Pratincoles and coursers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: GlareolidaeA family of slender, long-winged wading birds. There are 15 species worldwide, four in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Cream-coloured courser | A rare vagrant | |
Collared pratincole | A rare vagrant | |
Oriental pratincole | A rare vagrant | |
Black-winged pratincole | A rare vagrant |
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: CharadriidaeSmall to medium-sized wading birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. There are about 66 species worldwide, 16 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Little ringed plover | A breeding summer visitor | |
Ringed plover | A resident breeding species and summer visitor | |
Semipalmated plover | A rare vagrant | |
Killdeer | A rare vagrant | |
Kentish plover | A former breeder, now a rare vagrant. | |
Lesser sand plover | A rare vagrant | |
Greater sand plover | A rare vagrant | |
Caspian plover | A rare vagrant | |
Eurasian dotterel | A breeding summer visitor | |
American golden plover | A scarce migrant | |
Pacific golden plover | A rare vagrant | |
European golden plover | A winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce breeder | |
Grey plover | A winter visitor and passage migrant | |
Sociable lapwing | A rare vagrant | |
White-tailed lapwing | A rare vagrant | |
Lapwing | A resident breeding species |
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: ScolopacidaeA large, diverse family of wading birds. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 97 species worldwide, 54 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Great knot | A rare vagrant | |
Red knot | A winter visitor and passage migrant | |
Sanderling | A winter visitor & passage migrant | |
Semipalmated sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Western sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Red-necked stint | A rare vagrant | |
Little stint | A winter visitor & passage migrant | |
Temminck's stint | A winter visitor & passage migrant, occasional breeder | |
Long-toed stint | A rare vagrant | |
Least sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
White-rumped sandpiper | A scarce migrant | |
Baird's sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Pectoral sandpiper | A winter visitor & passage migrant | |
Sharp-tailed sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Curlew sandpiper | A winter visitor and passage migrant | |
Stilt sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Purple sandpiper | A winter visitor & passage migrant, occasional breeder | |
Dunlin | A winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce breeder | |
Broad-billed sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Buff-breasted sandpiper | A passage migrant | |
Ruff | A passage migrant and scarce breeding resident | |
Jack snipe | A winter visitor & passage migrant | |
Common snipe | A resident breeding species and summer visitor | |
Wilson's snipe | A rare vagrant | |
Great snipe | A rare vagrant | |
Short-billed dowitcher | A rare vagrant | |
Long-billed dowitcher | A rare vagrant | |
Woodcock | A resident breeding species | |
Black-tailed godwit | A winter visitor, passage migrant and scarce summer breeding species | |
Hudsonian godwit | A rare vagrant | |
Bar-tailed godwit | A winter visitor & passage migrant | |
Little curlew | A rare vagrant | |
Eskimo curlew | B | |
Hudsonian whimbrel | A rare vagrant | |
Eurasian whimbrel | A breeding summer visitor | |
Curlew | A resident breeding species | |
Upland sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Terek sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Common sandpiper | A resident breeding species and passage migrant | |
Spotted sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Green sandpiper | A winter visitor & passage migrant, occasional breeder | |
Solitary sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Grey-tailed tattler | A rare vagrant | |
Spotted redshank | A winter visitor and passage migrant | |
Greater yellowlegs | A rare vagrant | |
Common greenshank | A resident breeding species and passage migrant | |
Lesser yellowlegs | A rare vagrant | |
Marsh sandpiper | A rare vagrant | |
Wood sandpiper | A passage migrant & rare localised breeder in far North | |
Common redshank | A resident breeding species | |
Turnstone | A resident breeding species | |
Wilson's phalarope | A rare vagrant | |
Red-necked phalarope | A winter visitor: scarce & localised summer breeding in far North | |
Grey phalarope | A scarce winter visitor |
Skuas
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: StercorariidaeMedium to large seabirds with mainly grey or brown plumage, sharp claws and a hooked tip to the bill. They chase other seabirds to force them to drop their catches. There are seven species worldwide with four in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Pomarine skua | A passage migrant | |
Arctic skua | A passage migrant and localised summer breeder | |
Long-tailed skua | A passage migrant | |
Great skua | A passage migrant and localised summer breeder |
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: LaridaeMedium to large seabirds with grey, white and black plumage, webbed feet and strong bills. Many are opportunistic and adaptable feeders. There are 102 species worldwide, with
41 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Ivory gull | A rare vagrant | |
Sabine's gull | A scarce winter visitor | |
Black-legged kittiwake | A breeding summer visitor and resident species | |
Slender-billed gull | A rare vagrant | |
Bonaparte's gull | A rare vagrant | |
Black-headed gull | A resident breeding species | |
Little gull | A winter visitor, occasional breeder | |
Ross's gull | A rare vagrant | |
Laughing gull | A rare vagrant | |
Franklin's gull | A rare vagrant | |
Mediterranean gull | A breeding summer visitor, & resident in south. | |
Audouin's gull | A rare vagrant | |
Pallas's gull | B rare vagrant | |
Common gull | A resident breeding species, winter visitor & passage migrant | |
Ring-billed gull | A scarce winter visitor & passage migrant | |
Lesser black-backed gull | A resident breeding species and passage migrant | |
European herring gull | A resident breeding species | |
Yellow-legged gull | A non-breeding late-summer visitor and passage migrant, has bred | |
Caspian gull | A scarce migrant | |
American herring gull | A rare vagrant | |
Iceland gull | A scarce winter visitor | |
Slaty-backed gull | A rare vagrant | |
Glaucous-winged gull | A rare vagrant | |
Glaucous gull | A winter visitor, has bred | |
Great black-backed gull | A resident breeding species and passage migrant | |
Aleutian tern | A rare vagrant | |
Sooty tern | A rare vagrant | |
Bridled tern | A rare vagrant | |
Little tern | A breeding summer visitor | |
Gull-billed tern | A rare vagrant, has bred | |
Caspian tern | A rare vagrant | |
Whiskered tern | A rare vagrant | |
Black tern | A passage migrant, occasional breeder | |
White-winged tern | A scarce migrant | |
Cabot's tern | A rare vagrant | |
Elegant tern | A rare vagrant | |
Sandwich tern | A breeding summer visitor | |
Royal tern | A rare vagrant | |
Lesser crested tern | A rare vagrant | |
Forster's tern | A rare vagrant | |
Common tern | A breeding summer visitor | |
Roseate tern | A scarce breeding summer visitor | |
Arctic tern | A breeding summer visitor |
Auks
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: AlcidaeA family of seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins, with their black-and-white colours, upright posture and some of their habits, but which are able to fly. There are about 24 worldwide, 10 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Common guillemot | A breeding summer visitor and resident species | |
Brunnich's guillemot | A rare vagrant | |
Razorbill | A breeding summer visitor and resident species | |
Great auk | B | |
Black guillemot | A resident localised breeding species | |
Long-billed murrelet | A rare vagrant | |
Ancient murrelet | A rare vagrant | |
Little auk | A rare winter visitor | |
Atlantic puffin | A breeding summer visitor | |
Tufted puffin | A rare vagrant |
Sandgrouse
Order: PterocliformesFamily: PteroclidaeSturdy, medium-sized birds with a small head and long, pointed wings. There are sixteen species worldwide. One has occurred as a vagrant in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Pallas's sandgrouse | A rare vagrant, has bred |
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: ColumbidaePigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 344 species worldwide, seven in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Rock pigeon or feral pigeon | A & C Resident, most birds are of feral origin | |
Stock dove | A resident breeding species | |
Wood pigeon | A resident breeding species | |
Collared dove | A resident breeding species | |
Turtle dove | A breeding summer visitor | |
Oriental turtle dove | A rare vagrant | |
Mourning dove | A rare vagrant |
Parrots
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: PsittaculidaeParrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. They are found mainly in areas with warm climates. There are 402 species in the world, with one introduced species in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Ring-necked parakeet | C resident introduced population |
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: CuculidaeBirds of variable size with slender bodies and long tails. Some species are known for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds. There are 149 species worldwide, four in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Great spotted cuckoo | A rare vagrant | |
Common cuckoo | A breeding summer visitor | |
Black-billed cuckoo | A rare vagrant | |
Yellow-billed cuckoo | A rare vagrant |
Barn owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: TytonidaeBarn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are twenty species worldwide with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Barn owl | A resident breeding species |
Typical owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: StrigidaeTypical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disc. There are nearly 220 species worldwide, eight in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Scops owl | A rare vagrant | |
Snowy owl | A rare vagrant, has bred Shetland Islands | |
Northern hawk-owl | A rare vagrant | |
Little owl | C resident introduced population | |
Tawny owl | A resident breeding species | |
Long-eared owl | A scarce resident breeding species | |
Short-eared owl | A resident breeding species or winter visitor | |
Tengmalm's owl | A rare vagrant |
Nightjars
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: CaprimulgidaeNightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. There are 98 species worldwide, four in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
European nightjar | A breeding summer visitor | |
Red-necked nightjar | A rare vagrant | |
Egyptian nightjar | A rare vagrant | |
Common nighthawk | A rare vagrant |
Swifts
Order: ApodiformesFamily: ApodidaeThe swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. There are 113 species worldwide, eight in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Chimney swift | A rare vagrant | |
Needle-tailed swift | A rare vagrant | |
Common swift | A breeding summer visitor | |
Pallid swift | A rare vagrant | |
Pacific swift | A rare vagrant | |
Alpine swift | A scarce migrant | |
Little swift | A rare vagrant | |
White-rumped swift | A rare vagrant |
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: AlcedinidaeKingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 114 species worldwide, two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Common kingfisher | A resident breeding species | |
Belted kingfisher | A rare vagrant |
Bee-eaters
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: MeropidaeA group of near-passerine birds characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail-feathers. There are 27 species worldwide, two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Blue-cheeked bee-eater | A rare vagrant | |
European bee-eater | A scarce summer visitor - occasional breeder |
Rollers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: CoraciidaeA small family of colourful, medium-sized birds with a crow-like shape that feed mainly on insects. There are thirteen species worldwide with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
European roller | A rare vagrant |
Hoopoe
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: UpupidaeA small family with a long curved bills, crests and black-and-white striped wings and tails. There are three species worldwide, with one found in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Eurasian hoopoe | A scarce summer visitor, occasional breeder |
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: PicidaeWoodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. There are 236 species worldwide, five in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Eurasian wryneck | A rare passage migrant, occasional breeder | |
European green woodpecker | A resident breeding species | |
Yellow-bellied sapsucker | A rare vagrant | |
Great spotted woodpecker | A resident breeding species | |
Lesser spotted woodpecker | A resident breeding species |
Tyrant flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TyrannidaeA large family from the Americas. There are 437 species, with four rare vagrants recorded in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Eastern phoebe | A rare vagrant | |
Acadian flycatcher | A rare vagrant | |
Alder flycatcher | A rare vagrant | |
Eastern kingbird | A rare vagrant |
Old World orioles
Order: PasseriformesFamily: OriolidaeThe orioles are medium-sized passerines, mostly with bright and showy plumage, the females often have duller plumage than the males The beak is long, slightly curved and hooked. Orioles are arboreal and tend to feed in the canopy. There are 36 species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in Great Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Golden oriole | A scarce breeding summer visitor |
Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LaniidaeShrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. There are 33 species worldwide, nine in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Brown shrike | A rare vagrant | |
Red-backed shrike | A scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder | |
Daurian shrike | A rare vagrant | |
Turkestan shrike | A rare vagrant | |
Long-tailed shrike | A rare vagrant | |
Lesser grey shrike | A rare vagrant | |
Great grey shrike | A scarce winter visitor | |
Woodchat shrike | A scarce migrant | |
Masked shrike | A rare vagrant |
Vireos
Order: PasseriformesFamily: VireonidaeThe vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World. There are 58 species worldwide. Three have occurred as vagrants in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Yellow-throated vireo | A rare vagrant | |
Philadelphia vireo | A rare vagrant | |
Red-eyed vireo | A rare vagrant |
Crows and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CorvidaeThe crows and their relatives are fairly large birds with strong bills and are usually intelligent and adaptable. There are over 120 species worldwide with nine in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Red-billed chough | A resident breeding species | |
Eurasian magpie | A resident breeding species | |
Eurasian jay | A resident breeding species | |
Spotted nutcracker | A rare vagrant | |
Jackdaw | A resident breeding species | |
Rook | A resident breeding species | |
Carrion crow | A resident breeding species | |
Hooded crow | A resident breeding species | |
Common raven | A resident breeding species |
Kinglets
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RegulidaeA family of very small birds. There are seven species worldwide with two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Goldcrest | A resident breeding species | |
Common firecrest | A scarce resident breeding species and passage migrant |
Penduline tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: RemizidaeSmall birds with finely pointed bills that build purse-like nests hanging from a branch. There are 11 species worldwide with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Penduline tit | A rare vagrant |
Tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ParidaeTits are mainly small, stocky, woodland species with short stout bills. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects. There are 65 species worldwide, six in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Eurasian blue tit | A resident breeding species | |
Great tit | A resident breeding species | |
Crested tit | A resident breeding species | |
Coal tit | A resident breeding species | |
Willow tit | A resident breeding species | |
Marsh tit | A resident breeding species |
Bearded tit
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PanuridaeA single species formerly placed in the Old World babbler family.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Bearded tit | A resident breeding species |
Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AlaudidaeLarks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds. There are 98 species worldwide, 10 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Calandra lark | A rare vagrant | |
Bimaculated lark | A rare vagrant | |
Black lark | A rare vagrant | |
Greater short-toed lark | A scarce migrant | |
Lesser short-toed lark | A rare vagrant | |
Crested lark | A rare vagrant | |
Woodlark | A scarce resident breeding species and summer migrant | |
Eurasian skylark | A resident breeding species | |
White-winged lark | A rare vagrant | |
Shore lark | A scarce winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder |
Swallows and martins
Order: PasseriformesFamily: HirundinidaeThe family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. There are aaround 90 species worldwide, eight in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Sand martin | A breeding summer visitor | |
Tree swallow | A rare vagrant | |
Purple martin | A rare vagrant | |
Eurasian crag martin | A rare vagrant | |
Barn swallow | A breeding summer visitor | |
Common house martin | A breeding summer visitor | |
Red-rumped swallow | A scarce migrant | |
American cliff swallow | A rare vagrant |
Bush warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CettiidaeA recently split family formerly placed in the Sylviidae family. There are 32 species worldwide, with one found in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Cetti's warbler | A resident breeding species |
Long-tailed tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AegithalidaeSmall, long-tailed birds that typically live in flocks for much of the year. There are 13 species worldwide with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Long-tailed tit | A resident breeding species |
Leaf warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PhylloscopidaeA recently split family of small insectivorous birds, formerly included within the Sylviidae. There are 81 species, with 16 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Eastern crowned warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Green warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Greenish warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Pale-legged leaf warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Arctic warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Pallas's warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Yellow-browed warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Hume's warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Radde's warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Dusky warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Western Bonelli's warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Eastern Bonelli's warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Wood warbler | A breeding summer visitor | |
Common chiffchaff | A breeding summer visitor | |
Iberian chiffchaff | A rare vagrant | |
Willow warbler | A breeding summer visitor |
Typical warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SylviidaeA group of small insectivorous birds. There are 70 species worldwide, with 15 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Blackcap | A resident breeding species & summer visitor | |
Garden warbler | A breeding summer visitor | |
Barred warbler | A passage migrant | |
Lesser whitethroat | A breeding summer visitor | |
Western Orphean warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Eastern Orphean warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Asian desert warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Whitethroat | A breeding summer visitor | |
Dartford warbler | A resident breeding species | |
Marmora's warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Rüppell's warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Spectacled warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Subalpine warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Moltoni's warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Sardinian warbler | A rare vagrant |
Grasshopper warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: LocustellidaeA recently split family, previously part of the family Sylviidae. There are 68 species, with five found in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Pallas's grasshopper warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Lanceolated warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Grasshopper warbler | A breeding summer visitor | |
River warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Savi's warbler | A rare breeding summer visitor |
Reed warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: AcrocephalidaeA small, insectivorous and vocal group of species, formerly included within the family Sylviidae. There are 56 extant species, with 14 found in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Thick-billed warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Booted warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Sykes's warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Eastern olivaceous warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Olive-tree warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Icterine warbler | A scarce migrant, occasional breeder | |
Melodious warbler | A scarce migrant, occasional breeder | |
Aquatic warbler | A scarce migrant | |
Sedge warbler | A breeding summer visitor | |
Paddyfield warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Blyth's reed warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Marsh warbler | A breeding summer visitor | |
Eurasian reed warbler | A breeding summer visitor | |
Great reed warbler | A rare vagrant, has bred |
Cisticolas
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CisticolidaeA group of insectivorous species, previously included within the family Sylviidae. There are 163 species worldwide, with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Zitting cisticola | A rare vagrant |
Waxwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: BombycillidaeThe waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterised by soft, silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. There are three species worldwide, two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Cedar waxwing | A rare vagrant | |
Bohemian waxwing | A winter visitor in highly varied numbers. |
Wallcreeper
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TichodromadidaeOne species, in its own family, a rare visitor to Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Wallcreeper | A rare vagrant |
Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SittidaeNuthatches are small woodland birds with the unusual ability to climb down trees head-first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. There are 28 species worldwide, two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Red-breasted nuthatch | A rare vagrant | |
Eurasian nuthatch | A resident breeding species |
Treecreepers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CerthiidaeTreecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin, pointed, down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. There are 10 species worldwide, two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Common treecreeper | A resident breeding species | |
Short-toed treecreeper | A rare vagrant |
Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TroglodytidaeWrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills. There are around 80 species worldwide with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Wren | A resident breeding species |
Mockingbirds and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MimidaeMedium-sized passerine birds with long tails. Some are notable for their ability to mimic sounds such as other birds' songs. There are 35 species worldwide. Three have occurred as vagrants in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Northern mockingbird | A rare vagrant | |
Brown thrasher | A rare vagrant | |
Grey catbird | A rare vagrant |
Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: SturnidaeStarlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious. There are about 114 species worldwide with two in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Common starling | A resident breeding species and winter visitor | |
Rosy starling | A rare vagrant |
Dippers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CinclidaeDark, dumpy, aquatic birds which are able to forage for food on the beds of rivers. There are five species worldwide with one in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
White-throated dipper | A resident breeding species |
Thrushes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: TurdidaeThe thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. There are 172 species worldwide, 20 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
White's thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Varied thrush | A very rare vagrant | |
Wood thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Hermit thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Swainson's thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Grey-cheeked thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Veery | A rare vagrant | |
Siberian thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Ring ouzel | A breeding summer visitor | |
Blackbird | A resident breeding species | |
Eyebrowed thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Dusky thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Naumann's thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Black-throated thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Red-throated thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Fieldfare | A winter visitor, rare breeder | |
Song thrush | A resident breeding species | |
Redwing | A winter visitor, rare breeder | |
Mistle thrush | A resident breeding species | |
American robin | A rare vagrant |
Old World flycatchers and chats
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae. Subfamily: MuscicapinaeThe flycatchers and chats are small, mainly insectivorous birds. The flycatchers fly out from a perch to catch insects in the air. There are 324 species worldwide, 31 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Rufous bush robin | A rare vagrant | |
Asian brown flycatcher | A rare vagrant | |
Spotted flycatcher | A breeding summer visitor | |
European robin | A resident breeding species | |
Siberian blue robin | A rare vagrant | |
Rufous-tailed robin | A rare vagrant | |
Siberian rubythroat | A rare vagrant | |
White-throated robin | A rare vagrant | |
Red-flanked bluetail | A rare vagrant | |
Thrush nightingale | A rare vagrant | |
Nightingale | A breeding summer visitor | |
Bluethroat | A scarce migrant, occasional breeder | |
Red-breasted flycatcher | A scarce migrant | |
Taiga flycatcher | A rare vagrant | |
Collared flycatcher | A rare vagrant | |
Pied flycatcher | A breeding summer visitor | |
Black redstart | A scarce breeding resident, passage migrant & winter visitor | |
Common redstart | A breeding summer visitor | |
Moussier's redstart | A rare vagrant | |
Rock thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Blue rock thrush | A rare vagrant | |
Whinchat | A breeding summer visitor & passage migrant | |
Siberian stonechat | A rare vagrant | |
European stonechat | A resident breeding species | |
Northern wheatear | A breeding summer visitor & passage migrant | |
Isabelline wheatear | A rare vagrant | |
Desert wheatear | A rare vagrant | |
Pied wheatear | A rare vagrant | |
Western black-eared wheatear | A rare vagrant | |
Eastern black-eared wheatear | A rare vagrant | |
White-crowned black wheatear | A rare vagrant |
Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PrunellidaeA small family of drab, unobtrusive, insectivorous birds with thin, pointed bills. There are thirteen species worldwide with three recorded in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Dunnock | A resident breeding species | |
Alpine accentor | A rare vagrant | |
Siberian accentor | A rare vagrant with multiple records in 2016 |
Sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: PasseridaeSparrows tend to be small, plump, brownish or greyish birds with short tails and short, powerful beaks. They are seed-eaters and they also consume small insects. There are 43 species worldwide, four in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
House sparrow | A resident breeding species | |
Spanish sparrow | A rare vagrant | |
Eurasian tree sparrow | A resident breeding species | |
Rock sparrow | A rare vagrant |
Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: MotacillidaeMotacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They are slender, ground-feeding insectivores of open country. There are about 66 species worldwide, 16 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Western yellow wagtail | Seven races including:
| |
Eastern yellow wagtail | A rare vagrant | |
Citrine wagtail | A rare vagrant | |
Grey wagtail | A resident breeding species | |
White wagtail | A resident breeding species with two additional visiting races | |
Richard's pipit | A scarce migrant | |
Blyth's pipit | A rare vagrant | |
Tawny pipit | A scarce migrant | |
Olive-backed pipit | A rare vagrant | |
Tree pipit | A breeding summer visitor | |
Pechora pipit | A rare vagrant | |
Meadow pipit | A resident breeding species | |
Red-throated pipit | A scarce migrant | |
Rock pipit | A resident breeding species | |
Water pipit | A winter visitor | |
Buff-bellied pipit | A rare vagrant |
Finches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: FringillidaeSeed-eating passerine birds that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. There are 228 species worldwide, 22 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Common chaffinch | A resident breeding species | |
Brambling | A winter visitor, occasional breeder | |
European serin | A scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder | |
European greenfinch | A resident breeding species | |
Citril finch | A rare vagrant | |
European goldfinch | A resident breeding species | |
Eurasian linnet | A resident breeding species | |
Twite | A resident breeding species | |
Eurasian siskin | A resident breeding species and winter visitor | |
Lesser redpoll | A resident breeding species | |
Mealy redpoll | A winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder | |
Arctic redpoll | A scarce migrant | |
Two-barred crossbill | A rare vagrant | |
Common crossbill | A resident breeding species | |
Scottish crossbill | A resident endemic breeding species | |
Parrot crossbill | A resident breeding species | |
Trumpeter finch | A rare vagrant | |
Common rosefinch | A scarce migrant, occasional breeder | |
Pine grosbeak | A rare vagrant | |
Eurasian bullfinch | A resident breeding species | |
Hawfinch | A scarce resident breeding species | |
Evening grosbeak | A rare vagrant |
Longspurs
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CalcariidaeA small family of migratory seed eating birds. There are six species worldwide, with two found in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Snow bunting | A winter visitor & scarce breeder | |
Lapland bunting | A winter visitor, occasional breeder |
Cardinals and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: CardinalidaeThere are four species in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Summer tanager | A rare vagrant | |
Scarlet tanager | A rare vagrant | |
Rose-breasted grosbeak | A rare vagrant | |
Indigo bunting | A rare vagrant |
Buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae.A large group of seed-eating passerine birds with a distinctively shaped bill. There are 44 species worldwide and 17 in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Black-faced bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Pine bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Yellowhammer | A resident breeding species | |
Cirl bunting | A resident breeding species | |
Rock bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Ortolan bunting | A scarce migrant | |
Cretzschmar's bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Yellow-browed bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Rustic bunting | A scarce migrant | |
Chestnut-eared bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Little bunting | A scarce migrant | |
Yellow-breasted bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Chestnut bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Reed bunting | A resident breeding species | |
Pallas' reed bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Black-headed bunting | A rare vagrant | |
Corn bunting | A resident breeding species |
American sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passerellidae.A seed eating group of species, recently split from the family Emberizidae. There are 136 species worldwide, with seven found in Britain as rare vagrants.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Rufous-sided towhee | A rare vagrant | |
Lark sparrow | A rare vagrant | |
Savannah sparrow | A rare vagrant | |
Song sparrow | A rare vagrant | |
White-crowned sparrow | A rare vagrant | |
White-throated sparrow | A rare vagrant | |
Dark-eyed junco | A rare vagrant |
Icterids
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae.There are 109 species worldwide, with four species found rarely in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Bobolink | A rare vagrant | |
Brown-headed cowbird | A rare vagrant | |
Baltimore oriole | A rare vagrant | |
Red-winged blackbird | A rare vagrant |
New World warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: ParulidaeA group of small, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal and insectivorous. There are 119 species worldwide. Eighteen have occurred as vagrants in Britain.
Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Ovenbird | A rare vagrant | |
Northern waterthrush | A rare vagrant | |
Golden-winged warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Black-and-white warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Tennessee warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Common yellowthroat | A rare vagrant | |
Hooded warbler | A rare vagrant | |
American redstart | A rare vagrant | |
Cape May warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Northern parula | A rare vagrant | |
Magnolia warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Bay-breasted warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Blackburnian warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Yellow warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Chestnut-sided warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Blackpoll warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Yellow-rumped warbler | A rare vagrant | |
Wilson's warbler | A rare vagrant |
The links above lead to family accounts and individual species. Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so other arrangements may be found, as in Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy.
Species awaiting acceptance
The following species have been recorded recently and the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee has not yet made a decision on whether to accept them onto the British List.Common and binomial names | Image | Status |
Brown booby | A rare vagrant, first recorded 2019. | |
Paddyfield pipit | A rare vagrant, first recorded 2019. | |
White-chinned petrel | A rare vagrant, first recorded 2020. | |
Fea's petrel | A rare vagrant, previously accepted onto the British list as Fea's petrel but since split into three distinct species | |
Bearded vulture | A rare vagrant, first recorded 2020. |