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 622 species of birds on the British list as of 24 January 2020, the latest addition being the white-rumped swift.[1] There are an additional three species groups on the British List - Fea's/Desertas petrel (Pterodroma feae/desertas); Black-bellied/White-bellied Storm Petrel (Fregetta tropica/grallaria) and Brown/South Polar skua (Stercorarius antarctica/maccormickii). In addition, six more species are awaiting consideration by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee. The species order and scientific names used here follow those of the official British list, maintained by the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU).[2] Decisions relating to the British list are published by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) 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.[3] 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.

Categories A, B and C constitute the Official British List. Birds can be listed in more than one category, for example the Canada goose has a large introduced population, but there have also been a few naturally occurring vagrants, so it meets the criteria for categories A and C. Two further categories are used for record keeping only.

  • 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 (if any) are not believed to be self-sustaining.

Birds in categories D and E are not on the official British list and are not included here. A sixth category, F, is being compiled to include species recorded before 1800, including fossil species.[4]

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

Species awaiting acceptance        See also        Footnotes        References

Ducks, geese and swans

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

The 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
(Branta bernicla)
A winter visitor
Red-breasted goose
(Branta ruficollis)
A rare vagrant
Greater Canada goose
(Branta canadensis)
A & C resident introduced population, some wild vagrants
Barnacle goose
(Branta leucopsis)
A & C winter visitor and resident introduced population
Cackling goose
(Branta hutchinsii)
A rare vagrant
Snow goose
(Anser caerulescens)
A & C resident introduced population, some wild vagrants
Greylag goose
(Anser anser)
A & C resident wild and feral populations, winter visitor
Taiga bean goose
(Anser fabalis)
A winter visitor
Pink-footed goose
(Anser brachyrhynchus)
A winter visitor
Tundra bean goose
(Anser serrirostris)
A winter visitor
Greater white-fronted goose
(Anser albifrons)
A winter visitor
Lesser white-fronted goose
(Anser erythropus)
A rare vagrant
Mute swan
(Cygnus olor)
A & C resident breeding species
Tundra swan or Bewick's swan
(Cygnus columbianus)
A winter visitor
Whooper swan
(Cygnus cygnus)
A winter visitor and occasional breeder
Egyptian goose
(Alopochen aegyptiaca)
C resident introduced population
Ruddy shelduck
(Tadorna ferruginea)
B Records since 1946 are presumed escapes from captivity
Common shelduck
(Tadorna tadorna)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Mandarin duck
(Aix galericulata)
C resident introduced population
Baikal teal
(Sibirionetta formosa)
A rare vagrant
Garganey
(Spatula querquedula)
A breeding summer visitor
Blue-winged teal
(Spatula discors)
A rare vagrant
Northern shoveler
(Spatula clypeata)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Gadwall
(Mareca strepera)
A & C resident breeder and winter visitor
Falcated duck
(Mareca falcata)
A rare vagrant
Eurasian wigeon
(Mareca penelope)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
American wigeon
(Mareca americana)
A scarce migrant
Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos)
A & C resident breeder, winter visitor and naturalised releases
American black duck
(Anas rubripes)
A rare vagrant
Northern pintail
(Anas acuta)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Eurasian teal
(Anas crecca)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Green-winged teal
(Anas carolinensis)
A scarce migrant
Red-crested pochard
(Netta rufina)
A & C scarce migrant and introduced breeder
Canvasback
(Aythya valisineria)
A rare vagrant
Redhead
(Aythya americana)
A rare vagrant
Common pochard
(Aythya ferina)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Ferruginous duck
(Aythya nyroca)
A scarce migrant
Ring-necked duck
(Aythya collaris)
A scarce migrant
Tufted duck
(Aythya fuligula)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Greater scaup
(Aythya marila)
A winter visitor and occasional breeder
Lesser scaup
(Aythya affinis)
A rare vagrant
Steller's eider
(Polysticta stelleri)
A rare vagrant
King eider
(Somateria spectabilis)
A rare vagrant
Common eider
(Somateria mollissima)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Harlequin duck
(Histrionicus histrionicus)
A rare vagrant
Surf scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata)
A scarce migrant
Velvet scoter
(Melanitta fusca)
A winter visitor
White-winged scoter
(Melanitta deglandi)
A rare vagrant
Common scoter
(Melanitta nigra)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Black scoter
(Melanitta americana)
A rare vagrant
Long-tailed duck
(Clangula hyemalis)
A winter visitor and occasional breeder
Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola)
A rare vagrant
Common goldeneye
(Bucephala clangula)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Barrow's goldeneye
(Bucephala islandica)
A rare vagrant
Smew
(Mergellus albellus)
A winter visitor
Hooded merganser
(Lophodytes cucullatus)
A rare vagrant
Goosander
(Mergus merganser)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Red-breasted merganser
(Mergus serrator)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Ruddy duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)
C: introduced species currently subject to an eradication programme

Grouse

Order: Galliformes   Family: Tetraonidae

Grouse 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
(Lagopus lagopus scotica)
A resident breeding species
Ptarmigan
(Lagopus muta)
A resident breeding species
Black grouse
(Tetrao tetrix)
A resident breeding species
Western capercaillie
(Tetrao urogallus)
C resident reintroduced population

Pheasants, partridges and quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

These 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
(Alectoris rufa)
C resident introduced population
Grey partridge
(Perdix perdix)
A & C resident breeder and introduced gamebird
Common quail
(Coturnix coturnix)
A breeding summer visitor
Common pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)
C resident introduced population
Golden pheasant
(Chrysolophus pictus)
C resident introduced population
Lady Amherst's pheasant
(Chrysolophus amherstiae)
C introduced population now extinct

Divers

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Divers 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
(Gavia stellata)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Black-throated diver
(Gavia arctica)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Pacific diver
(Gavia pacifica)
A rare vagrant
Great northern diver
(Gavia immer)
A winter visitor, has bred
White-billed diver
(Gavia adamsii)
A rare vagrant

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The 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
(Thalassarche melanophris)
A rare vagrant
Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross
(Thalassarche chlororhynchos)
A rare vagrant

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

These 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
(Fulmarus glacialis)
A resident and migrant breeder, passage migrant
Capped petrel
(Pterodroma hasitata)
B rare vagrant
Cory's shearwater
(Calonectris borealis)
A scarce migrant
Scopoli's shearwater
(Calonectris diomedea)
A rare vagrant
Great shearwater
(Ardenna gravis)
A passage migrant
Sooty shearwater
(Ardenna grisea)
A passage migrant
Manx shearwater
(Puffinus puffinus)
A breeding summer visitor
Yelkouan shearwater
(Puffinus yelkouan)
A rare vagrant
Balearic shearwater
(Puffinus mauretanicus)
A passage migrant
Macaronesian shearwater
(Puffinus baroli)
A rare vagrant

Austral storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The 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
(Oceanites oceanicus)
A rare vagrant, more regularly seen well offshore
White-faced storm petrel
(Pelagodroma marina)
A rare vagrant

Northern storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The 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
(Hydrobates pelagicus)
A breeding summer visitor
Leach's storm petrel
(Oceanodroma leucorhea)
A breeding summer visitor
Swinhoe's storm petrel
(Oceanodroma monorhis)
A rare vagrant

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

There are three species worldwide, with one in Britain occurring only as a vagrant.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Red-billed tropicbird
(Phaethon aethereus)
A rare vagrant

Gannets and boobies

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

Gannets 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
(Morus bassanus)
A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Red-footed booby
(Sula sula)
A rare vagrant

Cormorants

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants 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
(Phalacrocorax carbo)
A resident breeding species
European shag
(Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
A resident breeding species
Double-crested cormorant
(Phalacrocorax auritus)
A rare vagrant

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

There are five species worldwide, with two species in Britain, both of which are rare.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Magnificent frigatebird
(Fregata magnificens)
A rare vagrant
Ascension frigatebird
(Fregata aquila)
A rare vagrant

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans 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
(Pelecanus crispus)
A very rare migrant[5]

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

Herons 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
(Botaurus stellaris)
A resident breeding species and winter migrant
American bittern
(Botaurus lentiginosus)
A rare vagrant
Little bittern
(Ixobrychus minutus)
A scarce migrant, recently bred
Black-crowned night heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax)
A scarce migrant, has bred
Green heron
(Butorides virescens)
A rare vagrant
Squacco heron
(Ardeola ralloides)
A rare vagrant
Chinese pond heron
(Ardeola bacchus)
A rare vagrant
Cattle egret
(Bubulcus ibis)
A scarce but increasing resident, recently bred
Little egret
(Egretta garzetta)
A resident breeding species and passage migrant
Snowy egret
(Egretta thula)
A rare vagrant
Great egret
(Ardea alba)
A resident breeding species, first bred 2012
Grey heron
(Ardea cinerea)
A resident breeding species and winter migrant
Great blue heron
(Ardea herodias)
A rare vagrant
Purple heron
(Ardea purpurea)
A scarce migrant, recently bred

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

A 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
(Plegadis falcinellus)
A rare vagrant
Common spoonbill
(Platalea leucorodia)
A scarce migrant, recently bred

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks 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
(Ciconia nigra)
A rare vagrant
White stork
(Ciconia ciconia)
A scarce migrant, formerly bred. Birds from an introduced population bred at Knepp Wildland in 2020.

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes 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
(Podilymbus podiceps)
A rare vagrant
Little grebe
(Tachybaptus ruficollis)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Great crested grebe
(Podiceps cristatus)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Red-necked grebe
(Podiceps grisegena)
A winter visitor, has bred
Slavonian grebe
(Podiceps auritus)
A resident breeder and winter visitor
Black-necked grebe
(Podiceps nigricollis)
A resident breeder and winter visitor

Buzzards, kites and allies

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

A 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
(Pernis apivorus)
A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Black kite
(Milvus migrans)
A scarce migrant
Red kite
(Milvus milvus)
A & C resident breeder and widespread introductions
White-tailed eagle
(Haliaeetus albicilla)
A & C resident breeder; reintroduction projects underway and ongoing
Egyptian vulture
(Neophron percnopterus)
B rare vagrant
Short-toed snake eagle
(Circaetus gallicus)
A rare vagrant
Western marsh harrier
(Circus aeruginosus)
A resident breeder and passage migrant
Hen harrier
(Circus cyaneus)
A resident breeder, winter visitor and passage migrant
Pallid harrier
(Circus macrourus)
A rare vagrant
Montagu's harrier
(Circus pygargus)
A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Northern goshawk
(Accipiter gentilis)
A & C resident breeder and naturalised escapes
Eurasian sparrowhawk
(Accipiter nisus)
A resident breeder and passage migrant
Common buzzard
(Buteo buteo)
A resident breeder and passage migrant
Rough-legged buzzard
(Buteo lagopus)
A winter visitor
Greater spotted eagle
(Clanga clanga)
B rare vagrant
Golden eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos)
A resident breeding species

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

A 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
(Pandion haliaetus)
A breeding summer visitor

Falcons

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

A 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
(Falco naumanni)
A rare vagrant
Common kestrel
(Falco tinnunculus)
A resident breeding species
American kestrel
(Falco sparverius)
A rare vagrant
Red-footed falcon
(Falco vespertinus)
A scarce migrant
Amur falcon
(Falco amurensis)
A rare vagrant
Merlin
(Falco columbarius)
A resident breeding species
(Eurasian) Hobby
(Falco subbuteo)
A breeding summer visitor
Eleonora's falcon
(Falco eleonorae)
A rare vagrant
Gyr falcon
(Falco rusticolus)
A rare vagrant
Peregrine falcon
(Falco peregrinus)
A resident breeding species

Rails, crakes and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

These 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
(Rallus aquaticus)
A resident breeding species
Spotted crake
(Porzana porzana)
A scarce breeding summer visitor
Sora
(Porzana carolina)
A rare vagrant
Little crake
(Zapornia parva)
A rare vagrant
Baillon's crake
(Zapornia pusilla)
A rare vagrant, formerly bred
Corn crake
(Crex crex)
A breeding summer visitor
Common moorhen
(Gallinula chloropus)
A resident breeding species
Western swamphen[6]
(Porphyrio porphyrio)
A rare vagrant, first recorded in 2016.
Allen's gallinule
(Porphyrio alleni)
A rare vagrant
American purple gallinule
(Porphyrio martinicus)
A rare vagrant
Coot
(Fulica atra)
A resident breeding species
American coot
(Fulica americana)
A rare vagrant

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes 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
(Grus grus)
A resident breeding species and passage migrant
Sandhill crane
(Grus canadensis)
A rare vagrant

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Large, 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
(Tetrax tetrax)
A rare vagrant
Macqueen's bustard
(Chlamydotis macqueenii)
B rare vagrant
Great bustard
(Otis tarda)
A rare vagrant and recently reintroduced breeding resident species

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The 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
(Haematopus ostralegus)
A resident breeding species

Avocets and stilts

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

A 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
(Himantopus himantopus)
A rare vagrant and occasional breeder
Pied avocet
(Recurvirostra avosetta)
A resident breeding species

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

A 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
(Burhinus oedicnemus)
A breeding summer visitor

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

A family of slender, long-winged wading birds. There are 15 species worldwide, four in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Cream-coloured courser
(Cursorius cursor)
A rare vagrant
Collared pratincole
(Glareola pratincola)
A rare vagrant
Oriental pratincole
(Glareola maldivarum)
A rare vagrant
Black-winged pratincole
(Glareola nordmanni)
A rare vagrant

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Small 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
(Charadrius dubius)
A breeding summer visitor
Ringed plover
(Charadrius hiaticula)
A resident breeding species and summer visitor
Semipalmated plover
(Charadrius semipalmatus)
A rare vagrant
Killdeer
(Charadrius vociferus)
A rare vagrant
Kentish plover
(Charadrius alexandrinus)
A former breeder, now a rare vagrant.
Lesser sand plover
(Charadrius mongolus)
A rare vagrant
Greater sand plover
(Charadrius leschenaultii)
A rare vagrant
Caspian plover
(Charadrius asiaticus)
A rare vagrant
Eurasian dotterel
(Charadrius morinellus)
A breeding summer visitor
American golden plover
(Pluvialis dominica)
A scarce migrant
Pacific golden plover
(Pluvialis fulva)
A rare vagrant
European golden plover
(Pluvialis apricaria)
A winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce breeder
Grey plover
(Pluvialis squatarola)
A winter visitor and passage migrant
Sociable lapwing
(Vanellus gregarius)
A rare vagrant
White-tailed lapwing
(Vanellus leucurus)
A rare vagrant
Lapwing
(Vanellus vanellus)
A resident breeding species

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

A 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
(Calidris tenuirostris)
A rare vagrant
Red knot
(Calidris canutus)
A winter visitor and passage migrant
Sanderling
(Calidris alba)
A winter visitor & passage migrant
Semipalmated sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla)
A rare vagrant
Western sandpiper
(Calidris mauri)
A rare vagrant
Red-necked stint
(Calidris ruficollis)
A rare vagrant
Little stint
(Calidris minuta)
A winter visitor & passage migrant
Temminck's stint
(Calidris temminckii)
A winter visitor & passage migrant, occasional breeder
Long-toed stint
(Calidris subminuta)
A rare vagrant
Least sandpiper
(Calidris minutilla)
A rare vagrant
White-rumped sandpiper
(Calidris fuscicollis)
A scarce migrant
Baird's sandpiper
(Calidris bairdii)
A rare vagrant
Pectoral sandpiper
(Calidris melanotos)
A winter visitor & passage migrant
Sharp-tailed sandpiper
(Calidris acuminata)
A rare vagrant
Curlew sandpiper
(Calidris ferruginea)
A winter visitor and passage migrant
Stilt sandpiper
(Calidris himantopus)
A rare vagrant
Purple sandpiper
(Calidris maritima)
A winter visitor & passage migrant, occasional breeder
Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)
A winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce breeder
Broad-billed sandpiper
(Calidris falcinellus)
A rare vagrant
Buff-breasted sandpiper
(Calidris subruficollis)
A passage migrant
Ruff
(Calidris pugnax)
A passage migrant and scarce breeding resident
Jack snipe
(Lymnocryptes minimus)
A winter visitor & passage migrant
Common snipe
(Gallinago gallinago)
A resident breeding species and summer visitor
Wilson's snipe
(Gallinago delicata)
A rare vagrant
Great snipe
(Gallinago media)
A rare vagrant
Short-billed dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus)
A rare vagrant
Long-billed dowitcher
(Limnodromus scolopaceus)
A rare vagrant
Woodcock
(Scolopax rusticola)
A resident breeding species
Black-tailed godwit
(Limosa limosa)
A winter visitor, passage migrant and scarce summer breeding species
Hudsonian godwit
(Limosa haemastica)
A rare vagrant
Bar-tailed godwit
(Limosa lapponica)
A winter visitor & passage migrant
Little curlew
(Numenius minutus)
A rare vagrant
Eskimo curlew
(Numenius borealis)
B (extinct)
Hudsonian whimbrel
(Numenius hudsonicus)
A rare vagrant
Eurasian whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus)
A breeding summer visitor
Curlew
(Numenius arquata)
A resident breeding species
Upland sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda)
A rare vagrant
Terek sandpiper
(Xenus cinereus)
A rare vagrant
Common sandpiper
(Actitis hypoleucos)
A resident breeding species and passage migrant
Spotted sandpiper
(Actitis macularius)
A rare vagrant
Green sandpiper
(Tringa ochropus)
A winter visitor & passage migrant, occasional breeder
Solitary sandpiper
(Tringa solitaria)
A rare vagrant
Grey-tailed tattler
(Tringa brevipes)
A rare vagrant
Spotted redshank
(Tringa erythropus)
A winter visitor and passage migrant
Greater yellowlegs
(Tringa melanoleuca)
A rare vagrant
Common greenshank
(Tringa nebularia)
A resident breeding species and passage migrant
Lesser yellowlegs
(Tringa flavipes)
A rare vagrant
Marsh sandpiper
(Tringa stagnatilis)
A rare vagrant
Wood sandpiper
(Tringa glareola)
A passage migrant & rare localised breeder in far North
Common redshank
(Tringa totanus)
A resident breeding species
Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres)
A resident breeding species
Wilson's phalarope
(Phalaropus tricolor)
A rare vagrant
Red-necked phalarope
(Phalaropus lobatus)
A winter visitor: scarce & localised summer breeding in far North
Grey phalarope
(Phalaropus fulicaria)
A scarce winter visitor

Skuas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Medium 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
(Stercorarius pomarinus)
A passage migrant
Arctic skua
(Stercorarius parasiticus)
A passage migrant and localised summer breeder
Long-tailed skua
(Stercorarius longicaudus)
A passage migrant
Great skua
(Stercorarius skua)
A passage migrant and localised summer breeder

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Medium 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
(Pagophila eburnea)
A rare vagrant
Sabine's gull
(Xema sabini)
A scarce winter visitor
Black-legged kittiwake
(Rissa tridactyla)
A breeding summer visitor and resident species
Slender-billed gull
(Chroicocephalus genei)
A rare vagrant
Bonaparte's gull
(Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
A rare vagrant
Black-headed gull
(Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
A resident breeding species
Little gull
(Hydrocoloeus minutus)
A winter visitor, occasional breeder
Ross's gull
(Rhodostethia rosea)
A rare vagrant
Laughing gull
(Leucophaeus atricilla)
A rare vagrant
Franklin's gull
(Leucophaeus pipixcan)
A rare vagrant
Mediterranean gull
(Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)
A breeding summer visitor, & resident in south.
Audouin's gull
(Ichthyaetus audouinii)
A rare vagrant
Pallas's gull
(Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
B rare vagrant
Common gull
(Larus canus)
A resident breeding species, winter visitor & passage migrant
Ring-billed gull
(Larus delawarensis)
A scarce winter visitor & passage migrant
Lesser black-backed gull
(Larus fuscus)
A resident breeding species and passage migrant
European herring gull
(Larus argentatus)
A resident breeding species
Yellow-legged gull
(Larus michahellis)
A non-breeding late-summer visitor and passage migrant, has bred
Caspian gull
(Larus cachinnans)
A scarce migrant
American herring gull
(Larus smithsonianus)
A rare vagrant
Iceland gull
(Larus glaucoides)
A scarce winter visitor
Slaty-backed gull
(Larus schistisagus)
A rare vagrant
Glaucous-winged gull
(Larus glaucescens)
A rare vagrant
Glaucous gull
(Larus hyperboreus)
A winter visitor, has bred
Great black-backed gull
(Larus marinus)
A resident breeding species and passage migrant
Aleutian tern
(Onychoprion aleutica)
A rare vagrant
Sooty tern
(Onychoprion fuscata)
A rare vagrant
Bridled tern
(Onychoprion anaethetus)
A rare vagrant
Little tern
(Sternula albifrons)
A breeding summer visitor
Gull-billed tern
(Gelochelidon nilotica)
A rare vagrant, has bred
Caspian tern
(Hydroprogne caspia)
A rare vagrant
Whiskered tern
(Chlidonias hybridus)
A rare vagrant
Black tern
(Chlidonias niger)
A passage migrant, occasional breeder
White-winged tern
(Chlidonias leucopterus)
A scarce migrant
Cabot's tern
(Thalasseus acuflavida)
A rare vagrant
Elegant tern
(Thalasseus elegans)
A rare vagrant
Sandwich tern
(Thalasseus sandvicensis)
A breeding summer visitor
Royal tern
(Thalasseus maximus)
A rare vagrant
Lesser crested tern
(Thalasseus bengalensis)
A rare vagrant
Forster's tern
(Sterna forsteri)
A rare vagrant
Common tern
(Sterna hirundo)
A breeding summer visitor
Roseate tern
(Sterna dougallii)
A scarce breeding summer visitor
Arctic tern
(Sterna paradisaea)
A breeding summer visitor

Auks

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

A 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
(Uria aalge)
A breeding summer visitor and resident species
Brunnich's guillemot
(Uria lomvia)
A rare vagrant
Razorbill
(Alca torda)
A breeding summer visitor and resident species
Great auk
(Pinguinus impennis)
B (extinct)
Black guillemot
(Cepphus grylle)
A resident localised breeding species
Long-billed murrelet
(Brachyramphus perdix)
A rare vagrant
Ancient murrelet
(Synthliboramphus antiquus)
A rare vagrant
Little auk
(Alle alle)
A rare winter visitor
Atlantic puffin
(Fratercula arctica)
A breeding summer visitor
Tufted puffin
(Fratercula cirrhata)
A rare vagrant

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sturdy, 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
(Syrrhaptes paradoxus)
A rare vagrant, has bred

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons 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
(Columba livia)
A & C Resident, most birds are of feral origin
Stock dove
(Columba oenas)
A resident breeding species
Wood pigeon
(Columba palumbus)
A resident breeding species
Collared dove
(Streptopelia decaocto)
A resident breeding species
Turtle dove
(Streptopelia turtur)
A breeding summer visitor
Oriental turtle dove
(Streptopelia orientalis)
A rare vagrant
Mourning dove
(Zenaida macroura)
A rare vagrant

Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Parrots 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
(Psittacula krameri)
C resident introduced population

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

Birds 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
(Clamator glandarius)
A rare vagrant
Common cuckoo
(Cuculus canorus)
A breeding summer visitor
Black-billed cuckoo
(Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
A rare vagrant
Yellow-billed cuckoo
(Coccyzus americanus)
A rare vagrant

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn 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
(Tyto alba)
A resident breeding species

Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical 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
(Otus scops)
A rare vagrant
Snowy owl
(Bubo scandiacus)
A rare vagrant, has bred Shetland Islands
Northern hawk-owl
(Surnia ulula)
A rare vagrant
Little owl
(Athene noctua)
C resident introduced population
Tawny owl
(Strix aluco)
A resident breeding species
Long-eared owl
(Asio otus)
A scarce resident breeding species
Short-eared owl
(Asio flammeus)
A resident breeding species or winter visitor
Tengmalm's owl
(Aegolius funereus)
A rare vagrant

Nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars 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
(Caprimulgus europaeus)
A breeding summer visitor
Red-necked nightjar
(Caprimulgus ruficollis)
A rare vagrant
Egyptian nightjar
(Caprimulgus aegyptius)
A rare vagrant
Common nighthawk
(Chordeiles minor)
A rare vagrant

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

The 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
(Chaetura pelagica)
A rare vagrant
Needle-tailed swift
(Hirundapus caudacutus)
A rare vagrant
Common swift
(Apus apus)
A breeding summer visitor
Pallid swift
(Apus pallidus)
A rare vagrant
Pacific swift
(Apus pacificus)
A rare vagrant
Alpine swift
(Apus melba)
A scarce migrant
Little swift
(Apus affinis)
A rare vagrant
White-rumped swift
(Apus caffer)
A rare vagrant

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers 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
(Alcedo atthis)
A resident breeding species
Belted kingfisher
(Megaceryle alcyon)
A rare vagrant

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

A 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
(Merops persicus)
A rare vagrant
European bee-eater
(Merops apiaster)
A scarce summer visitor - occasional breeder

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

A 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
(Coracias garrulus)
A rare vagrant

Hoopoe

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

A 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
(Upupa epops)
A scarce summer visitor, occasional breeder

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers 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
(Jynx torquilla)
A rare passage migrant, occasional breeder
European green woodpecker
(Picus viridis)
A resident breeding species
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
(Sphyrapicus varius)
A rare vagrant
Great spotted woodpecker
(Dendrocopos major)
A resident breeding species
Lesser spotted woodpecker
(Dryobates minor)
A resident breeding species

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

A large family from the Americas. There are 437 species, with four rare vagrants recorded in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Eastern phoebe
(Sayornis phoebe)
A rare vagrant
Acadian flycatcher
(Empidonax virescens)
A rare vagrant
Alder flycatcher
(Empidonax alnorum)
A rare vagrant
Eastern kingbird
(Tyrannus tyrannus)
A rare vagrant

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The 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
(Oriolus oriolus)
A scarce breeding summer visitor

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes 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
(Lanius cristatus)
A rare vagrant
Red-backed shrike
(Lanius collurio)
A scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder
Daurian shrike
(Lanius isabellinus)
A rare vagrant
Turkestan shrike
(Lanius phoenicuroides)
A rare vagrant
Long-tailed shrike
(Lanius schach)
A rare vagrant
Lesser grey shrike
(Lanius minor)
A rare vagrant
Great grey shrike
(Lanius excubitor)
A scarce winter visitor
Woodchat shrike
(Lanius senator)
A scarce migrant
Masked shrike
(Lanius nubicus)
A rare vagrant

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The 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
(Vireo flavifrons)
A rare vagrant
Philadelphia vireo
(Vireo philadelphicus)
A rare vagrant
Red-eyed vireo
(Vireo olivaceus)
A rare vagrant

Crows and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The 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
(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
A resident breeding species
Eurasian magpie
(Pica pica)
A resident breeding species
Eurasian jay
(Garrulus glandarius)
A resident breeding species
Spotted nutcracker
(Nucifraga caryocatactes)
A rare vagrant
Jackdaw
(Coloeus monedula)
A resident breeding species
Rook
(Corvus frugilegus)
A resident breeding species
Carrion crow
(Corvus corone)
A resident breeding species
Hooded crow
(Corvus cornix)
A resident breeding species
Common raven
(Corvus corax)
A resident breeding species

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

A family of very small birds. There are seven species worldwide with two in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Goldcrest
(Regulus regulus)
A resident breeding species
Common firecrest
(Regulus ignicapillus)
A scarce resident breeding species and passage migrant

Penduline tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

Small 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
(Remiz pendulinus)
A rare vagrant

Tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

Tits 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
(Cyanistes caeruleus)
A resident breeding species
Great tit
(Parus major)
A resident breeding species
Crested tit
(Lophophanes cristatus)
A resident breeding species
Coal tit
(Periparus ater)
A resident breeding species
Willow tit
(Poecile montana)
A resident breeding species
Marsh tit
(Poecile palustris)
A resident breeding species

Bearded tit

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Panuridae

A single species formerly placed in the Old World babbler family.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Bearded tit
(Panurus biarmicus)
A resident breeding species

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks 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
(Melanocorypha calandra)
A rare vagrant
Bimaculated lark
(Melanocorypha bimaculata)
A rare vagrant
Black lark
(Melanocorypha yeltoniensis)
A rare vagrant
Greater short-toed lark
(Calandrella brachydactyla)
A scarce migrant
Lesser short-toed lark
(Alaudala rufescens)
A rare vagrant
Crested lark
(Galerida cristata)
A rare vagrant
Woodlark
(Lullula arborea)
A scarce resident breeding species and summer migrant
Eurasian skylark
(Alauda arvensis)
A resident breeding species
White-winged lark
(Alauda leucoptera)
A rare vagrant
Shore lark
(Eremophila alpestris)
A scarce winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The 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 around 90 species worldwide, eight in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Sand martin
(Riparia riparia)
A breeding summer visitor
Tree swallow
(Tachycineta bicolor)
A rare vagrant
Purple martin
(Progne subis)
A rare vagrant
Eurasian crag martin
(Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
A rare vagrant
Barn swallow
(Hirundo rustica)
A breeding summer visitor
Common house martin
(Delichon urbicum)
A breeding summer visitor
Red-rumped swallow
(Cecropis daurica)
A scarce migrant
American cliff swallow
(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
A rare vagrant

Bush warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cettiidae

A 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
(Cettia cetti)
A resident breeding species

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Small, 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
(Aegithalos caudatus)
A resident breeding species

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

A 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
(Phylloscopus coronatus)
A rare vagrant
Green warbler
(Phylloscopus nitidus)
A rare vagrant
Greenish warbler
(Phylloscopus trochiloides)
A scarce migrant
Pale-legged leaf warbler
(Phylloscopus tenellipes)
A rare vagrant
Arctic warbler
(Phylloscopus borealis)
A scarce migrant
Pallas's warbler
(Phylloscopus proregulus)
A scarce migrant
Yellow-browed warbler
(Phylloscopus inornatus)
A scarce migrant
Hume's warbler
(Phylloscopus humei)
A rare vagrant
Radde's warbler
(Phylloscopus schwarzi)
A scarce migrant
Dusky warbler
(Phylloscopus fuscatus)
A scarce migrant
Western Bonelli's warbler
(Phylloscopus bonelli)
A scarce migrant
Eastern Bonelli's warbler
(Phylloscopus orientalis)
A rare vagrant
Wood warbler
(Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
A breeding summer visitor
Common chiffchaff
(Phylloscopus collybita)
A breeding summer visitor
Iberian chiffchaff
(Phylloscopus ibericus)
A rare vagrant
Willow warbler
(Phylloscopus trochilus)
A breeding summer visitor

Typical warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

A group of small insectivorous birds. There are 34 species worldwide, with 16 in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Blackcap
(Sylvia atricapilla)
A resident breeding species & summer visitor
Garden warbler
(Sylvia borin)
A breeding summer visitor
Barred warbler
(Curruca nisoria)
A passage migrant
Lesser whitethroat
(Curruca curruca)
A breeding summer visitor
Western Orphean warbler
(Curucca hortensis)
A rare vagrant
Eastern Orphean warbler
(Curucca crassirostris)
A rare vagrant
Asian desert warbler
(Curruca nana)
A rare vagrant
Rüppell's warbler
(Curruca ruppeli)
A rare vagrant
Sardinian warbler
(Curruca melanocephala)
A rare vagrant
Western subalpine warbler
(Curruca iberiae)
A rare vagrant
Moltoni's subalpine warbler
(Curruca subalpina)
A rare vagrant
Eastern subalpine warbler
(Curruca cantillans)
A rare vagrant
Spectacled warbler
(Curruca conspicillata)
A rare vagrant
Whitethroat
(Curruca communis)
A breeding summer visitor
Marmora's warbler
(Curruca sarda)
A rare vagrant
Dartford warbler
(Curruca undata)
A resident breeding species

Grasshopper warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

A 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
(Helopsaltes certhiola)
A rare vagrant
Lanceolated warbler
(Locustella lanceolata)
A rare vagrant
River warbler
(Locustella fluviatilis)
A rare vagrant
Grasshopper warbler
(Locustella naevia)
A breeding summer visitor
Savi's warbler
(Locustella luscinioides)
A rare breeding summer visitor

Reed warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

A 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
(Arundinax aedon)
A rare vagrant
Booted warbler
(Iduna caligata)
A rare vagrant
Sykes's warbler
(Iduna rama)
A rare vagrant
Eastern olivaceous warbler
(Iduna pallida)
A rare vagrant
Olive-tree warbler
(Hippolais olivetorum)
A rare vagrant
Icterine warbler
(Hippolais icterina)
A scarce migrant, occasional breeder
Melodious warbler
(Hippolais polyglotta)
A scarce migrant, occasional breeder
Aquatic warbler
(Acrocephalus paludicola)
A scarce migrant
Sedge warbler
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
A breeding summer visitor
Paddyfield warbler
(Acrocephalus agricola)
A rare vagrant
Blyth's reed warbler
(Acrocephalus dumetorum)
A rare vagrant
Marsh warbler
(Acrocephalus palustris)
A breeding summer visitor
Eurasian reed warbler
(Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
A breeding summer visitor
Great reed warbler
(Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
A rare vagrant, has bred

Cisticolas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

A 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
(Cisticola juncidis)
A rare vagrant

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The 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
(Bombycilla cedrorum)
A rare vagrant
Bohemian waxwing
(Bombycilla garrulus)
A winter visitor in highly varied numbers.

Wallcreeper

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tichodromadidae

One species, in its own family, a rare visitor to Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Wallcreeper
(Tichodroma muraria)
A rare vagrant

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches 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
(Sitta canadensis)
A rare vagrant
Eurasian nuthatch
(Sitta europaea)
A resident breeding species

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers 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
(Certhia familiaris)
A resident breeding species
Short-toed treecreeper
(Certhia brachydactyla)
A rare vagrant

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens 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
(Troglodytes troglodytes)
A resident breeding species

Mockingbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

Medium-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
(Mimus polyglottos)
A rare vagrant
Brown thrasher
(Toxostoma rufum)
A rare vagrant (one record)
Grey catbird
(Dumetella carolinensis)
A rare vagrant (two records)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings 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
(Sturnus vulgaris)
A resident breeding species and winter visitor
Rosy starling
(Pastor roseus)
A rare vagrant

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dark, 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
(Cinclus cinclus)
A resident breeding species

Thrushes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The 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
(Zoothera dauma)
A rare vagrant
Varied thrush
(Ixoreus naevius)
A very rare vagrant (one record)
Wood thrush
(Hylocichla mustelina)
A rare vagrant
Hermit thrush
(Catharus guttatus)
A rare vagrant
Swainson's thrush
(Catharus ustulatus)
A rare vagrant
Grey-cheeked thrush
(Catharus minimus)
A rare vagrant
Veery
(Catharus fuscescens)
A rare vagrant
Siberian thrush
(Geokichla sibirica)
A rare vagrant
Ring ouzel
(Turdus torquatus)
A breeding summer visitor
Blackbird
(Turdus merula)
A resident breeding species
Eyebrowed thrush
(Turdus obscurus)
A rare vagrant
Dusky thrush
(Turdus eunomus)
A rare vagrant
Naumann's thrush
(Turdus naumanni)
A rare vagrant
Black-throated thrush
(Turdus atrogularis)
A rare vagrant
Red-throated thrush
(Turdus ruficollis)
A rare vagrant
Fieldfare
(Turdus pilaris)
A winter visitor, rare breeder
Song thrush
(Turdus philomelos)
A resident breeding species
Redwing
(Turdus iliacus)
A winter visitor, rare breeder
Mistle thrush
(Turdus viscivorus)
A resident breeding species
American robin
(Turdus migratorius)
A rare vagrant

Old World flycatchers and chats

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae. Subfamily: Muscicapinae

The 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
(Cercotrichas galactotes)
A rare vagrant
Asian brown flycatcher
(Muscicapa dauurica)
A rare vagrant
Spotted flycatcher
(Muscicapa striata)
A breeding summer visitor
European robin
(Erithacus rubecula)
A resident breeding species
Siberian blue robin
(Larvivora cyanea)
A rare vagrant
Rufous-tailed robin
(Larvivora sibilans)
A rare vagrant
Siberian rubythroat
(Calliope calliope)
A rare vagrant
White-throated robin
(Irania gutturalis)
A rare vagrant
Red-flanked bluetail
(Tarsiger cyanurus)
A rare vagrant
Thrush nightingale
(Luscinia luscinia)
A rare vagrant
Nightingale
(Luscinia megarhynchos)
A breeding summer visitor
Bluethroat
(Luscinia svecica)
A scarce migrant, occasional breeder
Taiga flycatcher
(Ficedula albicilla)
A rare vagrant
Red-breasted flycatcher
(Ficedula parva)
A scarce migrant
Pied flycatcher
(Ficedula hypoleuca)
A breeding summer visitor
Collared flycatcher
(Ficedula albicollis)
A rare vagrant
Black redstart
(Phoenicurus ochruros)
A scarce breeding resident, passage migrant & winter visitor
Common redstart
(Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
A breeding summer visitor
Moussier's redstart
(Phoenicurus moussieri)
A rare vagrant
Rock thrush
(Monticola saxatilis)
A rare vagrant
Blue rock thrush
(Monticola solitarius)
A rare vagrant
Whinchat
(Saxicola rubetra)
A breeding summer visitor & passage migrant
Siberian stonechat
(Saxicola maurus)
A rare vagrant
European stonechat
(Saxicola rubicola)
A resident breeding species
Northern wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
A breeding summer visitor & passage migrant
Isabelline wheatear
(Oenanthe isabellina)
A rare vagrant
Desert wheatear
(Oenanthe deserti)
A rare vagrant
Pied wheatear
(Oenanthe pleschanka)
A rare vagrant
Western black-eared wheatear
(Oenanthe hispanica)
A rare vagrant
Eastern black-eared wheatear
(Oenanthe melanoleuca)
A rare vagrant
White-crowned black wheatear
(Oenanthe leucopyga)
A rare vagrant

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

A 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
(Prunella modularis)
A resident breeding species
Alpine accentor
(Prunella collaris)
A rare vagrant
Siberian accentor
(Prunella montanella)
A rare vagrant with multiple records in 2016

Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Sparrows 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
(Passer domesticus)
A resident breeding species
Spanish sparrow
(Passer hispaniolensis)
A rare vagrant
Eurasian tree sparrow
(Passer montanus)
A resident breeding species
Rock sparrow
(Petronia petronia)
A rare vagrant

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae 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
(Motacilla flava)
Seven races including:
  • Blue-headed wagtail M. f. flava (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)
  • Yellow wagtail M. f. flavissima (subspecies breeding in Britain)
Eastern yellow wagtail
(Motacilla tschutschensis)
A rare vagrant
Citrine wagtail
(Motacilla citreola)
A rare vagrant
Grey wagtail
(Motacilla cinerea)
A resident breeding species
White wagtail
(Motacilla alba)
A resident breeding species with two additional visiting races
  • M. a. alba (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)
  • M. a. leucopsis, Amur wagtail (rare vagrant)
  • M. a. yarrelli, pied wagtail (subspecies breeding in Britain)
Richard's pipit
(Anthus richardi)
A scarce migrant
Blyth's pipit
(Anthus godlewskii)
A rare vagrant
Tawny pipit
(Anthus campestris)
A scarce migrant
Olive-backed pipit
(Anthus hodgsoni)
A rare vagrant
Tree pipit
(Anthus trivialis)
A breeding summer visitor
Pechora pipit
(Anthus gustavi)
A rare vagrant
Meadow pipit
(Anthus pratensis)
A resident breeding species
Red-throated pipit
(Anthus cervinus)
A scarce migrant
Rock pipit
(Anthus petrosus)
A resident breeding species
Water pipit
(Anthus spinoletta)
A winter visitor
Buff-bellied pipit
(Anthus rubescens)
A rare vagrant

Finches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Seed-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
(Fringilla coelebs)
A resident breeding species
Brambling
(Fringilla montifringilla)
A winter visitor, occasional breeder
European serin
(Serinus serinus)
A scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder
European greenfinch
(Chloris chloris)
A resident breeding species
Citril finch
(Carduelis citrinella)
A rare vagrant
European goldfinch
(Carduelis carduelis)
A resident breeding species
Eurasian linnet
(Linaria cannabina)
A resident breeding species
Twite
(Linaria flavirostris)
A resident breeding species
Eurasian siskin
(Spinus spinus)
A resident breeding species and winter visitor
Lesser redpoll
(Acanthis cabaret)
A resident breeding species
Mealy redpoll
(Acanthis flammea)
A winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Arctic redpoll
(Acanthis hornemanni)
A scarce migrant
Two-barred crossbill
(Loxia leucoptera)
A rare vagrant
Common crossbill
(Loxia curvirostra)
A resident breeding species
Scottish crossbill
(Loxia scotica)
A resident endemic breeding species
Parrot crossbill
(Loxia pytyopsittacus)
A resident breeding species
Trumpeter finch
(Bucanetes githagineus)
A rare vagrant
Common rosefinch
(Erythrina erythrinus)
A scarce migrant, occasional breeder
Pine grosbeak
(Pinicola enucleator)
A rare vagrant
Eurasian bullfinch
(Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
A resident breeding species
Hawfinch
(Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
A scarce resident breeding species
Evening grosbeak
(Hesperiphona vespertinua)
A rare vagrant

Longspurs

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

A 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
(Plectrophenax nivalis)
A winter visitor & scarce breeder
Lapland bunting
(Calcarius lapponicus)
A winter visitor, occasional breeder

Cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

Four species have been found in Great Britain, all as rare vagrants.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Summer tanager
(Piranga rubra)
A rare vagrant
Scarlet tanager
(Piranga olivacea)
A rare vagrant
Rose-breasted grosbeak
(Pheucticus ludovicianus)
A rare vagrant
Indigo bunting
(Passerina cyanea)
A rare vagrant

Buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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
(Emberiza spodocephala)
A rare vagrant
Pine bunting
(Emberiza leucocephalos)
A rare vagrant
Yellowhammer
(Emberiza citrinella)
A resident breeding species
Cirl bunting
(Emberiza cirlus)
A resident breeding species
Rock bunting
(Emberiza cia)
A rare vagrant
Ortolan bunting
(Emberiza hortulana)
A scarce migrant
Cretzschmar's bunting
(Emberiza caesia)
A rare vagrant
Yellow-browed bunting
(Emberiza chrysophrys)
A rare vagrant
Rustic bunting
(Emberiza rustica)
A scarce migrant
Chestnut-eared bunting
(Emberiza fucata)
A rare vagrant
Little bunting
(Emberiza pusilla)
A scarce migrant
Yellow-breasted bunting
(Emberiza aureola)
A rare vagrant
Chestnut bunting
(Emberiza rutila)
A rare vagrant
Reed bunting
(Emberiza schoeniclus)
A resident breeding species
Pallas' reed bunting
(Emberiza pallasi)
A rare vagrant
Black-headed bunting
(Emberiza melanocephala)
A rare vagrant
Corn bunting
(Emberiza calandra)
A resident breeding species

American sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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
Lark sparrow
(Chondestes grammacus)
A rare vagrant
Dark-eyed junco
(junco hyemalis)
A rare vagrant
White-crowned sparrow
(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
A rare vagrant
White-throated sparrow
(Zonotrichia albicollis)
A rare vagrant
Savannah sparrow
(Passerculus sandwichensis)
A rare vagrant
Song sparrow
(Melospiza melodia)
A rare vagrant
Eastern towhee
(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
A rare vagrant

Icterids

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae.

There are 109 species worldwide, with four species found rarely in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Bobolink
(Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
A rare vagrant
Brown-headed cowbird
(Molothrus ater)
A rare vagrant
Baltimore oriole
(Icterus galbula)
A rare vagrant
Red-winged blackbird
(Agelaius phoeniceus)
A rare vagrant

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

A 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
(Seiurus aurocapilla)
A rare vagrant
Northern waterthrush
(Parkesia noveboracensis)
A rare vagrant
Golden-winged warbler
(Vermivora chrysoptera)
A rare vagrant
Black-and-white warbler
(Mniotilta varia)
A rare vagrant
Tennessee warbler
(Oreothlypis peregrina)
A rare vagrant
Common yellowthroat
(Geothlypis trichas)
A rare vagrant
Hooded warbler
(Setophaga citrina)
A rare vagrant
American redstart
(Setophaga ruticilla)
A rare vagrant
Cape May warbler
(Setophaga tigrina)
A rare vagrant
Northern parula
(Setophaga americana)
A rare vagrant
Magnolia warbler
(Setophaga magnolia)
A rare vagrant
Bay-breasted warbler
(Setophaga castanea)
A rare vagrant
Blackburnian warbler
(Setophaga fusca)
A rare vagrant
Yellow warbler
(Setophaga petechia)
A rare vagrant
Chestnut-sided warbler
(Setophaga pensylvanica)
A rare vagrant
Blackpoll warbler
(Setophaga striata)
A rare vagrant
Yellow-rumped warbler
(Setophaga coronata)
A rare vagrant
Wilson's warbler
(Cardellina pusilla)
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
(Sula leucogaster)
A rare vagrant, first recorded 2019.
Paddyfield pipit
(Anthus rufulus)[7]
A rare vagrant, first recorded 2019.
White-chinned petrel
(Procellaria aequinoctialis)
A rare vagrant, first recorded 2020.
Fea's petrel
(Pterodroma feae)
A rare vagrant, previously accepted onto the British list as Fea's petrel but since split into three distinct species
Zino's petrel
(Pterodroma madeira)
A rare vagrant, first reported 2020.[8]
Bearded vulture
(Gypaetus barbatus)
A rare vagrant, first recorded 2020.[9]
Yellow-bellied flycatcher

(Empidonax flaviventris)

A rare vagrant, first recorded in 2020.[10]
Ruby-crowned kinglet

(Regulus calendula)

A rare vagrant, first recorded in 2020.[11]

See also

Footnotes

  1. "British List announcements". British Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  2. British Ornithologists' Union (2013). "The British List". Ibis. 155: 635–676. doi:10.1111/ibi.12069.
  3. "Maintaining the British List". BOU. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  4. BOURC. "Species categories". Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  5. "Dalmatian pelican seen 'for first time' in UK at Land's End". BBC News. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  6. Harvey, Robert (2018). "Western Swamphen in Suffolk and Lincolnshire:new to Britain". British Birds. 111 (9): 512–514.
  7. "Paddyfield pipit call identification". The Sound Approach. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  8. "Zino's Petrel of Scilly – a first for Britain". BirdGuides. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  9. Birch, Simon. "Birdwatchers flock to Peak District after rare sighting of bearded vulture in UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  10. "Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Tiree". BirdGuides. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  11. "First Ruby-crowned Kinglet for Britain on Barra". BirdGuides. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

References

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