Birds in Bristol
Explore 124 species found in this region.
Bristol's diverse landscapes, from the tidal mudflats of the Severn Estuary to the wooded gorges and urban parks, support an impressive array of birdlife. With 123 species recorded across the county, birders can enjoy sightings ranging from familiar garden visitors like Great Tits and Magpies to wetland specialists such as Common Shelduck and Common Reed-warbler. The region's mix of estuarine, woodland, and grassland habitats makes it a rewarding destination for birdwatching throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Bar-tailed Godwit and Barn Swallow arriving this month, and Eurasian Wigeon and Firecrest depart for the season.
Showing 70–92 of 124 species
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
An uncommon resident, hovering over roadside verges and open ground on the city fringe throughout the year.
Year-round
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common year-round resident nesting on rooftops across the city centre. Bristol hosts one of the UK's largest urban colonies.
Year-round
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
A rare breeding visitor arriving in April, favouring tall hedgerows and scrubby thickets. Its distinctive rattling song is heard mainly in May and June.
Apr–Sep
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
An uncommon resident favouring weedy fields and scrubby margins on Bristol's outskirts. Declining nationally but present year-round.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Now resident year-round after colonising the region in recent decades. Stalks the shallows along the Avon and Severn Estuary.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
A rare resident found on sheltered ponds and waterways. Absent in late spring, suggesting limited local breeding success.
Jul–Apr
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
A rare passage visitor recorded in October. More likely on farmland at Bristol's rural fringes than in the city itself.
Oct
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubiusLC
A rare passage visitor in April, occasionally stopping at gravel pits and reservoir margins on spring migration.
Apr
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Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Noisy flocks roam hedgerows and gardens year-round. Common in Bristol's parks, often seen in acrobatic family groups.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident throughout Bristol's parks, gardens, and hedgerows. Easily recognised by its chattering call.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
The most familiar duck in Bristol, common on the River Avon, Floating Harbour, and park ponds throughout the year.
Year-round
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinusLC
A rare passage visitor in May, occasionally spotted from the Severn Estuary coast during spring movements to breeding colonies.
May
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A rare and declining resident of mature deciduous woodland on Bristol's fringes. Easily confused with the similar Willow Tit.
Dec–Jul
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
An uncommon resident of rough grassland and open hillsides around Bristol. More conspicuous in autumn and winter when numbers increase.
Jul–May
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
A rare but year-round resident, favouring parkland with tall trees. Often sings boldly from treetops even in midwinter.
Sep–Jul
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Common year-round along the River Avon, park ponds, and ditches, often seen flicking its tail nervously.
Year-round
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschataLC
A rare and likely feral visitor, occasionally recorded in July; probably an escapee from domestic stock.
Jul
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
Present year-round on the River Avon, harbour, and park lakes, though less numerous here than in many English cities.
Year-round
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
A rare and declining resident, found on farmland and estuary fields; numbers bolstered by winter flocks.
Jun–Apr
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
A rare passage visitor in spring and autumn, sometimes stopping on reservoirs and flooded fields near Bristol.
Aug–Mar
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Resident year-round, famously nesting on tall buildings and churches in the city centre. A thrilling urban predator to watch.
Year-round
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
A rare passage migrant noted between February and June, sometimes seen in skeins passing over the Severn Estuary.
Feb–Jun
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
A rare breeder, increasingly seen soaring over the city's outskirts. Part of the species' ongoing recovery across England.
Oct–Jun