Rare Birds in Cambridgeshire
74 species matching this filter.
Cambridgeshire's diverse landscape of fenland, wetland reserves, and arable farmland provides occasional refuge for 74 rare bird species that turn up infrequently across the county. Notable rarities include the striking Bohemian Waxwing during winter irruptions, the elusive Eurasian Bittern lurking in reedbeds, and passage migrants such as Arctic Tern and Garganey passing through the county's renowned wetland sites. With patience and careful timing, birdwatchers can encounter these scarce visitors at key locations including the Ouse Washes, Wicken Fen, and the Nene Washes.
Showing 24–46 of 74 species
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
A rare resident slowly expanding its range into Cambridgeshire's mature broadleaved woodlands. Loud calls betray its presence at favoured parkland sites.
Year-round
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
A rare passage visitor in May and November, having declined severely across much of eastern England. Farmland edges and stubble fields offer the best chance.
Nov–May
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor from November to March, skulking in damp woodland and hedgerows, most often flushed unexpectedly.
Nov–Mar
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turturVU
A rare and rapidly declining summer visitor, arriving in late April to breed in thick hedgerows and scrubby farmland.
Apr–Sep
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
A rare summer breeder, arriving from March and favouring shallow fenland pools and flooded meadows. One of the UK's scarcest breeding ducks.
Mar–Oct
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
A rare breeding visitor to dense, tussocky grassland and young scrub. Best detected by its insect-like reeling song on warm spring evenings.
Apr–Jul
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
A rare winter visitor to larger waterbodies, sometimes found among Tufted Duck flocks from November to March.
Nov–Mar
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
A rare winter visitor from December to March, occasionally joining feral goose flocks on flooded fenland fields and the Ouse Washes.
Dec–Mar
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Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
A declining farmland resident, now rare across the county's arable fields. Benefits from agri-environment schemes where present.
Year-round
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally stopping at flooded fields and washland scrapes in May en route to Arctic breeding grounds.
May
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
A rare winter visitor to the open Fenland landscape, occasionally seen hunting low over stubble fields and marshes.
Nov–Mar
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoidesLC
A rare winter gull, occasionally found among flocks at landfill sites and reservoirs in January and February.
Jan–Feb
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A rare and secretive autumn passage visitor, occasionally flushed from marshy margins in October.
Oct
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
A rare spring passage visitor in April, sometimes seen dipping gracefully over gravel pits and reservoirs.
Apr
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
A scarce resident of old farmland with pollarded willows and barns. Declining across the county and increasingly hard to find.
Year-round
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally found picking along muddy edges of fenland scrapes in September and October.
Sep–Oct
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
A rare and secretive winter visitor, occasionally found roosting in dense scrub or conifer plantations during the coldest months.
Nov–Feb
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A rare resident of wooded waterways and park lakes, most often recorded in winter and spring. This striking East Asian species nests in tree holes.
Dec–May
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A scarce and declining resident of mature deciduous woodland. Hayley Wood and similar ancient sites remain key locations.
Jun–Apr
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
A rare winter visitor from northern breeding grounds, occasionally spotted dashing low over open Fenland fields and marshes.
Nov–Feb
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschataLC
A rare record almost certainly involving an escaped or feral bird. This domesticated species is not established in the wild in Cambridgeshire.
Aug
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
A rare summer breeder arriving in April, favouring dense scrub and coppice. Cambridgeshire lies at the edge of its UK range.
Apr–Jun
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A rare but regular autumn passage migrant, seen fishing at gravel pits and reservoirs in August and September.
Aug–Sep