Birds in Cambridgeshire
Explore 181 species found in this region.
Cambridgeshire is home to a remarkable diversity of birdlife, with 177 species recorded across the county's varied landscapes of fenland, river valleys, farmland, and wetland reserves. The region's low-lying wetlands attract impressive numbers of wildfowl and waders, including Pink-footed Goose, Northern Pintail, and Northern Lapwing, while woodlands and hedgerows support resident species such as Great Tit and Magpie. Notable sites like the Ouse Washes and Wicken Fen make Cambridgeshire one of eastern England's premier birdwatching destinations.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Bar-tailed Godwit arriving this month, and Brambling and Common Loon depart for the season.
Showing 70–92 of 181 species
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
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellusLC
A rare but increasingly recorded visitor to Fenland wetlands, most likely at marshy pools and flooded fields.
Jul–Mar
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
An uncommon resident of coniferous and mixed woodland, often hard to spot despite its high-pitched call. Numbers swell with continental arrivals in autumn.
Year-round
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Winters in flocks on ploughed fenland fields, often alongside lapwings. Absent during the summer breeding months.
Aug–Apr
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
Winters on gravel pits and reservoirs, with small numbers present from autumn to spring. Males show striking white plumage.
Aug–Apr
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
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
An uncommon but year-round presence, often seen at landfill sites and reservoirs, dwarfing other gulls in mixed flocks.
Year-round
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Common and widespread year-round on rivers, lakes, and gravel pits, often seen perched with wings outstretched to dry.
Year-round
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Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
A familiar resident on lakes, reservoirs, and gravel pits across the county, performing elaborate courtship displays in spring.
Year-round
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
A common resident of woodlands, parks, and mature gardens. Its loud drumming is a familiar spring sound across the county.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
A common and familiar garden resident throughout Cambridgeshire. Visits feeders readily and nests in holes in trees and nest boxes across the county.
Year-round
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Now resident year-round, increasingly seen at Fen wetlands and flooded fields. A recent colonist whose numbers continue to grow.
Year-round
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
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
Found along ditches, watercress beds, and flooded fields almost year-round, often flushing with a distinctive call.
Jun–Apr
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common resident of gardens and hedgerows, though numbers have declined sharply due to disease in recent years.
Year-round
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
An uncommon visitor to gravel pits and washland scrapes from April to October, with peak passage in late summer.
Apr–Oct
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A common and familiar resident, seen year-round along rivers, ditches, and lakes throughout the county.
Year-round
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
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident found along rivers and streams, bobbing its long tail on weirs and bridges throughout the county.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
A common resident breeding on gravel pits, lakes and fenland waterways. Large flocks gather on the Ouse Washes and flooded fields in winter.
Year-round
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
A rare winter visitor to the open Fenland landscape, occasionally seen hunting low over stubble fields and marshes.
Nov–Mar