Birds in Cheshire
Explore 182 species found in this region.
Cheshire is a rewarding county for birdwatchers, supporting 178 recorded species across a rich mosaic of habitats including meres, mosses, farmland, estuaries, and woodland. The Dee Estuary and wetlands such as those at Woolston Eyes attract notable species like Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, and Goldeneye, while resident birds such as Cetti's Warbler and Linnet can be found year-round. From wintering wildfowl to summer visitors like the Common Swift, Cheshire offers excellent birding opportunities throughout the seasons.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Common Redstart arriving this month, and Eurasian Bittern and Eurasian Woodcock depart for the season.
Showing 116–138 of 182 species
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A bold and abundant resident throughout Cheshire's towns, gardens and farmland, easily recognised by its striking black-and-white plumage.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Abundant and widespread on virtually any waterbody, from town park ponds to rural meres and the canal network.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
An uncommon resident favouring wooded lakes and rivers. Nests in tree holes along waterways in the eastern hills.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
An uncommon resident breeding on upland moorland edges in eastern Cheshire. More widespread in winter when birds move to lowland fields and wetlands.
Year-round
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
A rare winter visitor from upland breeding grounds, occasionally hunting over the Dee Estuary marshes and open farmland from autumn to early spring.
Sep–Mar
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
An uncommon resident of parkland and open woodland, often singing boldly from treetops even in midwinter. Less garden-friendly than its thrush relatives.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common resident found on ponds, canals, and meres throughout the county. Readily seen in parks and gardens near water.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A common and familiar resident gracing canals, meres and rivers across the county throughout the year.
Year-round
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Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
A common resident of farmland and wetlands, with large winter flocks on the Cheshire Plain. Breeding numbers are declining.
Year-round
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
An uncommon but elegant resident, most numerous in winter on the Dee Estuary marshes and nearby flooded fields.
Year-round
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Common on meres and shallow wetlands year-round. Numbers increase in winter as continental birds arrive.
Year-round
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally spotted over reservoirs and meres in September during southward migration.
Sep
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally turning up at Cheshire's freshwater pools and marshes in August and September.
Aug–Sep
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
An uncommon but year-round resident, increasingly seen nesting on urban structures and hunting over estuaries and the wider Cheshire Plain.
Year-round
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Uncommon but spectacular in winter, with skeins flying over farmland. Absent in midsummer; favours stubble fields.
Sep–May
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
An uncommon resident found on deeper meres and reservoirs. Numbers have declined nationally; winter flocks are small.
Year-round
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
A rare breeding visitor, part of the species' ongoing recovery; occasionally seen soaring over farmland and woodland from spring to summer.
Mar–Aug
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
A rare visitor, occasionally seen on the Dee and Mersey estuaries. Most records fall between autumn and spring passage periods.
Feb–Dec
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
A rare resident found on arable farmland, mainly from introductions. Far less established here than in southern England.
Year-round
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
A rare September passage migrant, occasionally turning up at pools and meres. One of the county's scarcer wader visitors.
Sep
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
An uncommon resident breeding on wet grassland and saltmarsh. Numbers swell in winter along the Dee and Mersey estuaries.
Year-round
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving in October and feeding on hedgerow berries. Often found in mixed flocks with Fieldfares.
Oct–Apr
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
A common resident found year-round in reedbeds, marshes, and damp farmland ditches. Males are easily identified by their black head and white collar.
Year-round