Common Birds in England
113 species matching this filter.
England is home to 113 commonly occurring bird species, found across a rich variety of habitats from coastal estuaries and wetlands to ancient woodlands and urban gardens. Familiar favourites such as the Great Tit, Magpie, and Common Starling thrive alongside waterbirds like the Common Shelduck and Common Merganser. Whether you're exploring the countryside or watching from your kitchen window, our guide to 23 Common Garden Birds in the UK (Full Guide with Pictures) is a great place to start identifying the species you're most likely to encounter.
Showing 1–23 of 113 species
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
A striking black-and-white wader and symbol of the RSPB, now a common resident breeding on coastal lagoons and estuaries, especially in East Anglia.
Year-round
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
A beloved summer visitor arriving from Africa in March, commonly nesting in barns and outbuildings. Often seen hawking insects low over farmland and water.
Mar–Nov
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
A common resident, with feral populations in parks and wetlands supplemented by large winter flocks from Arctic breeding grounds, notably in the north-west.
Year-round
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Present year-round on estuaries and wet grasslands. The Ouse and Humber Washes host important breeding and wintering populations of this elegant wader.
Year-round
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
One of England's most familiar garden birds, resident year-round. Its rich, fluting song is a defining sound of dawn and dusk in towns and countryside.
Year-round
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
A common resident and migrant found in woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens year-round. Winter numbers are boosted by Continental birds visiting garden feeders.
Year-round
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
One of England's most familiar garden birds, resident year-round. Readily visits feeders and nests in boxes, hedgerows and tree holes across the country.
Year-round
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
Large winter flocks gather on estuaries and coastal marshes, especially along the south and east coasts. Dark-bellied birds from Siberia predominate in England.
Year-round
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Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
A shy but common resident of hedgerows, woodland edges, and gardens. Its soft piping call often reveals its presence.
Year-round
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
A common resident raptor soaring over farmland, woodland and moorland. Has recovered strongly across England after historical persecution and is now widespread.
Year-round
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
A common and widespread introduced resident of lakes, rivers, and parks. Large flocks gather on urban and rural waterways alike.
Year-round
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
One of England's most abundant and adaptable birds, thriving in farmland, towns, and cities alike. Its intelligent, resourceful behaviour is easily observed in everyday settings.
Year-round
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
A resident warbler that has expanded rapidly northward in recent decades. More often heard than seen, its explosive burst of song rings out from dense wetland scrub.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
One of England's most familiar garden and woodland birds, present year-round. Its cheerful song is a hallmark of spring across the countryside.
Year-round
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
A common year-round warbler whose repetitive 'chiff-chaff' song is one of the earliest signs of spring in woodlands and gardens across England.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
A common resident of coniferous and mixed woodlands, readily visiting garden feeders. Often stores food in bark crevices for later retrieval.
Year-round
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
A common gull found year-round on playing fields, reservoirs and coasts. Winter numbers swell with arrivals from Scandinavia and northern Europe.
Year-round
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
A striking diving duck found on rivers and lakes, often known locally as the Goosander. Males sport a dark green head and salmon-pink body in breeding plumage.
Year-round
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
An abundant resident of farmland, woodland edges and hedgerows. Millions are released annually for shooting, making it one of England's most numerous birds.
Year-round
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Once largely confined to western uplands, this impressive corvid has spread steadily eastward and is now common across much of England, even in urban fringe areas.
Year-round
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
A common summer breeder arriving in April, singing its chattering song from dense reedbeds across lowland England before departing by October.
Apr–Oct
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Present year-round along rivers, lakes and reservoirs, bobbing its tail as it feeds along stony shorelines. Breeds mainly in northern and western England.
Year-round
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
A common and distinctive resident of estuaries and coastal marshes, often seen in large flocks. Breeds in burrows and undergoes a moult migration.
Year-round