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 70–92 of 113 species
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common resident found year-round on coasts, landfill sites and urban rooftops. Numbers swell in summer when breeding colonies are active.
Year-round
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of farmland, heathland and coastal scrub. Often seen in flocks outside the breeding season, though numbers have declined in recent decades.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
A striking white heron now common year-round across England, having colonised rapidly since the 1990s. Frequents estuaries, marshes, and coastal lagoons.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
A common year-round resident of ponds, lakes, and slow-flowing rivers. Often heard before seen, with a distinctive whinnying trill.
Year-round
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubiusLC
A summer visitor breeding on gravel pits, reservoirs and river shingle across England from March to September. Distinguished from Ringed Plover by its yellow eye-ring.
Mar–Sep
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A common and endearing resident of woodland, hedgerows and gardens. Roving family flocks are a familiar sight throughout the year.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
An abundant and conspicuous resident of gardens, parks, and farmland. One of England's most recognisable corvids.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
The most familiar and widespread duck in England, common year-round on virtually any body of water from urban park ponds to rural lakes.
Year-round
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Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common year-round resident of upland moors, rough grassland, and coastal areas. Its thin, piping call is one of the most familiar sounds of open countryside.
Year-round
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
A common resident of parkland, woodland edges and large gardens. Often sings from treetops in midwinter and fiercely defends berry-laden trees.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common and widespread resident of ponds, streams, and ditches throughout England. Often seen flicking its tail nervously while walking on bankside vegetation.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
An elegant and familiar sight on rivers, lakes, and park ponds throughout England. Pairs defend territories aggressively, arching their wings in a distinctive threat display.
Year-round
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Spectacular plunge-divers seen offshore year-round, with large colonies on coastal cliffs. Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire is a key English breeding site.
Year-round
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
A common but declining farmland bird, resident year-round. Winter flocks gather on ploughed fields, while breeding birds favour damp pastures.
Year-round
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
A common and elegant dabbling duck found on estuaries, marshes and lakes. Numbers peak in winter with arrivals from northern Europe.
Year-round
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
A common resident duck found on lakes, reservoirs and marshes year-round, with numbers boosted by continental migrants in winter.
Year-round
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A summer breeding visitor arriving in March, now recolonising England after reintroduction efforts. Frequents lakes and reservoirs.
Mar–Oct
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Huge wintering flocks gather on farmland and estuaries, especially in Lancashire and Norfolk. Numbers peak from October to March.
Year-round
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Present year-round on lakes and reservoirs, though breeding numbers have declined sharply. Winter flocks are bolstered by Continental immigrants.
Year-round
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
A magnificent resident raptor, now thriving across much of England following successful reintroduction. Often seen soaring over the Chilterns and Midlands.
Year-round
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
A common year-round wader found on estuaries, saltmarshes and wet grasslands. Breeding populations have declined, but winter numbers remain healthy.
Year-round
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor arriving from Scandinavia and Iceland, often seen in hedgerows and on berry-laden trees from October.
Sep–May
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
A common resident of reedbeds, marshes and damp hedgerows across England. Males sing from prominent perches with a jangling, scratchy song.
Year-round