Rare Birds in Cornwall

116 species matching this filter.

All birds in Cornwall

Cornwall's diverse coastal, moorland and woodland habitats attract a surprising variety of rare bird species, with 106 classified as uncommon visitors or scarce residents across the county. From elusive Barn Owls hunting over rough grassland to passage migrants like Dotterel and Little Stint stopping off on the coast, the county offers rewarding opportunities for dedicated birdwatchers. Notable rarities such as Great Skua, Common Merganser and Mandarin Duck add to the excitement of birding in this far south-western corner of Britain.

Lesser Whitethroat
Lesser WhitethroatSmallest · 11cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Lesser Whitethroat (11cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)37 families represented24 year-round residents

Showing 93–115 of 116 species

Reed Bunting

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclusLC

A scarce year-round resident of reedbeds, marshes, and damp scrubby margins across Cornwall's wetland sites.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatusLC

A rare passage migrant in spring and autumn, favouring coastal valleys and clifftops. Cornwall's headlands offer reliable sighting opportunities.

Oct–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensisLC

A rare but regular transatlantic winter visitor, typically found among gull flocks at harbours and playing fields.

Dec–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ruff

Ruff

Philomachus pugnaxLC

A rare passage migrant seen mainly in autumn, occasionally lingering on estuarine mudflats and flooded fields.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sabine's Gull

Sabine's Gull

Xema sabiniLC

A rare but prized autumn passage migrant, most often spotted from Cornish headlands during strong westerly gales between August and October.

Aug–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sanderling

Sanderling

Calidris albaLC

Found year-round on sandy beaches, often seen in small flocks racing along the tideline on Cornwall's north coast.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeusLC

A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally seen over coastal rough grassland and moorland in October and November.

Oct–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Short-toed Lark

Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactylaLC

A rare October passage migrant from southern Europe, typically found on short-cropped coastal turf and ploughed fields near headlands.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalisLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally seen on exposed beaches and clifftop fields during October and November.

Oct–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Spotted Crake

Spotted Crake

Porzana porzanaLC

A secretive autumn passage migrant, rarely glimpsed in reedbeds and marshy margins. Most records come from October.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropusLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to sheltered estuaries, occasionally wintering at favoured sites like the Fal and Hayle estuaries.

Sep–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Tawny Owl

Tawny Owl

Strix alucoLC

A scarce year-round resident of mature woodland. More often heard than seen, calling after dark.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Tree Pipit

Tree Pipit

Anthus trivialisLC

A rare breeder in scattered woodland clearings, arriving in April and departing by October. More often noted on passage.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Treecreeper

Treecreeper

Certhia familiarisLC

A scarce resident, spiralling up tree trunks in mature woodland. Thinly distributed across Cornwall's wooded valleys.

Dec–Jun

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Upland Sandpiper

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicaudaLC

A rare Nearctic vagrant occasionally turning up on Cornish farmland and airfields in October, typically wind-blown across the Atlantic.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Anthus spinolettaLC

A rare winter visitor, favouring watercress beds, reservoir margins, and coastal seepages from November through to March.

Nov–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Western Marsh-harrier

Western Marsh-harrier

Circus aeruginosusLC

A rare breeder, favouring reedbeds and wetlands. Seen quartering marshes from spring through autumn.

Jan–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Whooper Swan

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnusLC

A rare passage visitor in October, with occasional birds appearing on estuaries or flooded fields during southward migration.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareolaLC

A rare autumn passage wader seen in August and September, favouring freshwater pools and marshy edges at coastal sites.

Aug–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Woodchat Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

Lanius senatorNT

A rare passage vagrant in April and September, typically overshooting from southern Europe. Cornwall's headlands offer the best chance of a sighting.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wryneck

Wryneck

Jynx torquillaLC

A rare but eagerly sought autumn migrant, turning up in coastal scrub and gardens in September and October.

Sep–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flavaLC

A scarce visitor to wet meadows and coastal fields, mainly seen on spring and autumn passage between April and October.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellisLC

A scarce resident found among large gull flocks at tips and harbours, most numerous in late summer and autumn.

Jun–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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