Birds in Cornwall
Explore 223 species found in this region.
Cornwall's dramatic coastline, sheltered estuaries, and windswept moorlands provide habitat for an impressive diversity of birdlife, with 213 species recorded across the county. From elegant waders such as the Northern Lapwing and Dotterel to colourful residents like the Great Tit and Magpie, the region offers outstanding birding opportunities year-round. Cornwall's position as Britain's south-westernmost county also makes it a renowned hotspot for rare migrants and overwintering wildfowl, including species such as the Common Shelduck, Northern Pintail, and Mandarin Duck.
Visiting in April? Look out for Common Redstart and Common Reed-warbler arriving this month, and Common Kingfisher and Common Merganser depart for the season.
Showing 116–138 of 223 species
Hoopoe
Upupa epopsLC
A rare but eagerly sought passage migrant in spring and autumn. Cornwall's position makes it a prime spot for this exotic-looking overshooting visitor.
Oct–Apr
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
A rare winter visitor to sheltered Cornish bays and harbours, most likely seen between November and February in non-breeding plumage.
Nov–Feb
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
An uncommon summer visitor nesting under eaves in towns and villages. Arrives from March and departs by October, often seen hawking insects overhead.
Mar–Oct
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common resident closely tied to towns and villages. Nests in buildings and hedges, often seen in noisy, sociable groups.
Year-round
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoidesLC
A rare but annual winter visitor, typically found among large gull roosts at reservoirs and coastal harbours.
Nov–May
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A secretive autumn passage visitor to boggy fields and marshes in October and November, easily overlooked due to its skulking habits.
Oct–Nov
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, abundant around towns, villages and coastal cliffs. Often nests in old buildings and church towers across Cornwall.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
An uncommon year-round resident, often seen hovering over roadside verges and coastal clifftops.
Year-round
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Kittiwake
Rissa tridactylaVU
Breeds on Cornish sea cliffs and is present year-round, though numbers have declined sharply in recent years.
Year-round
Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicusLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally found on stubble fields and coastal grasslands during October and November.
Oct–Nov
Leach's Storm-petrel
Hydrobates leucorhousVU
A rare autumn passage visitor, sometimes driven close to shore by Atlantic gales between September and November.
Sep–Nov
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common resident breeding on rooftops and coastal cliffs. Numbers swell in summer, with birds frequenting harbours and farmland.
Year-round
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
A rare passage migrant recorded mainly in May and October. Cornwall lies west of its main breeding range, so most records are of drifted migrants.
May–Oct
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipesVU
A rare Nearctic vagrant occasionally recorded in October, typically found on estuarine mudflats or freshwater pools.
Oct
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of gorse-clad clifftops, heathland, and farmland. Often seen in sizeable flocks outside the breeding season.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Now a common resident on estuaries and creeks throughout Cornwall. Numbers have increased dramatically since colonising in the 1990s.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
An uncommon but year-round resident on sheltered ponds, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers. Its whinnying call is distinctive.
Year-round
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, occasionally spotted in harbours or among gull flocks at estuaries in autumn and winter.
Sep–Feb
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubiusLC
A rare passage visitor in late summer, favouring freshwater margins rather than the coast. Smaller and slimmer than Ringed Plover.
Aug
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
A scarce autumn passage migrant in September and October, favouring muddy pool edges on estuaries and marshes.
Sep–Oct
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally glimpsed at sandy estuaries and beaches in September as birds head south.
Sep
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
A rare winter visitor, occasionally spotted in coastal waters or sheltered bays in November and January.
Nov–Jan
Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudusLC
A rare but prized seabird on autumn pelagic watches, occasionally seen from Cornish headlands in August and September.
Aug–Sep