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 162–184 of 223 species
Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusLC
Scarce but seen regularly from July to November during seawatches, often passing headlands like Pendeen and Porthgwarra.
Jul–Nov
Purple Heron
Ardea purpureaLC
A rare spring passage visitor, occasionally recorded in April at coastal marshes and reedbeds.
Apr
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritimaLC
A rare but regular winter visitor to rocky headlands and harbour walls, often overlooked among other waders.
Oct–May
Razorbill
Alca tordaLC
Nests on sea cliffs and winters offshore, regularly seen from headlands and harbours throughout the year.
Year-round
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare and irruptive visitor, occasionally appearing in conifer plantations during July and October in invasion years.
Jul–Oct
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
A rare breeding visitor from March to June, slowly recolonising the southwest. Occasionally soars over farmland and wooded valleys with its distinctive forked tail.
Mar–Jun
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
Scarce on Cornish shores outside winter, small numbers feed on sandy estuaries from autumn through to early spring.
Aug–Mar
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
A rare autumn passage migrant in September and October, typically found in coastal scrub. Once bred in Britain but now only an occasional visitor.
Sep–Oct
Spotted something?
Upload a photo to identify it
Identify
Red-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxLC
An iconic Cornish resident, recolonising coastal cliffs after local extinction. The county's chough population is a celebrated conservation success story.
Year-round
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
A rare winter visitor to sheltered estuaries and coastal waters, with slim, serrated bills adapted for catching fish.
Nov–Mar
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
An introduced gamebird, rarely encountered on Cornish farmland. Less established here than in drier eastern counties.
Sep–Jul
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally seen in sheltered bays and harbours during January and February.
Jan–Feb
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
Winters rarely off the Cornish coast, often seen in flight low over the sea. Most likely from November to April in sheltered bays.
Nov–Apr
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
Inhabits Cornish estuaries and saltmarshes year-round, its loud piping calls a familiar sound on tidal creeks.
Jun–Apr
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor arriving from October, often heard calling overhead at night. Feeds in hedgerows and fields across the county.
Oct–Apr
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
A scarce year-round resident of reedbeds, marshes, and damp scrubby margins across Cornwall's wetland sites.
Year-round
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
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensisLC
A rare but regular transatlantic winter visitor, typically found among gull flocks at harbours and playing fields.
Dec–Mar
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
Breeds on sandy beaches and shingle, with year-round presence boosted by passage birds. Vulnerable to disturbance at nest sites.
Year-round
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Feral populations inhabit Cornish sea cliffs, harbours, and towns year-round, alongside truly wild birds on remote headlands.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
A common resident of rocky coastlines year-round. Forages along wave-splashed rocks and harbour walls throughout Cornwall's extensive shoreline.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A common resident forming noisy rookeries in farmland trees across the county. Large flocks forage in agricultural fields year-round.
Year-round
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Present year-round on rocky shorelines and harbours, often seen flipping stones and seaweed to find invertebrates.
Year-round