Birds in Cumbria
Explore 187 species found in this region.
Cumbria is one of England's most rewarding counties for birdwatching, with 184 recorded species found across its diverse landscapes of lakes, estuaries, upland fells, and ancient woodlands. The region's varied habitats attract everything from wintering wildfowl such as Pink-footed Goose and Northern Pintail on the Solway Firth to breeding waders like Northern Lapwing and Common Sandpiper along the Lake District's shores. Woodland species including Great Tit and the striking Mandarin Duck can also be encountered, while the county's coastline and river systems support populations of Common Merganser and Common Shelduck year-round.
Visiting in April? Look out for Black Grouse and Black Guillemot arriving this month, and Bar-tailed Godwit and Eurasian Bittern depart for the season.
Showing 162–184 of 187 species
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A common resident of Cumbrian gardens, hedgerows, and woodlands, delivering its repeated musical phrases from spring onwards.
Year-round
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
An uncommon but year-round resident, hunting through woodlands, hedgerows and gardens. Often seen dashing low along lanes and through farmyards.
Year-round
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
A declining summer visitor to open woodland edges and gardens, arriving in May. Sallies from exposed perches to catch insects.
May–Sep
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally seen on Cumbrian estuaries in August. Longer-legged and darker than common Redshank.
Aug
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
An uncommon resident of farmland and parkland with mature trees. Nests in tree holes and old buildings across the lowlands.
Year-round
Stonechat
Saxicola torquatusLC
A hardy resident of gorse-clad commons and coastal scrub, perching prominently and flicking its tail with a sharp call.
Year-round
Swan Goose
Anser cygnoidesEN
A rare November visitor, almost certainly an escapee from captive collections. May appear on lakes or grazing marshes.
Nov
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
An uncommon resident of mature broadleaved and mixed woodlands. Its distinctive hooting call is a familiar night-time sound in Cumbrian valleys.
Year-round
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Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, favouring open woodland edges and fell-side clearings with scattered trees for its parachuting song flight.
Apr–Aug
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
An unobtrusive resident creeping mouse-like up tree bark in Cumbrian woodlands. Easier to detect by its thin, high-pitched song.
Year-round
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
An uncommon year-round resident on lakes and tarns, diving for invertebrates across Cumbria's freshwaters.
Year-round
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
A rare winter visitor, with small flocks sometimes found along the Solway coast and saltmarshes. A declining species across the UK.
Nov–Mar
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
A secretive, uncommon resident of reedbeds and marshy margins, more often heard squealing than seen.
Year-round
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
A rare resident associated with lowland reedbeds and marshes around the Solway and coastal fringes. Slowly increasing as wetland habitats are restored.
Year-round
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
A summer visitor to upland fell-sides and stone walls, arriving from March. Bobs and flashes its white rump on open ground.
Mar–Oct
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
A rare breeder on Cumbrian uplands, with most sightings during spring and autumn passage along the coast and estuaries.
Apr–Sep
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
A rare and declining summer breeder on rough upland pastures and bracken slopes, arriving in May.
May–Sep
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
An uncommon summer breeder, singing from hedgerows and bramble patches in Cumbrian farmland from April to September.
Apr–Sep
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
A winter visitor to lowland lakes and estuaries, arriving from Iceland. Flocks gather on wetlands from autumn to early spring.
Sep–Apr
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
A common summer breeder arriving from March, its descending song a characteristic sound of Cumbrian birch and fell-side scrub.
Mar–Sep
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
A rare passage migrant through Cumbria in July and August, favouring freshwater pools and marshy edges on its southward journey.
Jul–Aug
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC
A rare and declining summer breeder, favouring sessile oak woodlands in the Lake District from April to July.
Apr–Jul
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
An abundant resident found across farmland, woodland and gardens throughout Cumbria, with large flocks gathering on arable fields in autumn.
Year-round