Common Birds in Derbyshire
50 species matching this filter.
Derbyshire is home to at least 50 commonly sighted bird species, thriving across a rich tapestry of habitats from the moorlands and limestone dales of the Peak District to lowland farmland, reservoirs, and urban gardens. Familiar species such as Blackbirds, Chaffinches, and European Goldfinches are widespread throughout the county, while Buzzards soar over open countryside and Fieldfares arrive in winter flocks to feed on hedgerow berries. For a broader look at species you might spot in your garden, see our guide to 23 Common Garden Birds in the UK (Full Guide with Pictures).
Showing 24–46 of 50 species
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
A common winter visitor forming noisy flocks across farmland and berry-laden hedgerows, often with Redwings. Arrives from Scandinavia in October.
Oct–Apr
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
A tiny resident of coniferous and mixed woodland, often found in Peak District plantations. Numbers swell in autumn with continental arrivals.
Year-round
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
A common resident found year-round at reservoirs, rivers and gravel pits, often seen perched with wings outstretched to dry.
Year-round
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
A common resident on Derbyshire's reservoirs, lakes and gravel pits, with elegant courtship displays visible from early spring.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
A common year-round resident of woodland, parks and gardens, easily recognised by its bold black-and-white head pattern.
Year-round
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common garden and farmland resident year-round, though numbers have declined significantly due to trichomonosis disease.
Year-round
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A common year-round resident, easily spotted along rivers, reservoirs and farmland ponds across the county.
Year-round
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer breeder nesting under eaves in towns and villages, often seen in flocks over reservoirs before autumn departure.
Apr–Oct
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House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common resident closely tied to towns and villages, nesting under eaves and in hedges throughout Derbyshire's built-up areas.
Year-round
Jackdaw
Corvus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in limestone crags, church towers and old buildings throughout Derbyshire.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A common resident hovering over roadside verges, farmland and moorland edges throughout Derbyshire year-round.
Year-round
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common resident at reservoirs, farmland, and tips throughout the year. Numbers peak in summer when breeding nearby.
Year-round
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Resident in woodlands, hedgerows and gardens, often seen in lively flocks moving acrobatically through trees with constant contact calls.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident found in gardens, farmland and urban areas throughout the county year-round.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
A common and widespread resident found on virtually any waterbody, from upland streams to urban park ponds.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident of the Peak District's moorlands and rough grasslands, delivering its parachuting song flight in spring.
Year-round
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
A bold, early-singing thrush resident in parkland, open woodland and upland pastures. Often seen defending berry bushes aggressively in winter.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common resident on ponds, canals, and waterways throughout the county. Readily seen in parks and gardens near water.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A common resident gracing canals, rivers and park lakes throughout Derbyshire. Breeds widely and is present all year.
Year-round
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
A common but declining resident, breeding on farmland and moorland fringes. Winter flocks gather on ploughed fields across the lowlands.
Year-round
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving from October and foraging in hedgerows and fields, often alongside Fieldfares.
Sep–Apr
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
A common resident of reedbeds, wetland margins, and rough farmland, often joining mixed bunting flocks in winter.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A common resident of lowland farmland, with noisy rookeries a familiar sight in the county's villages and field margins.
Year-round