Common Birds in Devon
41 species matching this filter.
Devon's diverse landscapes — from the rugged coastlines of Exmoor and the South Devon cliffs to the rolling farmland and sheltered estuaries of the Exe and Taw — support a rich variety of commonly seen bird species. With 41 common species recorded, birdwatchers can expect to encounter familiar favourites such as Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Buzzards soaring over open countryside, and Barn Swallows darting across summer meadows. Many of these species also feature in our guide to 23 Common Garden Birds in the UK (Full Guide with Pictures), making Devon a wonderful county for both garden and countryside birding.
Showing 1–23 of 41 species
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
A common summer visitor, hawking insects over Devon's farmland and villages. Often nests in barns and outbuildings from March to November.
Mar–Nov
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
A common resident found year-round in Devon's gardens, hedgerows and woodlands. Males sing prominently from rooftops and treetops at dusk.
Year-round
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
A common resident found in woodlands and gardens year-round. Winter numbers are bolstered by continental migrants visiting berry-laden hedgerows.
Year-round
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
A common and familiar garden resident throughout Devon. Readily uses nest boxes and feeders, with numbers boosted in winter by continental birds.
Year-round
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
Devon's most common raptor, soaring over farmland, moors, and woodland edges year-round. Often seen perched on fence posts.
Year-round
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
A common resident found year-round on Devon's lakes, rivers and parkland. Flocks gather on larger water bodies outside the breeding season.
Year-round
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
A common and adaptable resident found across all Devon habitats from coast to moorland. One of the county's most familiar birds.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
A common and widespread resident of Devon's woodlands, hedgerows and gardens. Its cheerful song is a hallmark of spring.
Year-round
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Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
A common resident heard year-round in woodlands, hedgerows and gardens. Devon's mild climate supports a wintering population boosted by continental birds.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
A common resident of Devon's conifer and mixed woodlands, also visiting garden feeders. Smaller than Blue Tit with a distinctive peaked crest.
Year-round
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
Abundant year-round across Devon's farmland, woodland edges, and hedgerows. Frequently encountered on rural walks throughout the county.
Year-round
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
A common resident breeding on Devon's estuaries and coasts. Large moulting flocks gather on the Exe Estuary in late summer.
Year-round
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
A common resident forming spectacular winter murmurations, notably at coastal piers. Breeds in buildings and tree holes across the county.
Year-round
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
Present year-round, breeding on Dartmoor and wintering on Devon's estuaries. Its evocative call is iconic across the county's moors.
Year-round
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
A common but unobtrusive resident of Devon's hedgerows and garden shrubberies. Its thin, warbling song is heard year-round.
Year-round
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
A familiar sight on Devon's estuaries and rocky shores year-round. Its piping call is a characteristic sound of the coast.
Year-round
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
A common and widespread resident, belting out its powerful song from hedgerows, gardens and woodland undergrowth across Devon year-round.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A common and colourful year-round resident, thriving in gardens, orchards, and weedy field margins. Often seen in charm flocks feeding on teasel and thistle.
Year-round
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
An abundant and familiar resident of Devon's towns, harbours, and coastline. Nests on rooftops and cliffs throughout the county.
Year-round
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
One of Devon's most familiar garden birds, present year-round and singing through much of the winter. Fiercely territorial despite its gentle appearance.
Year-round
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
A common resident of coniferous and mixed woodland. Tiny but vocal, its high-pitched call is a familiar sound in Devon's woods and gardens.
Year-round
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
A common and imposing resident found along Devon's coast and estuaries year-round. The largest gull regularly seen in the county.
Year-round
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Common throughout the year on Devon's estuaries, reservoirs, and coastline. Often seen perched with wings outstretched to dry.
Year-round