Rare Birds in Devon
91 species matching this filter.
Devon's diverse landscapes — from the rugged coastlines of Exmoor and the South Devon cliffs to the ancient woodlands of Dartmoor — provide occasional refuge for some of Britain's rarest bird species. With 91 rare species recorded in the county, patient observers may encounter elusive visitors such as the Great Grey Shrike, Arctic Jaeger, and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Devon's mix of estuaries, moorland, and sheltered valleys makes it a rewarding destination for birders hoping to add uncommon sightings to their lists.
Showing 1–23 of 91 species
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticusLC
A rare but regular autumn passage seabird, best seen from Devon's headlands during strong onshore winds. Harasses terns and gulls to steal their catches.
Aug–Oct
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
A rare midwinter visitor to Devon's coastal waters, mainly in December to February. Usually seen singly in sheltered bays.
Dec–Feb
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arcticaVU
Breeds on Lundy Island, Devon's only nesting site for this charismatic auk. Present from April to July, nesting in burrows on the island's western slopes.
Apr–Jul
Balearic Shearwater
Puffinus mauretanicusCR
A globally threatened shearwater, passing Devon's coast from July to October. Best seen during onshore winds at key headlands.
Jul–Oct
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
A scarce resident of Devon's farmland and rough grassland. Hunts silently at dusk along hedgerows and field margins.
Oct–Jul
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
A rare passage visitor, with small numbers occasionally appearing on Devon's estuaries and coastal fields in autumn and late winter.
Oct–Mar
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
A rare winter visitor occasionally spotted along Devon's rocky coastline and harbour walls between October and March.
Oct–Mar
Black Swan
Cygnus atratusLC
An escaped or feral bird, occasionally seen on Devon's lakes and estuaries from summer into autumn. Native to Australia.
Jun–Nov
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Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally seen in September over Devon's estuaries and reservoirs, hawking insects over the water.
Sep
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticoraxLC
A very rare spring passage visitor, with occasional April records. One of Devon's most sought-after vagrant herons.
Apr
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollisLC
A rare non-breeding visitor in midwinter, favouring sheltered estuaries and coastal lagoons. Most likely seen in January, February, or December.
Dec–Feb
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, occasionally joining chaffinch flocks at beech mast sites across Devon's woodlands.
Oct–Mar
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibisLC
A rare but increasingly regular resident, often seen among livestock on lowland pastures. Part of a recent UK colonisation trend, with a summer gap in records.
Jul–Apr
Common Loon
Gavia immerLC
A rare but regular visitor to Devon's coast and estuaries, mainly from October to April. Larger and heavier-billed than other divers.
Oct–May
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
Scarce year-round resident on Devon's rivers, favouring fast-flowing stretches on Dartmoor and the Exe catchment for breeding.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare visitor, most likely in winter when small numbers may join siskin flocks in alder and birch woodland. Absent during late summer.
Oct–Aug
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Scarce sea duck seen off Devon's coast most of the year, often in small rafts on open water. Numbers peak during autumn passage.
Jul–May
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
A rare breeder in Devon, arriving from April and lingering into October. Favours estuaries and coastal waters for nesting and fishing.
Apr–Oct
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
A rare autumn passage migrant, typically appearing on estuarine mudflats between August and October. Often found feeding alongside Dunlin on the Exe.
Aug–Oct
Dartford Warbler
Curruca undataNT
A rare resident of gorse-covered heathland, particularly on Devon's coastal commons. Vulnerable to harsh winters but slowly recovering.
Year-round
Dipper
Cinclus cinclusLC
A rare but charismatic resident of fast-flowing Dartmoor rivers and streams. Bobs on rocks and dives for aquatic invertebrates.
Year-round
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
A rare but increasing feral resident, occasionally seen on Devon's lakes and parkland. Part of a spreading UK population.
Nov–Aug
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
A rare resident along Devon's coast, mainly seen in winter. Small numbers linger off rocky shores and estuarine waters.
Oct–May