Birds in Devon
Explore 204 species found in this region.
Devon is one of the most rewarding counties in England for birdwatching, with around 200 species recorded across its diverse landscapes. From the rugged coastlines of Exmoor and the South Devon cliffs to the estuaries of the Exe and Taw, the county supports an impressive range of birdlife including waders such as the Northern Lapwing and Common Sandpiper, wildfowl like the Common Shelduck and Mandarin Duck, and occasional rarities such as the Great Grey Shrike. Whether exploring Dartmoor's upland heaths or the sheltered reedbeds of the Exe Estuary, birders will find something to enjoy in every season.
Visiting in April? Look out for Atlantic Puffin and Black-crowned Night-heron arriving this month, and Barn Owl and Barnacle Goose depart for the season.
Showing 47–69 of 204 species
Coot
Fulica atraLC
Found year-round on Devon's larger lakes and reservoirs. Less widespread than Moorhen, preferring open water with marginal vegetation.
Year-round
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
A declining summer visitor arriving in April, heard calling across Devon's moorland and woodland edges before departing by late June.
Apr–Jun
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
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
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Found year-round on Devon's estuaries, forming busy flocks on the Exe mudflats. Numbers peak in winter when Continental birds augment the resident population.
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
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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
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
A familiar resident of Devon's gardens, farms, and villages year-round. Its monotonous three-note call is a constant backdrop.
Year-round
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
An uncommon but widespread resident of Devon's oak woodlands and mature gardens. Its harsh screeching call often betrays its presence.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
An uncommon resident of mature deciduous woodland, often seen spiralling down oak trunks. Sedentary and territorial throughout the year.
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 Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon resident, breeding in conifer woods and visiting garden feeders in winter. Often found in alders along Devon's river valleys.
Year-round
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
An uncommon resident of Devon's open farmland and moorland edges. Declining due to agricultural intensification but still sings over Dartmoor's fringes.
Year-round
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
A rare but increasingly regular visitor to Devon's estuaries, present in most months. Favours sites like the Exe Estuary.
Jun–Apr
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
An uncommon resident, with numbers boosted in winter on Devon's estuaries and flooded fields. Whistling flocks favour the Exe.
Year-round
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
Winters in Devon's damp woodlands and hedgerows, often flushed unexpectedly from leaf litter. Most likely encountered during cold snaps from December to March.
Dec–Mar
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 Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
Resident year-round, often heard giving its laughing 'yaffle' call across Devon's parklands and pastures. Feeds mainly on ants in short grassland.
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