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 162–184 of 204 species
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Found year-round along Devon's sea cliffs and in towns as feral pigeons. True wild-type birds favour rocky coastal ledges.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
An uncommon resident of Devon's rocky coastline, foraging along wave-splashed shores and harbour walls throughout the year.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A common resident of Devon's agricultural lowlands, nesting colonially in tall trees. Rookeries are a familiar sight across the county's farmland.
Year-round
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Alexandrinus krameriLC
A rare resident, with small numbers established around Exeter and other Devon towns. A non-native species slowly spreading from south-east England.
Year-round
Roseate Tern
Sterna dougalliiLC
A rare and elegant passage visitor in July. One of Britain's scarcest breeding terns, occasionally seen off Devon's coast during dispersal.
Jul
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Forages along Devon's rocky shorelines and harbour walls, flipping stones and seaweed to find invertebrates. Present most months but absent in midsummer.
Jul–May
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
A scarce non-breeding visitor to freshwater marshes and estuary edges. Most records fall between autumn and early spring, often involving single birds.
Jul–Mar
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
An uncommon summer breeder, nesting in sandy riverbanks and quarries. Arrives from March and gathers in flocks before departing by October.
Mar–Oct
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Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
Scarce but regular on Devon's sandy beaches, running rapidly along the tideline. Most likely on south coast beaches in winter and during passage periods.
Jul–May
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
An uncommon breeder present from March to October. Plunge-dives for fish along Devon's coast and is often the first tern to arrive in spring.
Mar–Oct
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, favouring Devon's reedbeds and waterside scrub. Delivers a rapid, chattering song from dense cover.
Apr–Sep
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare passage visitor in November, occasionally seen hunting over Devon's coastal marshes and rough grassland.
Nov
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally seen on exposed coastal sites and beaches in autumn and early winter. Most records come from October and November.
Oct–Jan
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A common resident of gardens, hedgerows and woodland. Its rich, repetitive song is one of the earliest heard in Devon's spring chorus.
Year-round
Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna griseaNT
A rare August passage migrant from the southern oceans, occasionally spotted during seawatches off Devon's headlands.
Aug
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
A year-round resident, hunting small birds in Devon's woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens. Often dashes low through cover.
Year-round
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
An uncommon and declining summer breeder in Devon's oak woodlands and churchyards, arriving in May and departing by October.
May–Oct
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
Scarce but regular on the Exe and other estuaries, often feeding apart from common Redshanks. Most likely seen in autumn passage and winter months.
Jul–Apr
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
A quiet, unobtrusive resident of Devon's mature woodlands and parkland. Often overlooked but identified by its black eye and wing bars.
Year-round
Stonechat
Saxicola torquatusLC
A common resident of Devon's coastal gorse, heathland and Dartmoor margins. Often perches prominently, flicking its tail.
Year-round
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillataLC
A rare Nearctic vagrant, very occasionally spotted off Devon's coast in winter among flocks of Common Scoter.
Jan
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A secretive year-round resident of Devon's mature woodlands and wooded gardens. More often heard than seen after dark.
Year-round
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
An uncommon summer visitor breeding on Dartmoor's wooded fringes and heathland edges, recognised by its parachuting song flight.
Apr–Sep