Uncommon Birds in Dorset
76 species matching this filter.
Dorset's diverse landscapes — from the Jurassic Coast and sheltered harbours of Poole and Portland to ancient heathlands and river valleys — support a rich variety of uncommon bird species. With 76 species classified as uncommon in the county, patient observers may encounter birds such as the Black-necked Grebe wintering in coastal waters, the elusive Bullfinch in hedgerow habitats, or the striking European Green Woodpecker in mature parkland. Waders like the Common Sandpiper and Greenshank pass through on migration, making Dorset a rewarding destination for birders seeking something beyond the everyday.
Showing 47–69 of 76 species
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
An uncommon non-breeding visitor from autumn to spring, favouring estuarine mudflats and flooded fields. Small groups winter around Poole Harbour.
Sep–Apr
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
An uncommon resident on shallow wetlands and marshes. Numbers increase in winter at sites like Lodmoor and Radipole Lake RSPB reserves.
Year-round
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Breeds in Dorset as part of the Poole Harbour reintroduction project, present March to October. Often seen fishing over the harbour's waters.
Mar–Oct
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Resident year-round, nesting on Dorset's sea cliffs and occasionally buildings. Often seen hunting over Poole Harbour and the Jurassic Coast.
Year-round
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
An uncommon year-round resident on lakes and gravel pits, though nationally declining. Winter numbers are boosted by continental immigrants.
Year-round
Razorbill
Alca tordaLC
An uncommon resident breeding on Dorset's sea cliffs, notably around Durlston and Portland. Present most of the year but scarce in August.
Sep–Jul
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, soaring over Dorset's farmland and valleys year-round. Part of the species' ongoing UK recovery.
Year-round
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
An uncommon winter visitor favouring sheltered coastal waters, regularly seen in Poole Harbour and around the Fleet lagoon.
Oct–Apr
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Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving from October and feeding in hedgerows and berry-laden fields. Often found alongside fieldfares in Dorset's farmland.
Oct–Mar
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
An uncommon resident of reedbeds and wet ditches, found at sites like Radipole Lake and Arne year-round.
Year-round
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
An uncommon resident breeding on shingle beaches and wintering on estuarine mudflats, with numbers boosted by autumn migrants.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
Resident along Dorset's rocky shores and cliffs, often seen foraging among seaweed at the tideline year-round.
Year-round
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
An uncommon resident along Dorset's rocky shores and harbour walls, flipping stones to find invertebrates.
Year-round
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
An uncommon summer breeder, arriving from March. Nests colonially in sandy riverbanks and cliffs, often seen hawking insects over Dorset's waterways.
Mar–Oct
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
An uncommon but year-round presence along the Dorset coast. Often seen plunge-diving in Poole Harbour and around Studland Bay.
Year-round
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
An uncommon summer breeder in Dorset's wetlands and reedbeds from April to September. Its chattering song carries across marshes at Arne and Lodmoor.
Apr–Sep
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
An uncommon but widespread resident, hunting small birds in Dorset's woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens with fast, agile dashes.
Year-round
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
An uncommon and declining summer breeder, arriving in May. Favours woodland edges and churchyards, sallying out from perches to catch insects.
May–Sep
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
An uncommon but widespread resident, nesting in old woodpecker holes in mature trees across Dorset's parkland and farmland.
Year-round
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
An uncommon summer visitor breeding on Dorset's heathlands and woodland clearings. Distinguished from Meadow Pipit by its parachuting song flight from trees.
Apr–Sep
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
A quiet, unobtrusive resident that spirals up tree trunks in Dorset's woodlands and mature hedgerows, easily overlooked despite being present year-round.
Year-round
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
An uncommon resident breeding on lakes and reservoirs across the county. Winter flocks gather on larger water bodies with good diving habitat.
Year-round
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
An uncommon but year-round resident of Dorset's reedbeds and marshes, more often heard squealing than seen at sites like Radipole.
Year-round