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 70–76 of 76 species
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Resident year-round, quartering reedbeds and marshes at Arne, Radipole, and across Poole Harbour. Numbers have increased in recent decades.
Year-round
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
An uncommon summer breeder on coastal grassland and downland, arriving from March. Often bobs on fence posts along the Jurassic Coast and Purbeck.
Mar–Oct
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
An uncommon passage visitor, most often seen on Dorset's estuaries and coastal fields during spring and autumn migration.
Apr–Oct
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
An uncommon summer visitor breeding in Dorset's hedgerows and scrubby margins from April to September. Males deliver a scratchy song from exposed perches.
Apr–Sep
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
An uncommon summer breeder in Dorset's woodlands and scrubby heaths from March to October. Its gentle descending song is a hallmark of spring.
Mar–Oct
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
An uncommon summer breeder favouring damp meadows and arable fields. Declining nationally; arrives from April and departs by October.
Apr–Oct
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
An uncommon resident of farmland hedgerows and downland scrub, declining but still found across Dorset's rural landscape.
Year-round