Birds in Dorset
Explore 209 species found in this region.
Dorset is one of southern England's most rewarding counties for birdwatching, with 207 recorded species found across its diverse landscapes. From the sheltered harbours of Poole and the Fleet lagoon to the ancient heathlands and chalk downlands, the county supports an impressive range of birdlife including Eurasian Woodcock, Great Grey Shrike, and wintering flocks of Northern Lapwing and Northern Pintail. The Jurassic Coast and its surrounding wetlands also provide vital staging grounds for migrating waders such as Common Sandpiper and passage wildfowl like Common Shelduck and Mandarin Duck.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Jaeger and Arctic Tern arriving this month, and Arctic Loon and Black-necked Grebe depart for the season.
Showing 47–69 of 209 species
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
A common summer breeder screaming over Dorset's towns from late April to August, with numbers sadly declining in recent years.
Apr–Sep
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
An uncommon breeding summer visitor from April to September. Nests at sites including Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island lagoon.
Apr–Sep
Coot
Fulica atraLC
An uncommon resident on Dorset's larger lakes and reservoirs, with flocks building at sites like Poole Park in winter.
Year-round
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
A rare and declining resident of open arable farmland, with Dorset holding some of southern England's last strongholds.
Year-round
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, heard calling across Dorset's heathlands and woodland edges before departing by July.
Apr–Jul
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
A common resident of Poole Harbour's mudflats and Dorset's coastal marshes, with numbers boosted by wintering birds.
Year-round
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
An uncommon autumn passage migrant, seen on Poole Harbour's mudflats and coastal scrapes from August to October.
Aug–Oct
Dartford Warbler
Curruca undataNT
An uncommon but iconic resident of Dorset's heathlands, notably Arne and Studland. One of the UK's key strongholds for this scarce warbler.
Year-round
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Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
An uncommon resident of Poole Harbour's mudflats and estuaries, with winter flocks larger than summer numbers.
Year-round
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
A common and unobtrusive resident of hedgerows and garden shrubberies across Dorset, shuffling along the ground with a distinctive thin, high-pitched song.
Year-round
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
An uncommon but increasing resident found year-round near lakes and rivers. This naturalised species breeds in tree holes near water.
Year-round
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
A rare non-breeding visitor in winter, occasionally seen on sheltered coastal waters around Poole Harbour and Portland. Mainly a northern breeder.
Nov–Feb
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
An uncommon resident found in gardens, farmyards and villages across Dorset, its monotonous cooing a familiar suburban sound.
Year-round
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
A year-round resident of Dorset's broadleaved woodlands and larger gardens. Its harsh screaming call often betrays its presence.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
An uncommon resident of mature deciduous woodland, often heard calling loudly in Dorset's oak woods before being seen creeping head-first down tree trunks.
Year-round
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
A common resident along Dorset's coastline, its piping call a familiar sound on shingle beaches and harbour mudflats year-round.
Year-round
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon resident, most conspicuous in winter when flocks visit alder trees and garden feeders across Dorset.
Year-round
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Present year-round on Dorset's farmland and chalk downlands, though declining. Its hovering song flight is a feature of open landscapes.
Year-round
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
Increasingly present year-round in Dorset, regularly seen at Arne, Brownsea Island, and Poole Harbour. Part of a growing UK population.
Year-round
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
A common non-breeding visitor from August to April, forming large flocks on coastal marshes and flooded grassland around Poole Harbour.
Aug–Apr
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A rare winter visitor to Dorset's damp woodlands and heathland, most likely encountered during cold-weather influxes.
Nov–Jun
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
One of Dorset's most abundant birds, delivering a remarkably powerful song from hedgerows, gardens, and undergrowth throughout the year.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A common and colourful resident, readily seen in gardens, meadows and along hedgerows throughout the county.
Year-round