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 93–115 of 209 species
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Present year-round in Dorset's woodlands and mature gardens. Its loud drumming in spring and sharp 'kik' call are familiar sounds.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Abundant in Dorset's gardens, woodlands and hedgerows year-round. Bold and vocal, often the first to find a newly stocked bird feeder.
Year-round
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
An increasingly regular sight at Dorset wetlands year-round, often at Radipole Lake and Lodmoor. Part of a wider UK range expansion.
Year-round
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor from October to February, occasionally found among Tufted Duck flocks on sheltered coastal waters and lakes.
Oct–Feb
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
A rare winter visitor appearing in January and December, sometimes joining other goose flocks on coastal grazing marshes and flood meadows.
Dec–Jan
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
An uncommon but year-round presence at freshwater pools and watercress beds, often flushed from ditches.
Jun–Apr
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common resident of gardens and farmland, though numbers have declined sharply in recent years due to disease.
Year-round
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
An uncommon year-round presence on Dorset's estuaries and harbours, often seen wading elegantly in shallow channels.
Year-round
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Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A common and familiar resident found along Dorset's rivers, lakes, and estuaries throughout the year. Often seen standing motionless at the waterside.
Year-round
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
A rare and declining resident of Dorset's arable farmland, most likely encountered on chalk downland field margins.
Nov–Jun
Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicariusLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally driven to Dorset's coast by Atlantic storms, typically seen in October.
Oct
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
An uncommon visitor to Dorset's estuaries and harbours, present most months except midsummer. Poole Harbour is a key site.
Aug–May
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident found along Dorset's streams and rivers, bobbing its long tail on waterside rocks. Also visits weirs and mill ponds in winter.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
An uncommon resident found year-round on lakes, water meadows and coastal marshes. Feral populations mix with occasional wild migrants in winter.
Year-round
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
A rare passage visitor in February, occasionally seen in mature woodland with hornbeam and cherry trees. Extremely shy and easily overlooked.
Feb
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
A rare winter visitor to Dorset's heathlands and marshes, seen between October and March. Best looked for over Arne or the Purbeck heaths.
Oct–Mar
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
A summer breeding visitor, arriving in April and hunting dragonflies over Dorset's heathlands and wetlands. Departs by October.
Apr–Oct
Hoopoe
Upupa epopsLC
A rare and exciting spring overshoot from the continent, occasionally turning up on Dorset's coast in April. A striking, unmistakable visitor.
Apr
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
A rare winter visitor from November to March, favouring sheltered bays and harbours. Poole Harbour is a key site in Dorset.
Nov–Mar
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer breeder nesting under the eaves of Dorset's houses and buildings. Present from April to October, often in noisy colonies.
Apr–Oct
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common resident closely tied to human habitation, nesting in roof spaces and hedges in Dorset's towns and villages. Declining nationally but still widespread here.
Year-round
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A secretive winter visitor, rarely seen in boggy margins and wet meadows from November to February.
Nov–Feb
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in Dorset's church towers, cliff faces and old buildings. Often seen in noisy flocks with Rooks.
Year-round