Common Birds in East Sussex
51 species matching this filter.
East Sussex is home to 51 commonly spotted bird species, thriving across a rich mosaic of habitats from the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head and the wetlands of Pevensey Levels to the ancient woodlands of the High Weald. Familiar garden visitors such as Blackbirds, Chaffinches and European Goldfinches are joined by Buzzards soaring over the South Downs and Great Cormorants along the coast. Many of these species also feature in our guide to 23 Common Garden Birds in the UK (Full Guide with Pictures), making East Sussex a rewarding county for birdwatchers of all levels.
Showing 24–46 of 51 species
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
A common year-round resident found along the coast, rivers, and at inland reservoirs. Often seen perched with wings outstretched.
Year-round
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
A common resident of larger lakes and reservoirs, also gathering offshore in winter. Elegant courtship displays begin in early spring.
Year-round
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
A common resident of woodlands, parks, and gardens throughout the county. Its loud drumming on trees is a familiar sound in spring.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
A common and familiar garden resident found year-round. Its bold "teacher-teacher" song is one of the earliest heard in spring.
Year-round
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common year-round resident of gardens, hedgerows, and woodland edges. Numbers have declined due to trichomonosis but it remains widespread.
Year-round
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A familiar year-round resident of rivers, lakes and marshes, often seen standing motionless at the Pevensey Levels and Cuckmere.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
Common on lakes, marshes and farmland throughout the county. Feral populations are well established and breed readily at wetland sites.
Year-round
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer breeder nesting under eaves in towns and villages. Arrives in April and gathers in large flocks before departing by October.
Apr–Oct
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House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common and familiar resident of towns and villages throughout the county. Nests in buildings and gathers in noisy colonies year-round.
Year-round
Jackdaw
Corvus monedulaLC
A common year-round resident, often seen in noisy flocks around church towers, farmland and the chalk cliffs of the South Downs.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A common year-round resident, often seen hovering over downland, road verges and farmland across the county.
Year-round
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common year-round resident seen along the coast, at landfill sites, and increasingly inland. Numbers peak in summer and autumn.
Year-round
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of gorse-covered downland and farmland edges. Often forms large flocks on stubble fields and coastal scrub in winter.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Now a common resident, thriving along estuaries, marshes, and coastal pools. A colonisation success story since the 1990s.
Year-round
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A common and endearing resident, often seen in lively family flocks bouncing through hedgerows and woodland edges throughout the year.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident found year-round in gardens, parks, hedgerows and farmland across the county.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
A common and familiar resident found year-round on rivers, ponds, lakes, and marshes throughout the county. Readily seen in parks and gardens near water.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident of downland grassland, heathland, and coastal margins. Numbers swell in autumn with passage birds moving through the county.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common and widespread resident of ponds, streams, and ditches across the county. Often seen picking its way along muddy margins, flicking its white tail.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
An elegant year-round resident of rivers, lakes and coastal lagoons. Breeds on the Cuckmere, Ouse and at Rye Harbour.
Year-round
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, foraging in hedgerows and fields across the county. Often found alongside Fieldfares in mixed flocks.
Oct–Apr
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Abundant in towns and cities year-round as feral pigeons. True wild-type birds may still occur on coastal cliffs near Beachy Head.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A common resident forming noisy rookeries in tall trees across farmland and villages. Large flocks forage on the fields of the Low Weald.
Year-round