Birds to See in Essex in March
145 bird species on our list for Essex are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, European Robin, Blue Tit and Magpie. New this month: Blackcap, Sand Martin, Little Ringed Plover and Eurasian Spoonbill and 5 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
At their peak
From Essex’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 145 birds in March
145 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Mar
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Mar
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Mar
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Mar
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Mar
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Mar
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.36% in Mar
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Mar
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Mar
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Mar
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Mar
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Mar
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Mar
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Mar
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Mar
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Mar
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Mar
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Mar
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Mar
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Mar
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Mar
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Mar
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Mar
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Mar
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Mar
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Mar
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Mar
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Mar
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Mar
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Mar
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Mar
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Mar
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Mar
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.97% in Mar
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Mar
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Mar
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Mar
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Mar
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Mar
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Mar
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Mar
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Mar
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Mar
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Mar
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Mar
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Mar
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Mar
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.62% in Mar
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Mar
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Mar
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.54% in Mar
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Mar
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Mar
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Mar
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Mar
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Mar
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Mar
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.40% in Mar
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.38% in Mar
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.36% in Mar
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Mar
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Mar
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Mar
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.31% in Mar
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.26% in Mar
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.26% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Mar
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.20% in Mar
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Mar
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Mar
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Mar
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Mar
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.19% in Mar
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Mar
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Mar
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Mar
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Mar
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.14% in Mar
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.13% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Mar
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.11% in Mar
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in Mar
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.09% in Mar
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Mar
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Mar
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Mar
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.05% in Mar
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Mar
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Mar
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.04% in Mar
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.04% in Mar
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.04% in Mar
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Mar
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Mar
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Mar
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Mar
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraPassage migrantUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Mar
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made