Birds in Essex
Explore 212 species found in this region.
Essex is a remarkably rewarding county for birdwatching, with 208 recorded species found across its diverse mosaic of coastal marshes, estuaries, ancient woodlands and urban parklands. The Thames Estuary and the Blackwater and Colne estuaries provide internationally important habitat for wintering wildfowl and waders, including Brent Goose, Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail. From scarce visitors like the Great Grey Shrike and Great Skua to established populations of Mandarin Duck and Common Shelduck, the county offers exceptional birding opportunities throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Black Swan arriving this month, and Arctic Loon and Brambling depart for the season.
Showing 24–46 of 212 species
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibisLC
A rare but increasingly established resident, part of a recent colonisation of southern England. Often seen alongside livestock on Essex grazing marshes.
Year-round
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
A resident warbler that has expanded rapidly across Essex's reedbeds and waterside scrub. More often heard than seen, with an explosive burst of song.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
A common year-round resident of woodlands, hedgerows and gardens across Essex. Its cheerful song is one of the earliest heard in spring.
Year-round
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
Now present year-round in Essex, increasingly overwintering. Its distinctive two-note song is one of the earliest signs of spring in woodland and scrub.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
An uncommon resident, preferring coniferous and mixed woodland. Less numerous in Essex than in western counties, often visiting garden feeders in winter.
Year-round
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
Common year-round, frequenting playing fields, reservoirs, and farmland, with numbers boosted by winter visitors.
Year-round
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
An uncommon but year-round resident along Essex rivers, streams and gravel pits, often seen as a flash of electric blue.
Year-round
Common Loon
Gavia immerLC
A rare winter visitor to Essex coastal waters and large reservoirs, occasionally seen between November and March in sombre non-breeding plumage.
Nov–Mar
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Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
An uncommon winter visitor to Essex reservoirs and rivers, typically arriving in October and lingering into early spring.
Oct–Apr
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
A common resident across Essex farmland, woodland edges, and hedgerows. Widely released for shooting, seen throughout the year.
Year-round
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
A rare but increasing resident, slowly recolonising Essex. Deep, cronking calls may be heard over woodland and open country.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare resident, favouring birch and alder woodland. Small numbers breed in Essex, with winter flocks sometimes appearing at coastal and scrubby sites.
Sep–May
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
A rare passage migrant through Essex in spring and autumn. Most likely encountered in coastal scrub during migration periods.
Apr–Sep
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
A common summer breeder arriving in April, its chattering song fills Essex reedbeds and waterside vegetation until autumn.
Apr–Oct
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
An uncommon visitor found bobbing along reservoir edges and river banks, most frequently seen on passage in spring and autumn.
Apr–Jan
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Rare non-breeding visitor, sometimes seen in small groups offshore along the Essex coast from autumn through to early spring.
Aug–Mar
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
A common and striking resident of Essex estuaries and coastal marshes, breeding on grazing marshes in spring.
Year-round
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
An uncommon resident of wet grasslands and marshes, most easily found in winter when birds probe soft mud at sites like Rainham Marshes.
Jul–May
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
A common resident forming spectacular winter murmurations over Essex reedbeds and town centres, with Continental birds swelling numbers.
Year-round
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
A common summer visitor screaming over Essex towns and villages from late April to August, nesting under eaves and in roof spaces.
Apr–Sep
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
A common breeding summer visitor, nesting on rafts and islands at reservoirs and along the Thames estuary from April to October.
Apr–Oct
Coot
Fulica atraLC
A common resident on lakes, reservoirs, and gravel pits across Essex. Numbers increase in winter with continental arrivals.
Year-round
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
An uncommon resident of open arable farmland, declining nationally. Essex's cereal fields remain an important area for this chunky bunting.
Year-round