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 116–138 of 212 species
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
An uncommon summer breeder, favouring tall hedgerows and scrubby thickets. Its rattling song is heard from April to July.
Apr–Oct
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of gorse-covered heaths, farmland and coastal scrub. Often forms large flocks on Essex stubble fields and saltmarshes in winter.
Year-round
Little Auk
Alle alleLC
A rare November visitor, sometimes driven close to the Essex coast by strong North Sea gales.
Nov
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Now a common resident along the Essex coast and estuaries, having colonised since the 1990s. Easily spotted stalking shallow creeks and marshland pools.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
A common resident on ponds, lakes, and slow-moving waterways. Its distinctive trilling call is heard year-round across Essex.
Year-round
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
A rare breeder in Essex, also seen on passage in spring and autumn. Its delicate, buoyant flight is distinctive over coastal lagoons.
Mar–Nov
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
A rare year-round resident of Essex farmland and orchards, this compact owl hunts in daylight from fence posts and low perches.
Year-round
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubiusLC
An uncommon summer breeder favouring gravel pits and reservoir margins across Essex, arriving from March and departing by September.
Mar–Sep
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Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
A rare visitor to Essex coastal scrapes and mudflats, mainly seen on autumn passage from August to October.
Aug–Jan
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
A rare and declining summer breeder, nesting on shingle beaches along the Essex coast. A conservation priority species.
May–Sep
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
A rare winter visitor to coastal Essex waters and occasionally reservoirs, present from November to March.
Nov–Mar
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A common year-round resident of hedgerows and woodland edges, often seen in acrobatic family parties moving through trees.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident of gardens, parks and hedgerows year-round, easily recognised by its bold black-and-white plumage and chattering call.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
The most familiar duck in Essex, common year-round on virtually any body of water including park ponds.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A rare but established resident found on wooded lakes and rivers, with a small feral population present year-round in Essex.
Year-round
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinusLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally seen offshore in September during strong westerly winds. Most sightings come from coastal watchpoints.
Sep
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A rare and declining resident of mature broadleaved woodland, most detectable by its distinctive "pitchoo" call in early spring.
Nov–Jun
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident found on coastal marshes, rough grassland and farmland throughout the year. Numbers swell in winter with birds from further north.
Year-round
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
A rare winter visitor and passage migrant, hunting over coastal marshes and open farmland from autumn through to early spring.
Sep–Mar
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
An uncommon year-round resident of parkland and open woodland, one of the earliest songsters with its far-carrying song.
Year-round
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
A very rare passage migrant, with occasional sightings over coastal marshes and farmland, mainly in August.
Aug
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common resident found on ponds, ditches, and waterways throughout Essex. Often seen picking its way along muddy margins year-round.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A common and familiar resident on Essex rivers, lakes, and reservoirs throughout the year. Breeds widely across the county.
Year-round