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 162–184 of 212 species
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
A rare winter visitor to Essex's coastal waters, present from autumn to early spring. Often seen flying low over the sea off the estuary.
Sep–Mar
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
A common resident of Essex's saltmarshes and estuaries, its piping calls are a familiar sound along the coast year-round.
Year-round
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor arriving from Scandinavia in October. Feeds on berries in hedgerows and parks, often alongside fieldfares across Essex.
Oct–Apr
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
A common resident of reedbeds, ditches and marshy areas across Essex. In winter, flocks gather on farmland stubble and at seed-rich sites.
Year-round
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare passage migrant seen briefly in April and October. Coastal headlands and scrubby areas offer the best chance of a sighting.
Oct–Apr
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
An uncommon resident breeding on shingle beaches and coastal margins. Numbers bolstered by passage birds in spring and autumn.
Year-round
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Abundant year-round in towns and cities across Essex. Feral populations thrive alongside the truly wild birds found on coastal cliffs.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
An uncommon non-breeding visitor to Essex's rocky sea walls and coastal margins from autumn through winter. Forages along the Thames Estuary shoreline.
Sep–Mar
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Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in noisy rookeries in farmland trees. A familiar sight across rural Essex.
Year-round
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Alexandrinus krameriLC
An uncommon resident with a spreading population from London, found in parks and suburban gardens across western Essex.
Year-round
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
Now very rare following national eradication efforts. Occasionally recorded on Essex reservoirs and gravel pits.
Jul–May
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferrugineaLC
A rare summer vagrant of uncertain origin, occasionally appearing on Essex reservoirs and gravel pits in June to August.
Jun–Aug
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
An uncommon year-round presence along rocky foreshores and sea walls, flipping stones and seaweed to find invertebrates on the Essex coast.
Year-round
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
An uncommon visitor to Essex marshes and flooded fields, seen in small numbers on passage and through winter at key wetland sites.
Jul–May
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
An uncommon breeding visitor, nesting in sandy banks near gravel pits and waterways. Arrives from March and departs by October.
Mar–Oct
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
A rare but year-round presence, occasionally seen on sandy shores and estuarine flats along the Essex coast.
Year-round
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
An uncommon breeding visitor to the Essex coast, present from May to October. Fishes offshore and nests at key colonies along the estuary.
May–Oct
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
A summer breeding visitor to reedbeds and waterside scrub, arriving in April. Found at wetland sites such as Abberton and the Lea Valley.
Apr–Sep
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare resident favouring coastal marshes and rough grassland, most visible in winter when birds quarter low over Essex estuaries.
Sep–May
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
An uncommon but prized winter visitor to Essex reservoirs and gravel pits, present from December to March. Numbers vary greatly between years.
Dec–Mar
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
A rare winter visitor to the Essex coast, occasionally seen on shingle beaches and saltmarshes. Most records fall between November and January.
Nov–Jan
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A common resident heard year-round in gardens, parks and woodland, recognised by its repeated melodious phrases from prominent song posts.
Year-round
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
An uncommon but widespread resident of woodland, farmland and suburban gardens, often glimpsed dashing low through hedges in pursuit of small birds.
Year-round