Birds in Hampshire
Explore 214 species found in this region.
Hampshire is home to an impressive 207 recorded bird species, reflecting the county's rich diversity of habitats — from the ancient woodlands of the New Forest to the coastal mudflats of the Solent and the chalk downlands of the South Downs. Birdwatchers can enjoy sightings of notable species such as the Great Grey Shrike, Eurasian Woodcock, and Mandarin Duck in woodland settings, while estuarine areas attract waders and wildfowl including Northern Lapwing, Common Shelduck, and Northern Pintail. Whether you are a seasoned birder or a casual nature enthusiast, Hampshire offers outstanding year-round birdwatching opportunities.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Jaeger and Bar-headed Goose arriving this month, and Black-necked Grebe and Eurasian Bittern depart for the season.
Showing 93–115 of 214 species
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
An uncommon but increasingly regular resident, often seen at wetland sites such as the Avon valley and Blashford Lakes throughout the year.
Year-round
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
A rare winter visitor from December to April. Occasionally found on sheltered coastal waters and larger inland lakes.
Dec–Apr
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
A rare winter visitor arriving in December and lingering into February. Occasionally found grazing on coastal marshes and flood meadows.
Dec–Feb
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
A rare but year-round visitor to watercress beds, streams and flooded fields. Often solitary and easily flushed from muddy margins.
Jun–Apr
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common year-round resident in gardens and hedgerows, though numbers have declined sharply due to trichomonosis disease since the mid-2000s.
Year-round
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
An uncommon but year-round presence on Hampshire's estuaries and harbours. Most frequently encountered during autumn passage on coastal mudflats.
Year-round
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A common year-round resident, breeding in heronries across the county. Easily seen along rivers, lakes, and garden ponds.
Year-round
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
A rare passage visitor in late spring, reflecting the species' severe national decline. Favours open farmland and chalk downland.
May–Jun
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Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicariusLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally appearing on coastal pools and sheltered harbours, mainly in September and October after Atlantic storms.
Sep–Dec
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
An uncommon but year-round presence on coastal mudflats. Numbers peak in winter along the Solent and harbour estuaries.
Year-round
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident found along Hampshire's streams and rivers year-round. Bobs its tail constantly while foraging on rocks and weirs.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
An uncommon year-round resident on lakes, reservoirs, and river meadows. Feral populations breed alongside other geese.
Year-round
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
A rare and elusive resident, with the New Forest being a national stronghold. Best looked for in winter around hornbeam and yew trees.
Oct–Jun
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally seen quartering marshes and heathland on the coast and New Forest fringes in the coldest months.
Dec–Jan
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
A scarce summer breeder arriving in April, favouring heathland and woodland edges in the New Forest. Agile in flight, often catching dragonflies on the wing.
Apr–Oct
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
A rare winter visitor to sheltered coastal waters and harbours. Most likely seen between November and March on the Solent.
Nov–Mar
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A declining summer visitor nesting under the eaves of houses and farm buildings. Present from April to October, often seen feeding over villages and wetlands.
Apr–Oct
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common resident closely tied to urban and suburban areas. Hampshire populations have declined but remain widespread around towns and villages.
Year-round
Hudsonian Godwit
Limosa haemasticaVU
An extremely rare transatlantic vagrant, occasionally recorded in May on coastal mudflats. A prized find among Hampshire's wader records.
May
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoidesLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded in February among winter gull flocks at reservoirs and along the coast.
Feb
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A secretive winter visitor to boggy marshes and watermeadows, rarely flushing until almost underfoot. Most reliably found from November to March.
Nov–Mar
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in church towers, old trees and chimneys. Often seen in noisy flocks with rooks over farmland.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A familiar year-round resident, often seen hovering over Hampshire's downland, roadside verges, and farmland while hunting for voles and small mammals.
Year-round