Rare Birds in Kent
99 species matching this filter.
Kent's diverse landscapes—from the chalk cliffs of Dover and the expansive wetlands of the North Kent Marshes to ancient woodlands and coastal estuaries—provide habitat for an impressive array of rare bird species. With 91 species classified as rare in the county, keen birders may encounter elusive residents such as the Barn Owl and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, alongside scarce visitors like the Great Skua, Purple Sandpiper, and Pink-footed Goose. Whether you're scanning the shoreline or exploring quiet woodland rides, Kent offers rewarding opportunities to spot some of Britain's most sought-after birds.
Showing 47–69 of 99 species
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
A rare winter visitor and passage bird, secretive in dense scrub and hedgerows, most likely encountered from November to March.
Nov–Mar
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
A rare winter visitor to Kent's coastal waters and reservoirs. Most records come from the sea off Dungeness or Thanet between autumn and spring.
Oct–Apr
Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudusLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally spotted from coastal headlands like Dungeness during September seawatches.
Sep
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A rare but established resident, favouring wooded lakes and rivers. Small numbers breed in Kent, often nesting in tree holes near quiet waterways.
Year-round
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinusLC
A rare passage visitor seen during summer and early autumn seawatches, mainly from Dungeness headland.
Jun–Sep
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A rare and declining resident of mature deciduous woodland. Sedentary by nature, it favours ancient woods in the Weald and North Downs.
Nov–Jul
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
A rare winter visitor from September to April, hunting small birds over marshes and open coast. Most often seen on the North Kent Marshes.
Sep–Apr
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
A rare passage visitor in June, occasionally found on heathland. Breeds very locally in Kent's remaining heathy woodlands.
Jun
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Northern Goshawk
Accipiter gentilisLC
A rare passage visitor to Kent, occasionally recorded in late winter. Sightings are increasing as this secretive raptor slowly recolonises southern England.
Feb–Mar
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestivaLC
A rare transatlantic vagrant, occasionally recorded in Kent during December. One of the most sought-after American passerines for UK birders.
Dec
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A rare but eagerly anticipated passage migrant, seen at Kent's reservoirs and estuaries mainly in spring and early autumn.
May–Sep
Pallid Swift
Apus pallidusLC
An exceptionally rare late-autumn vagrant, occasionally recorded among Common Swift flocks during November passage.
Nov
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
A rare Nearctic vagrant, occasionally turning up on freshwater marshes and coastal pools in August and September.
Aug–Sep
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally recorded on coastal marshes and arable fields. Kent lies south of this species' main wintering range in Britain.
Oct–Feb
Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusLC
A rare passage migrant seen from seawatching points in spring and autumn. Dungeness and St Margaret's Bay are favoured watch sites.
May–Nov
Purple Heron
Ardea purpureaLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally overshooting from the continent in May or returning south in August, favouring reedbeds and marshes.
May–Aug
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritimaLC
A rare winter visitor from October to March, found on rocky groynes and harbour walls along the Kent coast.
Oct–Mar
Razorbill
Alca tordaLC
A rare auk seen offshore, mainly in winter and during passage. Occasionally noted from seawatching points like Dungeness.
Sep–Jun
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare and irruptive resident of conifer plantations. Sightings peak in late summer and autumn during invasion years.
Jun–Feb
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
A rare but increasing year-round resident, now occasionally seen soaring over Kent's countryside. Part of the species' ongoing UK recovery.
Year-round
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
A rare visitor to Kent's mudflats, most likely seen in winter or on autumn passage. Absent in June, with numbers nationally declining.
Jul–May
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, typically seen in September along the coast. Coastal scrub at Dungeness is a classic spot for this scarce visitor.
Sep
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
A rare passage visitor, with occasional spring records. Most Kent sightings likely involve wanderers from small feral populations in southern England.
May