Birds to See in Leicestershire in January
108 species matching this filter.
Leicestershire offers a rewarding variety of birdlife during January, with around 108 species recorded across the county's diverse habitats. From the reservoirs and gravel pits that attract wintering wildfowl such as Common Merganser, Common Shelduck and Little Grebe, to the farmland hedgerows where Fieldfares and Linnets forage, the county is a fine destination for winter birding. Notable sightings include Barn Owl hunting over rough grassland at dusk, Eurasian Woodcock flushed from woodland edges, and large roosts of Common Starling gathering in spectacular murmurations.
New in January7
Leaving after last month1
Resident
(83)
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
A rare but year-round resident, hunting over farmland and rough grassland. Most active at dusk, favouring areas with old barns and hedgerow trees.
Nov–Sep
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
One of the county's most familiar garden birds, common year-round. Feeds on lawns and in hedgerows, with a rich, fluting song heard from early spring.
Year-round
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
A common resident present all year, breeding in woodland and hedgerows. Winter numbers are boosted by continental birds visiting garden feeders.
Year-round
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
A common and familiar garden resident year-round. One of the most frequent visitors to bird feeders across the county's towns and villages.
Year-round
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
An uncommon but widespread resident of hedgerows, woodland edges and mature gardens. Its soft, piping call often betrays its presence.
Year-round
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
A common resident, now one of the county's most visible raptors following a dramatic recovery. Soars over farmland and woodland edges year-round.
Year-round
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
A common and conspicuous resident on lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and park ponds throughout the county. Breeds readily and gathers in large flocks.
Year-round
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
A common and adaptable resident found across all habitats from city centres to open countryside. Often seen in noisy family groups during summer.
Year-round
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, favouring dense reedbed and waterside scrub at sites like Rutland Water's fringes. More often heard than seen.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
An abundant resident of woodlands, hedgerows and gardens throughout the county, with winter numbers boosted by continental arrivals.
Year-round
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
A common resident found year-round in woodland, parks and gardens. Its distinctive two-note song is one of the earliest signs of spring.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
A common resident of woodlands, parks and mature gardens. Readily visits feeders and often caches seeds and nuts for later retrieval.
Year-round
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
An uncommon resident found on reservoirs, playing fields and farmland. Numbers increase in winter when Continental birds supplement the local population.
Jul–May
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
An uncommon resident along rivers, canals and lake edges throughout the year. A flash of electric blue is often the first sign of its presence.
Year-round
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
An uncommon resident mainly seen in the colder months on reservoirs and rivers, scarcer during summer.
Oct–May
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
A common year-round resident of farmland, hedgerows and woodland edges. Populations sustained by regular releases.
Year-round
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, recolonising the county after a long absence; look for its tumbling display flight.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
An uncommon resident of birch and alder woodland. Absent in midsummer, with numbers boosted by continental birds in autumn and winter.
Sep–May
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
A rare resident, thinly spread around reservoirs and gravel pits. Largely absent in midsummer during moult migration.
Aug–Jun
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
A rare resident found in marshy areas and wet grassland. More conspicuous in winter when numbers are boosted.
Jul–Apr
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
A common and familiar resident, though nationally declining. Winter roosts at sites across Leicestershire can number in the thousands.
Year-round
Coot
Fulica atraLC
A common resident on lakes, reservoirs and gravel pits throughout the county. Forms large winter flocks.
Year-round
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
A common and widespread resident of hedgerows, gardens, and scrubby undergrowth. Its shuffling song is a familiar sound year-round.
Year-round
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
A rare but year-round resident of naturalised origin, found on lakes and parkland waters across the county.
Year-round
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
A common resident in towns, villages, and farmyards across the county. Its monotonous three-note cooing is a familiar suburban sound.
Year-round
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
An uncommon but widespread resident of broadleaved woodland, often detected by its harsh screeching call in autumn.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
An uncommon resident of mature deciduous woodland and parkland. Its loud ringing call carries through Charnwood Forest and similar wooded areas.
Year-round
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon resident most visible in winter and early spring, visiting garden feeders and frequenting alder trees along waterways.
Jul–May
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
An uncommon but year-round resident of arable farmland and open grassland. Its soaring song flight is a characteristic sound of the Leicestershire countryside.
Year-round
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
A rare and declining resident, now largely confined to farmland in the east of the county. Favours hedgerows and farm buildings with nest boxes.
Oct–Jun
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
A common and vocal resident found in virtually every hedgerow, garden and woodland, its powerful song belying its tiny size.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A common and colourful resident, frequently visiting garden feeders. Flocks gather on teasel and thistle heads in autumn across the county.
Year-round
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
A common resident of parkland, orchards, and woodland edges. Its loud, laughing 'yaffle' call carries far across the Leicestershire countryside.
Year-round
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
An uncommon but year-round resident, increasingly seen on urban rooftops as well as at reservoirs and landfill sites across the county.
Year-round
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
A much-loved common resident of gardens, woodland, and hedgerows year-round. One of the first birds to sing at dawn across the county.
Year-round
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
An uncommon year-round resident, favouring larger reservoirs and gravel pits with vegetated margins for breeding.
Year-round
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
A common resident of coniferous and mixed woodland, parks, and mature gardens. Numbers swell in autumn with continental migrants.
Year-round
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
An uncommon resident found on reservoirs and gravel pits, most conspicuous in winter. Males flash striking white plumage in courtship displays.
Aug–Jun
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
Present year-round but rarely encountered, occasionally seen at reservoirs and landfill sites. The largest British gull, dwarfing commoner species.
Year-round
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
A common year-round resident at reservoirs, gravel pits and rivers. Often seen perched with wings outstretched to dry after diving for fish.
Year-round
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
A common resident on larger lakes and reservoirs, performing its elaborate head-shaking courtship display from late winter. Breeds across the county.
Year-round
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
A common resident of mature woodland and parks, often heard drumming in spring; increasingly visits garden peanut feeders.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
An abundant resident of gardens, parks and woodlands throughout the county, easily recognised by its bold black head stripe and two-syllable song.
Year-round
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
An increasingly established uncommon resident, now seen year-round at wetlands and reservoirs. Part of a wider national range expansion.
Year-round
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
A rare but year-round visitor to muddy pools, ditches and reservoir margins. Often bobs conspicuously when flushed.
Mar–Jan
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common garden and farmland resident, though numbers have declined sharply due to trichomonosis disease in recent years.
Year-round
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A familiar sight year-round, nesting in heronries at established sites and feeding along rivers, lakes, and garden ponds.
Year-round
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident found along streams, rivers, and canal towpaths. Bobs its long tail constantly while foraging at the water's edge.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
A common year-round resident found on reservoirs, gravel pits and farmland. Feral populations thrive across Leicestershire's waterways.
Year-round
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A familiar year-round resident of towns, villages and farms, though numbers have declined significantly in recent decades.
Year-round
Jackdaw
Corvus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in church towers, old trees, and buildings. Often seen in noisy flocks with Rooks across farmland.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
An uncommon but widespread resident, often seen hovering over roadside verges and farmland hunting for small mammals.
Year-round
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common year-round resident, often seen at reservoirs, landfill sites, and playing fields across the county.
Year-round
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
An uncommon resident of open farmland, rough ground and hedgerows. Often forms flocks outside the breeding season on weedy stubble fields.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Now a common resident after rapid colonisation, found year-round at reservoirs, gravel pits, and river margins.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
An uncommon but widespread resident on ponds, canals and slow rivers. Its distinctive whinnying trill is often heard before the bird is seen.
Year-round
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A charming resident often seen in noisy family flocks moving through hedgerows and woodland, present year-round across the county.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident in gardens, parks, hedgerows and farmland. Its bold black-and-white plumage and chattering call are unmistakable.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
A common and widespread resident found on virtually any waterbody, from park lakes to farm ponds and rivers.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
An uncommon resident favouring wooded lakes and rivers. Breeding populations are slowly establishing in the county.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
An uncommon resident of rough grassland and moorland fringes in the county. Numbers may increase in winter with birds from upland areas.
Year-round
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
An uncommon resident found in parkland, orchards and open woodland. Often sings boldly from treetops in late winter, well before most other thrushes.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common resident of ponds, canals, and waterways throughout the county. Often seen picking its way along muddy margins, flicking its tail.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A familiar year-round resident gracing the county's rivers, canals and park lakes. Breeds readily across Leicestershire.
Year-round
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
An uncommon but year-round resident of farmland and wet grassland. Breeding numbers have declined significantly.
Year-round
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
An uncommon resident found on shallow, muddy-edged pools and reservoirs. Numbers increase in winter with continental arrivals.
Year-round
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
An uncommon year-round resident, increasingly nesting on tall buildings in Leicester and other towns. Also hunts over open farmland and reservoirs.
Year-round
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
An uncommon resident, declining nationally but still found on larger open waters, with numbers boosted in winter.
Year-round
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
An uncommon but increasingly seen resident, benefiting from reintroduction programmes and now regularly soaring over the county.
Year-round
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
An uncommon resident of arable farmland and field margins. Often seen in small coveys on open ground.
Year-round
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
An uncommon but widespread resident of reedbeds, damp ditches, and farmland hedgerows. Males show a distinctive black head in breeding plumage.
Year-round
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Abundant year-round as feral pigeons in towns and cities, a ubiquitous presence across urban Leicestershire.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting colonially in tall trees across the county's farmland and village margins.
Year-round
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Alexandrinus krameriLC
A rare resident, with small numbers establishing in the county as part of the species' gradual spread from south-east England. Favours parks and gardens.
Year-round
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
A rare resident, now greatly reduced following national culling programmes. Occasionally seen on larger waterbodies.
Oct–Jun
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A common resident of gardens, hedgerows, and woodland. Often seen smashing snails on a favourite stone anvil.
Year-round
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
An uncommon but widespread resident, hunting small birds in woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens. Often detected by panicked flocks of finches.
Year-round
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
A common resident of farmland, parkland, and woodland edges. Nests in tree holes and old buildings, often seen in small flocks over fields.
Year-round
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A secretive resident of mature woodland and parkland, rarely seen but its hooting call carries through Leicestershire's woods after dark.
Year-round
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
An unobtrusive resident of mature woodland, spiralling up tree trunks in search of insects. Listen for its thin, high-pitched call.
Year-round
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
A common diving duck present year-round on reservoirs and gravel pits, often nesting near waterside vegetation.
Year-round
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
An abundant resident found everywhere from city centres to farmland. Large flocks gather on arable fields in autumn and winter.
Year-round
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
An uncommon resident of farmland hedgerows, singing its distinctive jangling song from exposed perches. A declining species across the county.
Year-round
Non-breeding
(17)
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulusLC
A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, appearing in irruption years. Flocks descend on berry-laden trees in towns and supermarket car parks.
Dec–Feb
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, sometimes joining Chaffinch flocks in farmland and beech woodland from October to April.
Oct–Apr
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
An uncommon non-breeding visitor to reservoirs and flooded grassland, arriving from autumn and lingering into spring. Males give a distinctive whistle.
Aug–Apr
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to woodland and hedgerows, most likely encountered during winter months. Its cryptic plumage makes detection difficult.
Nov–Feb
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
A winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving from October and lingering into April. Flocks forage in hedgerows and open fields for berries.
Oct–Apr
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
A rare winter visitor to larger water bodies, sometimes associating with Tufted Duck flocks on reservoirs from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A rare visitor, mainly to mature deciduous woodland on the county's fringes. Leicestershire sits at the edge of its core English range.
Aug–Apr
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
A rare but elegant winter visitor to reservoirs and gravel pits, present from autumn through to early spring in small numbers.
Sep–Mar
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
A rare winter visitor, with small flocks occasionally seen over the county in January, February, and November, often during cold weather movements.
Nov–Feb
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to reservoirs and gravel pits, mainly in autumn and winter. Origins often uncertain.
Sep–Jan
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, often seen in hedgerow-feeding flocks alongside Fieldfares from October to April.
Oct–Apr
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare winter visitor, sometimes hunting over rough grassland and marshes during the coldest months.
Nov–Jan
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
A rare but prized winter visitor to reservoirs and gravel pits, most likely in cold spells from November to February.
Nov–Feb
Stonechat
Saxicola torquatusLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to heathland edges, rough grassland, and reservoir margins. Most likely seen from autumn through early spring.
Sep–Apr
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
A secretive non-breeding visitor to reedbeds and marshy margins. More often heard squealing than seen.
Aug–Apr
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
A rare visitor in serious national decline, occasionally recorded at damp woodland sites but no longer breeding in the county.
Aug–Apr
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, most often found at landfill sites and reservoirs from late summer into winter.
Jul–Jan
Passage
(8)
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreusLC
A rare midwinter visitor from the Arctic, occasionally turning up among gull flocks at reservoirs and tips. A prized find for county birders.
Jan
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
A rare passage visitor, sometimes seen in flocks on ploughed fields and wet grassland in autumn and winter.
Oct–Jan
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally turning up on flooded fields or reservoirs in December and January.
Dec–Jan
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
A rare and declining farmland bird, now very scarce across Leicestershire's arable fields.
Jan–May
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A rare and secretive passage visitor, skulking in marshy margins at wetland sites in autumn and winter.
Oct–Jan
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
A rare passage visitor, very occasionally recorded on larger reservoirs in midwinter. An unusual inland record for this primarily coastal sea duck.
Dec–Jan
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally seen on larger reservoirs in autumn and winter. Listen for its bugling call.
Oct–Jan
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatusLC
A rare passage visitor from Siberia, occasionally turning up in October. A prized find for local birders, typically in scrubby cover at migration hotspots.
Oct–Jan