Rare Birds in Leicestershire

70 species matching this filter.

All birds in Leicestershire

Leicestershire may be a landlocked county in the heart of England, but its diverse mix of reservoirs, farmland, woodland and heathland supports an impressive array of rare bird species. Around 70 species are classified as rare in the county, including elusive residents such as Barn Owl and Little Owl, secretive breeders like Grasshopper Warbler, and scarce visitors including Black-necked Grebe, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. Key sites such as Rutland Water, Eyebrook Reservoir and Charnwood Forest provide vital habitats that attract these uncommon species throughout the year.

Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-browed WarblerSmallest · 10cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Yellow-browed Warbler (10cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)24 families represented11 year-round residents

Showing 47–69 of 70 species

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Anthus petrosusLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded at reservoirs in October. A coastal species well inland, making any sighting noteworthy.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Rose-ringed Parakeet

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

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensisLC

A rare resident, now greatly reduced following national culling programmes. Occasionally seen on larger waterbodies.

Oct–Jun

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ruff

Ruff

Philomachus pugnaxLC

A rare passage visitor in late summer, favouring muddy margins at Rutland Water and other reservoirs. Look for it among mixed wader flocks.

Aug–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeusLC

A rare winter visitor, sometimes hunting over rough grassland and marshes during the coldest months.

Nov–Jan

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smew

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

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalisLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded at open reservoir margins in October and December. A true Arctic species far from its usual haunts.

Oct–Dec

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striataLC

A rare and declining summer breeder, arriving in May. Favours woodland edges and churchyards, sallying from exposed perches to catch insects.

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropusLC

A rare autumn passage wader, very occasionally recorded at reservoir mudflats during September.

Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Stonechat

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

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Tawny Owl

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

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Tree Pipit

Tree Pipit

Anthus trivialisLC

A rare breeding visitor to open woodland and heathland edges, delivering its distinctive parachuting song flight in spring.

Apr–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Velvet Scoter

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

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Water Rail

Water Rail

Rallus aquaticusLC

A secretive non-breeding visitor to reedbeds and marshy margins. More often heard squealing than seen.

Aug–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wheatear

Wheatear

Oenanthe oenantheLC

A rare passage migrant seen on open fields and ploughed land in spring and autumn, pausing briefly on migration.

Mar–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Whinchat

Whinchat

Saxicola rubetraLC

A rare passage migrant seen briefly in May and again in August–September. Favours rough grassland and scrubby margins on migration.

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Whooper Swan

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnusLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally seen on larger reservoirs in autumn and winter. Listen for its bugling call.

Oct–Jan

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Willow Tit

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

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareolaLC

A rare passage wader, occasionally stopping at muddy reservoir margins in spring and late summer.

May–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wood Warbler

Wood Warbler

Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC

A rare passage migrant glimpsed briefly in May, no longer breeding in the county as part of a wider national decline.

May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wryneck

Wryneck

Jynx torquillaLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally recorded in September. A former UK breeder now mainly seen as a scarce visitor from the continent.

Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flavaLC

A rare and declining summer breeder associated with lowland pastures and river floodplains, arriving from April.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Yellow-browed Warbler

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

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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