Birds in Leicestershire
Explore 164 species found in this region.
Leicestershire is home to a rich diversity of birdlife, with 162 species recorded across the county's varied habitats, from the reservoirs and wetlands of Rutland Water's fringes to rolling farmland and ancient woodlands. The region supports notable species such as Northern Lapwing and Eurasian Woodcock in its countryside, while waterways attract visitors including Common Merganser, Mandarin Duck and Pink-footed Goose. Whether you're exploring urban parks where Great Tits and Magpies thrive or venturing to gravel pits and meadows, Leicestershire offers rewarding birding throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Black-crowned Night-heron arriving this month, and Greater Scaup and Northern Pintail depart for the season.
Showing 116–138 of 164 species
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
An uncommon resident, declining nationally but still found on larger open waters, with numbers boosted in winter.
Year-round
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare and irruptive resident, most likely seen in conifer plantations like those in Charnwood Forest from late summer to autumn.
Jul–Nov
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
An uncommon but increasingly seen resident, benefiting from reintroduction programmes and now regularly soaring over the county.
Year-round
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally noted on reservoirs in November. Primarily a coastal species, making inland sightings noteworthy.
Nov
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
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
An uncommon resident of arable farmland and field margins. Often seen in small coveys on open ground.
Year-round
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
A rare passage migrant, exceptionally scarce inland. June records likely involve birds on northward passage.
Jun
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
A rare breeder on wet grasslands and reservoir margins, present from spring through autumn. Numbers have declined significantly across the county.
Mar–Oct
Spotted something?
Upload a photo to identify it
Identify
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, often seen in hedgerow-feeding flocks alongside Fieldfares from October to April.
Oct–Apr
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
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally stopping on open farmland or hilltops in April en route to upland breeding grounds.
Apr
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
A rare breeder, nesting on gravel shores at reservoirs and pits, also seen on passage in late summer.
Mar–Sep
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Abundant year-round as feral pigeons in towns and cities, a ubiquitous presence across urban Leicestershire.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded at reservoirs in October. A coastal species well inland, making any sighting noteworthy.
Oct
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
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
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
An uncommon summer breeder, nesting in sandy riverbanks and quarry faces. Arrives from March and gathers in flocks before departing by September.
Mar–Sep
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
An uncommon summer breeder found in waterside vegetation at gravel pits and wetland reserves from April to September.
Apr–Sep
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
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