Birds in Lincolnshire
Explore 228 species found in this region.
Lincolnshire is one of England's most rewarding counties for birdwatching, with 217 recorded species found across its diverse landscapes of coastal marshes, fenlands, farmland, and woodland. The county's extensive coastline along The Wash and the Humber Estuary provides vital habitat for wading birds and wildfowl, while inland sites attract notable species such as Cetti's Warbler, Hen Harrier, and Great White Egret. From the commons of the Lincolnshire Wolds to the vast skies over the fens, the county offers exceptional birding opportunities throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Barn Swallow arriving this month, and Bluethroat and Eurasian Woodcock depart for the season.
Showing 24–46 of 228 species
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, sometimes joining Chaffinch flocks in beech woodland and farmland stubble from October to April.
Oct–Apr
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
An uncommon but regular presence, with dark-bellied birds wintering on the Wash mudflats. Small numbers linger through summer.
Year-round
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Calidris subruficollisVU
A rare Nearctic vagrant, occasionally found on short-grazed coastal fields and muddy scrapes, mainly during autumn passage.
May–Oct
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
An uncommon but year-round resident, favouring thick hedgerows and woodland edges. Its soft call is often heard before the bird is seen.
Year-round
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
A common year-round resident, frequently seen soaring over farmland, the Wolds, and woodland edges throughout Lincolnshire.
Year-round
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
A common naturalised resident found on lakes, gravel pits and parkland throughout the county year-round.
Year-round
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
Abundant year-round across the county's arable fields, towns and coastline. Often seen foraging in ploughed Fenland fields.
Year-round
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibisLC
A rare but increasingly recorded resident, often seen near livestock in wet pastures. Part of a recent national range expansion into Lincolnshire.
Aug–May
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Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, heard year-round in dense scrub near wetlands. Its explosive song often betrays its presence at fenland reserves.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
A common resident found year-round in hedgerows, woodlands and gardens across the county. Numbers bolstered by continental birds in winter.
Year-round
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
A common resident heard singing its distinctive descending call in woodlands, scrub and gardens throughout the year.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
An uncommon resident, mainly found in conifer plantations and mature gardens. Less numerous here than in more wooded counties.
Year-round
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
A rare but increasing resident, with breeding pairs establishing on fenland sites. A spectacular sight on the county's wetlands.
Oct–Aug
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
Common year-round on farmland, playing fields, and the coast. Numbers swell in winter with arrivals from Scandinavia and the continent.
Year-round
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
An uncommon but dazzling resident along rivers and drainage channels. Often glimpsed as a flash of blue along fenland waterways.
Year-round
Common Loon
Gavia immerLC
A rare winter visitor to coastal waters and occasionally large inland reservoirs. Most records fall between November and February.
Nov–Feb
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
An uncommon winter visitor to rivers, reservoirs and gravel pits from October to April.
Oct–Apr
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
An abundant resident across farmland, hedgerows and woodland edges throughout the county, heavily supplemented by annual releases.
Year-round
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
A rare and secretive summer visitor, more often heard than seen calling from cereal fields in June and July.
Jun–Jul
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
A rare but increasing resident, slowly recolonising the county after centuries of absence. Look for its diamond-shaped tail in flight.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare resident, thinly distributed in birch and alder woodland. Numbers may increase in winter with arrivals from the continent.
Year-round
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
A rare passage migrant seen briefly in spring and autumn, mainly at coastal migration watchpoints like Gibraltar Point.
Apr–Oct
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
Breeds commonly in Lincolnshire's extensive reedbeds from April to September. Its repetitive, churring song is a hallmark of the county's fenland reserves.
Apr–Sep