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 139–161 of 228 species
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A common and charming resident, easily spotted in roving family flocks through hedgerows, gardens, and woodland throughout the year.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident across Lincolnshire, frequenting farmland hedgerows, parks and gardens throughout the year.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
An abundant and familiar resident found on virtually any waterbody, from farmland ponds to urban parks and the county's extensive drainage channels.
Year-round
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinusLC
A rare passage visitor seen during autumn seawatches in September and October. Strong onshore winds push birds close to shore at Gibraltar Point.
Sep–Oct
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A rare passage visitor in winter and early spring. Lincolnshire lies largely outside its core range, making any sighting noteworthy.
Jan–Apr
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident of open grassland, marshes, and farmland. Numbers increase in winter with arrivals from upland and northern areas.
Year-round
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
An uncommon non-breeding visitor, arriving from autumn and wintering on coastal marshes and open fenland until early spring.
Aug–Apr
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
An uncommon resident of parkland, hedgerows, and open woodland. Often seen singing boldly from treetops, even in winter.
Year-round
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Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
A rare and secretive summer visitor, occasionally seen hunting over arable farmland in July. One of the UK's rarest raptors.
Jul
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Common and widespread on ponds, ditches, and waterways across the county, often seen flicking its white undertail in gardens.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A common and familiar resident of rivers, lakes and fenland waterways across Lincolnshire throughout the year.
Year-round
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
A rare spring passage migrant in April and May, occasionally heard singing in dense thickets. Lincolnshire lies at the edge of its breeding range.
Apr–May
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
A rare passage visitor in June, occasionally recorded churring at dusk over heathland fragments and woodland clearings.
Jun
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Seen offshore from summer into winter, plunge-diving for fish. Best spotted from coastal vantage points during autumn passage.
Jun–Dec
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
A common but declining resident, breeding on farmland and marshes. Huge winter flocks gather on the Fens and coastal fields.
Year-round
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
An uncommon resident favouring coastal marshes and fenland floods. Winter numbers are boosted by continental migrants.
Year-round
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
A common resident found year-round on freshwater marshes and flooded fields, with numbers boosted by winter migrants on the Fens.
Year-round
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A rare but thrilling passage visitor in July and August, occasionally spotted fishing at Rutland Water's fringes and fenland reserves.
Jul–Aug
Pacific Golden-Plover
Pluvialis fulvaLC
A rare passage vagrant, occasionally turning up on coastal marshes in July and August. Easily confused with European Golden-Plover.
Jul–Aug
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
A rare but regular autumn passage migrant from July to October, favouring freshwater scrapes and flooded fields.
Jul–Oct
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, nesting on churches and tall buildings in Lincoln and other towns. Hunts over marshes and farmland.
Year-round
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
An uncommon resident with numbers swelling hugely in winter when vast skeins arrive from Iceland to feed on fenland sugar beet fields.
Year-round
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
An uncommon year-round resident, declining as a breeder but still found on deeper lakes and gravel pits across the county.
Year-round