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Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in London

Our list for London has 192 bird species recorded regularly there: 95 residents, 22 summer visitors, 31 winter visitors, 40 passage migrants and 4 scarce visitors

The list comes from 2.2 million birdwatchers' records from 2019–2024, shared through the eBird Observation Dataset on GBIF. A bird is listed when it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years and has a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur here than are listed; the months show when it is recorded most years.

Species on our list
192
In October
134
Common
72
Busiest month
Apr

What's special about London

vs England

The birds recorded far more often here than across England, as a share of all bird records. These are the ones London is worth visiting for.

  1. Rose-ringed ParakeetRose-ringed Parakeet6.9×Resident · 2.9% of records here, 0.42% across England
  2. Egyptian GooseEgyptian Goose3.8×Resident · 1.5% of records here, 0.41% across England
  3. Red-crested PochardRed-crested Pochard3.3×Resident · 0.14% of records here, 0.04% across England
  4. Rock DoveRock Dove2.8×Resident · 3.2% of records here, 1.1% across England
  5. Water PipitWater Pipit2.8×Winter visitor · 0.07% of records here, 0.02% across England
  6. Mandarin DuckMandarin Duck2.7×Resident · 0.28% of records here, 0.10% across England
  7. PochardPochard2.4×Resident · 0.96% of records here, 0.40% across England
  8. Little OwlLittle Owl2.0×Resident · 0.11% of records here, 0.05% across England

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Most likely

  1. Carrion CrowCarrion Crow3.66%
  2. MagpieMagpie3.50%
  3. WoodpigeonWoodpigeon3.40%
  4. European RobinEuropean Robin3.31%
  5. Rock DoveRock Dove3.09%
  6. Rose-ringed ParakeetRose-ringed Parakeet2.98%

Arriving now

  1. RedwingRedwingWinter visitorSep 0.03% → Oct 1.04%
  2. FieldfareFieldfareWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.20%
  3. BramblingBramblingWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.13%
  4. Rock PipitRock PipitWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.09%
  5. Water PipitWater PipitWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.07%
  6. Ring OuzelRing OuzelPassage migrantSep 0.00% → Oct 0.04%

Share of all bird records in London in October, 2019–2024. “Arriving now” are the birds whose share rises most from last month. Each month links to that month’s page.

Near you this week

The birds most likely around your town or postcode right now, from the same records, for a square about 9 km across.

The bird calendar for London

Month by month

When each bird is around, through the year. The darker the square, the closer that month is to the bird’s busiest. Filter by summer or winter visitors to see the seasons turn over.

The year in London

Records by month
Bird records in London by month, 2019–2024
January205,791
February170,765
March220,190
April278,325
May220,326
June148,262
July133,716
August158,934
September172,015
October176,065
November154,931
December162,845

April has the most records (278,000). Records follow birdwatchers as well as birds: a busy month means more people out looking, as well as more birds passing through.

By family

12 of 27
All 27 families in London

How common

More of England

All of England

All 192 birds, A to Z

Show all 192 birds

Questions

4

What birds is London known for?

Compared with the rest of England, London stands out for Rose-ringed Parakeet, Egyptian Goose, Red-crested Pochard and Rock Dove. Each is recorded at least 2.8 times as often here as across England, as a share of all bird records (2019–2024).

How many birds are on Birdfact's list for London?

192 species, each recorded regularly in London (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 95 residents, 22 summer visitors, 31 winter visitors, 40 passage migrants and 4 scarce visitors. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in London, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in London in October?

134 species on our list for London are recorded regularly in October. Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, European Robin and Rock Dove.

What are the most common birds in London?

Of the birds on our list, the ones birdwatchers record most often in London are Woodpigeon, Rock Dove, Carrion Crow, Magpie and European Robin.

Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made

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