Birds in London
Explore 158 species found in this region.
London is home to a remarkable 156 bird species, thriving across the capital's diverse habitats — from the expansive wetlands of the Lee Valley and the Royal Parks to suburban gardens and the tidal Thames. Notable species include Mandarin Duck, Eurasian Woodcock, and Northern Lapwing, alongside familiar favourites like Great Tit, Magpie, and Common Starling. To discover which species you're most likely to encounter, explore our guide to the 20 Most Common Birds in London: Gardens, Parks & Urban Hotspots.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Bar-tailed Godwit arriving this month, and Black Swan and Brambling depart for the season.
Showing 116–138 of 158 species
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
An uncommon year-round resident, nesting on tall buildings and bridges. Battersea Power Station and the Tate Modern are well-known nest sites.
Year-round
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Found year-round on London's lakes and reservoirs, though declining nationally. Winter flocks bolster numbers on larger waterbodies.
Year-round
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare and irruptive passage visitor, occasionally appearing in October during invasion years. Seeks out conifer stands in larger parks.
Oct
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
Now an uncommon but increasing resident, regularly seen soaring over outer suburbs. A remarkable conservation success story across southern England.
Year-round
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
A rare but year-round resident, with a small established population centred on London's park lakes and reservoirs.
Year-round
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
A rare and unexpected visitor to the London area, occasionally turning up in spring on the capital's outer farmland edges.
Apr
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
An uncommon resident of London's marshes and reservoir margins. Its piping alarm call is a familiar sound at wetland sites.
Year-round
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving from October and lingering into April. Feeds on berries in parks, gardens, and playing fields.
Sep–Apr
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Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
An uncommon resident of reedbeds and wetland margins. Found at sites like the London Wetland Centre and along the Thames marshes.
Year-round
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare passage migrant in April and October, pausing briefly on migration. Most often found on scrubby hillsides and open ground on London's fringes.
Oct–Apr
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
A rare passage migrant, stopping briefly at reservoir margins and gravel pits during spring and autumn migration.
Apr–Sep
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Ubiquitous year-round across the capital in feral form. Nests on buildings and ledges throughout central and suburban London.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
A rare non-breeding visitor from October to March, occasionally found along the Thames foreshore and around London's larger reservoirs.
Oct–Mar
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A rare resident in London, largely confined to the rural outer fringes. Far less common here than in the wider countryside.
Year-round
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Alexandrinus krameriLC
A common and conspicuous resident, thriving in London's parks and gardens. Noisy flocks are a familiar sight, especially around south-west London.
Year-round
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
A rare resident following national culling efforts. Occasionally still reported on London's lakes and reservoirs.
Mar–Jan
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
A rare visitor to London's wetland reserves, most likely at sites like the London Wetland Centre. Appears mainly on passage in autumn and spring.
Aug–Apr
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
An uncommon summer breeder, arriving in March and nesting in sandy banks along London's rivers and gravel pits. Departs by September.
Mar–Sep
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, favouring scrubby wetland margins at reserves across the capital.
Apr–Sep
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally seen hunting over London's marshes and open grasslands in October and November.
Oct–Nov
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
A rare and prized winter visitor, occasionally appearing on London's reservoirs in cold spells. The striking male is unmistakable.
Feb
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A familiar year-round resident, often heard repeating phrases from garden trees and park shrubbery. Smashes snail shells on favourite stones.
Year-round
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, hunting small birds through parks and suburban gardens across the capital.
Year-round