Birds in Manchester
Explore 160 species found in this region.
Manchester's diverse landscapes, from urban parks and canal corridors to the moorland fringes of the Pennines, support an impressive array of birdlife, with 159 species recorded across the county. Notable species include the Pink-footed Goose, which arrives in large flocks during winter, the striking Mandarin Duck found along wooded waterways, and the charismatic Northern Lapwing on surrounding farmland. Whether you're exploring the Mersey Valley, the mosslands, or the reservoirs of the eastern hills, Manchester offers rewarding birding opportunities throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Black Tern arriving this month, and Eurasian Woodcock and Jack Snipe depart for the season.
Showing 47–69 of 160 species
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
A common resident of oak woodland and mature parks. Its harsh screeching call is often heard in autumn as it caches acorns across the region.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
A common resident of mature broadleaved woodland and parkland, steadily spreading across Greater Manchester. Often heard before seen.
Year-round
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
An uncommon but year-round resident, increasingly breeding inland on gravel rooftops and playing fields across Greater Manchester.
Year-round
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon resident favouring alder and conifer woodland. Often visits garden nyjer feeders in winter, sometimes in small, lively flocks.
Year-round
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
An uncommon resident of open farmland and moorland fringes. Song flights can be heard on the Pennine edges, though numbers have declined significantly.
Year-round
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
A rare and declining resident, sometimes found around farmland edges and rural fringes. Less common than House Sparrow in urban Manchester.
Nov–Aug
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
An uncommon visitor mainly from autumn to spring, grazing on flooded fields and reservoir margins across Greater Manchester.
Aug–May
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A secretive winter visitor to damp woodland and garden edges. Most often flushed unexpectedly at close range.
Nov–Mar
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Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
A common and vocal resident found in virtually every garden, park, and woodland. Its powerful song belies its tiny size throughout the year.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A common and colourful resident, increasingly seen in gardens and on feeders. Charm flocks gather on teasel and thistle heads in autumn.
Year-round
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
A rare breeder in parkland and woodland edges, its loud laughing call carrying across open ground in spring.
Mar–Sep
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
A common resident, nesting on rooftops and loafing at tips, reservoirs, and supermarket car parks year-round.
Year-round
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
One of the most familiar garden birds, present year-round. Fiercely territorial, singing even through winter in parks and hedgerows across the region.
Year-round
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
A winter thrush arriving from Scandinavia, present October to April. Flocks feed on berries in hedgerows and open farmland around the city fringe.
Oct–Apr
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Found year-round on well-vegetated lakes and lodges. Quieter than its relatives, often overlooked among Mallards.
Year-round
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
A rare and secretive summer breeder favouring dense scrub and woodland understorey. Present April to September but easily overlooked.
Apr–Sep
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
A scarce passage migrant, occasionally glimpsed at wetland sites in spring and late summer. A prized find for local birders.
Apr–Sep
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
A common resident of coniferous and mixed woodland, parks, and mature gardens. Britain's smallest bird, with a thin, high-pitched call.
Year-round
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Scarce in the area, mainly seen on passage or in winter on farmland. Breeds on nearby Pennine moorland.
Oct–Apr
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
An uncommon diving duck on reservoirs and lodges, mainly in winter. Males flash striking white plumage in display.
Jul–May
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
A rare and secretive breeding visitor, arriving in April. Its insect-like reeling song carries across rough grassland and scrubby moorland edges.
Apr–Aug
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
An uncommon but year-round resident, often seen loafing at reservoirs and tips. The largest gull in the region, dwarfing nearby Herring Gulls.
Year-round
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
A common resident seen year-round on reservoirs, rivers, and canals. Often perches with wings outstretched to dry on waterside structures.
Year-round