Rare Birds in Merseyside

85 species matching this filter.

All birds in Merseyside

Merseyside's diverse coastal habitats, estuaries, and pockets of woodland provide occasional refuge for a fascinating array of rare bird species. With 85 species classified as rare across the county, patient birders may be rewarded with sightings of Arctic Jaeger and Great Skua offshore, Eurasian Woodcock in secluded woodland, or the striking European Green Woodpecker in parkland settings. The Mersey Estuary and Sefton Coast are particularly notable hotspots where uncommon visitors and scarce residents can turn up throughout the year.

Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-browed WarblerSmallest · 10cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Yellow-browed Warbler (10cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)32 families represented17 year-round residents

Showing 47–69 of 85 species

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Curruca currucaLC

A rare and secretive summer breeder, favouring tall hedgerows and scrubby woodland edges from April to August.

Apr–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Owl

Little Owl

Athene noctuaLC

A rare breeding species found on farmland with old trees and outbuildings. Introduced to Britain, it remains scarce on Merseyside.

Apr–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Stint

Little Stint

Calidris minutaLC

A rare passage migrant seen at coastal pools in spring and autumn. Tiny and easily missed among Dunlin flocks on the estuaries.

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Tern

Little Tern

Sternula albifronsLC

A rare passage visitor seen along the coast in late spring and late summer. Favours sandy shores and estuarine mudflats.

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalisVU

A rare passage visitor, occasionally seen offshore or in the docks during autumn and early winter.

Oct–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Puffinus puffinusLC

Breeds on nearby islands but rarely seen from Merseyside shores except during autumn storms pushing birds into Liverpool Bay.

Aug–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Merlin

Merlin

Falco columbariusLC

A rare non-breeding visitor, dashing low over coastal marshes and dunes, mainly seen along the Sefton coast in autumn and winter.

Aug–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Muscovy Duck

Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschataLC

A rare record, almost certainly of domestic or feral origin. Occasionally noted on park lakes in March.

Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Northern Gannet

Northern Gannet

Morus bassanusLC

Breeds nearby and is seen offshore from April to October. Plunge-diving birds are a regular sight from Merseyside's coastline.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Osprey

Osprey

Pandion haliaetusLC

A rare but exciting spring passage migrant, occasionally spotted over reservoirs and estuaries in April and May.

Apr–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotosLC

A rare Nearctic vagrant, occasionally turning up on spring passage in May at coastal pools and marshes.

May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Pomarine Jaeger

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinusLC

A rare autumn seabird, occasionally spotted from headlands during September seawatches, often following gales in the Irish Sea.

Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritimaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to Merseyside's rocky shorelines and sea walls from November to April. Favours wave-washed rocks at sites like New Brighton.

Nov–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Razorbill

Razorbill

Alca tordaLC

Rarely recorded on passage in September, typically seen from seawatching points. More often observed offshore during stormy weather.

Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red Crossbill

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostraLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally noted in October during irruptive movements, favouring conifer stands in parks and woodlands.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Alectoris rufaNT

A rare resident, occasionally found on agricultural land in Merseyside. An introduced species, it is far less established here than in southern England.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-throated Loon

Red-throated Loon

Gavia stellataLC

A rare resident, mainly seen offshore in autumn and winter. Spring passage birds occasionally noted in Liverpool Bay.

Sep–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatusLC

A rare passage migrant, briefly pausing on coastal scrub and dunes in April on its way to upland breeding grounds.

Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensisLC

A rare Nearctic gull occasionally found among winter gull flocks in January. Careful checking of Herring Gulls may reveal one.

Jan

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Anthus petrosusLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to Merseyside's rocky shorelines and sea walls, most likely seen from autumn through to early spring.

Aug–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Roseate Tern

Roseate Tern

Sterna dougalliiLC

A rare and prized breeding visitor from May to August, with Seaforth Nature Reserve offering one of the UK's few nesting sites.

May–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeusLC

A rare winter visitor to coastal marshes and rough grassland, hunting low over the ground from October to March.

Oct–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smew

Smew

Mergellus albellusLC

A rare midwinter passage visitor, very occasionally turning up on sheltered lakes and reservoirs across the region.

Dec–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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