Rare Birds in Norfolk

93 species matching this filter.

All birds in Norfolk

Norfolk is one of Britain's premier birdwatching destinations, and its diverse coastal marshes, estuaries, and inland wetlands attract a remarkable variety of rare species. With 114 birds classified as rare in the county, visitors may encounter elusive species such as European Honey-buzzard, Grey Phalarope, Little Auk, and Garganey. The county's position on the East Anglian coast makes it a vital stopover for scarce migrants and storm-blown vagrants alike.

Firecrest
FirecrestSmallest · 9cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Firecrest (9cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)38 families represented21 year-round residents

Showing 70–92 of 93 species

Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatusLC

A rare passage migrant in spring and autumn, pausing briefly on coastal scrub and open fields. Most Norfolk records come from the north coast.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Alexandrinus krameriLC

A rare and sporadic visitor, occasionally recorded but not established in Norfolk as in southeast England.

Sep–Jan

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopusLC

A rare winter visitor, favouring open coastal marshes and farmland, often hovering over rough grassland.

Nov–Feb

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 Norfolk's coastal marshes and grazing levels, hunting low over open ground from October to April.

Oct–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Short-toed Lark

Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactylaLC

A rare autumn vagrant from southern Europe, occasionally turning up at coastal migration hotspots in October.

Oct

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

Smew

Mergellus albellusLC

A rare winter visitor, occasionally appearing on inland lakes and broads in January during cold weather influxes from the continent.

Jan

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

Sooty Shearwater

Ardenna griseaNT

A rare autumn passage seabird, best spotted from north Norfolk headlands during strong onshore winds in August to October.

Aug–Oct

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

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropusLC

A rare but year-round presence on Norfolk's coastal lagoons and estuaries, often seen wading elegantly alongside Redshanks.

Year-round

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

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Taiga Bean Goose

Taiga Bean Goose

Anser fabalisLC

A rare winter visitor, occasionally seen on grazing marshes and beet fields in the Yare Valley during January and December.

Dec–Jan

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

Tawny Owl

Strix alucoLC

A secretive resident of mature woodland, more often heard than seen. Seldom encountered away from wooded areas.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Temminck's Stint

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckiiLC

A rare passage migrant, briefly visiting freshwater scrapes in May and August, most reliably seen at Cley or Titchwell.

May–Aug

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

Tree Pipit

Anthus trivialisLC

A rare breeding visitor to Norfolk's heathland and woodland edges, arriving in April. Delivers its distinctive song flight over sites like Salthouse Heath.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Tundra Bean Goose

Tundra Bean Goose

Anser serrirostrisLC

A rare winter visitor, with a regular flock at the Yare Valley from December to February. Norfolk is a key UK wintering site.

Dec–Feb

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

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianusLC

A rare winter visitor to the Ouse Washes and Norfolk's flooded grazing marshes. Small herds arrive from Arctic Russia in November.

Nov–Mar

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

Twite

Linaria flavirostrisLC

A rare winter visitor to the Norfolk coast, occasionally found in small flocks on saltmarshes and shingle beaches from October to March.

Oct–Mar

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

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fuscaVU

A rare winter visitor, found offshore along the north Norfolk coast from October to March, often among Common Scoter flocks.

Oct–Mar

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

Water Pipit

Anthus spinolettaLC

A rare winter visitor found at freshwater marshes and watercress beds, most reliably seen at coastal grazing marshes from October to March.

Oct–Mar

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

Whinchat

Saxicola rubetraLC

A rare passage migrant seen briefly in spring and autumn on coastal scrub and marshes. No longer breeds in Norfolk.

Apr–Sep

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

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnusLC

A rare resident, with small numbers wintering on the Broads and coastal marshes. Most likely seen at sites like Welney.

Year-round

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

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareolaLC

A rare summer breeder in Norfolk, favouring secluded boggy pools and wet woodland clearings in the Broads area.

May–Sep

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

Woodlark

Lullula arboreaLC

A rare breeder on Breckland heaths, delivering its beautiful song flight from February; some birds linger into October.

Feb–Oct

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

Wryneck

Jynx torquillaLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, most often found at coastal sites like Blakeney Point and Wells in August and September.

Aug–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Yellow-browed Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatusLC

A prized autumn drift migrant from Siberia, regularly found in coastal scrub and sycamores along the north Norfolk coast from September to November.

Sep–Nov

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