Birds in Norfolk
Explore 235 species found in this region.
Norfolk is one of the premier birdwatching destinations in the United Kingdom, with 229 recorded species thriving across its diverse mosaic of coastal marshes, reed beds, estuaries, and arable farmland. The county's extensive coastline and renowned reserves such as Cley Marshes, Titchwell, and the North Norfolk coast attract vast numbers of wildfowl and waders, including Eurasian Wigeon, Common Shelduck, and Garganey. Norfolk is also a vital stronghold for increasingly rare species such as the European Turtle-dove and supports impressive winter gatherings of Barnacle Geese and Goldeneye.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Common Redstart arriving this month, and Common Merganser and Dartford Warbler depart for the season.
Showing 139–161 of 235 species
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
A rare non-breeding visitor to offshore waters from October to March. Occasionally seen from coastal watchpoints along the north coast.
Oct–Mar
Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudusLC
A rare September passage migrant, best spotted during seawatches off the north Norfolk coast in strong onshore winds.
Sep
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A charming year-round resident, often seen in noisy family flocks moving through hedgerows and woodland edges across Norfolk.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common year-round resident, frequently seen in Norfolk's gardens, hedgerows, and farmland edges with its bold black-and-white plumage and long tail.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Abundant and widespread on virtually any freshwater habitat, from the Broads to village ponds. Present all year.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A rare breeding visitor to wooded lakes and rivers from February to June. A naturalised species, scarce but increasing in Norfolk.
Feb–Jun
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinusLC
Rare passage seabird seen during autumn seawatches from August to October, usually after strong westerly winds.
Aug–Oct
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
An uncommon resident of mature deciduous woodland. Despite its name, favours drier woods rather than marshes; declining nationally.
Year-round
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Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident found on coastal marshes, heathland and rough grassland year-round, with numbers boosted by winter arrivals.
Year-round
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
A scarce winter visitor to Norfolk's coastal marshes and open farmland, hunting small birds with dashing low-level flights from autumn to spring.
Sep–Mar
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
An uncommon resident of parkland and open woodland, often singing from tall treetops from late winter onwards.
Year-round
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally seen quartering over Norfolk's arable fields and marshes in May.
May
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
Abundant on ponds, ditches, and the Broads year-round, often seen picking its way along muddy margins.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A familiar sight on the Broads, rivers, and coastal marshes year-round. Breeds widely across Norfolk's waterways.
Year-round
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
A rare spring passage visitor, occasionally heard in dense scrub and thickets during April and May. Norfolk lies at the edge of its breeding range.
Apr–May
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
A rare and secretive breeding visitor to Norfolk's heathlands, arriving in May. Best detected by its churring song at dusk on warm evenings.
May–Aug
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Seen offshore year-round, often spectacularly plunge-diving for fish. Passage numbers peak in autumn off the north Norfolk coast.
Year-round
Northern Goshawk
Accipiter gentilisLC
A rare breeding resident in Norfolk's larger forests, particularly Thetford Forest. This secretive raptor is slowly recolonising after historical persecution.
Feb–Jul
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
Common year-round on farmland and marshes, with large winter flocks gathering on the coastal grazing marshes.
Year-round
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
An elegant dabbling duck found on coastal marshes and flooded fields. Numbers peak in winter at sites like Cley and Holkham.
Aug–May
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Common year-round on shallow marshes and flooded fields. Numbers peak in winter when continental birds boost the resident population.
Year-round
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A rare breeding raptor, recently recolonising Norfolk. Seen fishing at Broads and coastal marshes in spring and autumn.
Apr–Sep
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
A rare autumn passage wader, occasionally turning up at coastal marshes and freshwater scrapes from July to September.
Jul–Sep