Birds in Northamptonshire
Explore 181 species found in this region.
Northamptonshire, often known as the county of spires and squires, supports a rich diversity of birdlife with 177 recorded species across its mix of rolling farmland, river valleys, reservoirs, and ancient woodlands. The county's wetland sites attract notable species such as Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, and Pink-footed Goose, while its hedgerows and woodlands are home to familiar residents like Great Tit, Magpie, and Eurasian Woodcock. From the wading Northern Lapwing on open fields to the striking Mandarin Duck along wooded waterways, Northamptonshire offers rewarding birdwatching throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Bar-tailed Godwit arriving this month, and Barnacle Goose and Curlew depart for the season.
Showing 93–115 of 181 species
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
A dashing summer visitor arriving in April, hunting dragonflies over reservoirs and gravel pits. Departs by October for African wintering grounds.
Apr–Oct
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
A rare passage visitor with occasional February records at the county's larger reservoirs and gravel pits.
Feb
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer breeder, nesting under eaves in towns and villages from April to October. Often seen hawking insects over reservoirs and farmland.
Apr–Oct
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common year-round resident found in towns, villages, and farmyards across the county, though numbers have declined nationally in recent decades.
Year-round
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A secretive winter visitor to marshy areas and wet meadows, easily overlooked as it skulks in dense vegetation from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
Abundant year-round in towns, villages and farmland. Nests in church towers and old buildings, often forming large flocks with rooks in winter.
Year-round
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinusLC
An exceptionally rare spring passage migrant, with only occasional April records at the county's reservoir and gravel pit margins.
Apr
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
An uncommon resident often spotted hovering over roadside verges and open farmland. Numbers have declined in recent decades across the county.
Year-round
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Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Common throughout the year at reservoirs, landfill sites and farmland. Numbers peak in late summer and autumn.
Year-round
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, favouring tall hedgerows and scrubby thickets. Its rattling song is easily overlooked.
Apr–Sep
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipesVU
A rare Nearctic wader occasionally turning up at reservoir margins and gravel pits on autumn passage, typically in August.
Aug
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
An uncommon year-round resident found on farmland edges and weedy fields. Numbers have declined significantly across the county in recent decades.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Now a common resident along the Nene Valley's gravel pits and waterways, having colonised the county following its dramatic UK expansion.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
A common resident on ponds, canals and sheltered gravel pits, often betrayed by its distinctive whinnying trill.
Year-round
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
A dainty, rare passage gull occasionally seen over reservoirs and gravel pits in April.
Apr
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
A rare passage visitor in spring, sometimes noted around old farm buildings and parkland with mature trees.
Mar–Apr
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubiusLC
An uncommon summer breeder at gravel pits and bare-ground sites, arriving in March and departing by September.
Mar–Sep
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
A rare autumn passage wader, occasionally appearing at reservoir mudflats in September on its southward migration from Arctic breeding grounds.
Sep
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Common year-round in hedgerows, woodland and gardens. Roving family parties move noisily through bushes, their contact calls a familiar sound.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident found in gardens, hedgerows and farmland across the county throughout the year.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
The most widespread duck in the county, breeding on virtually any waterbody from village ponds to the Nene valley gravel pits.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A scarce but resident breeder, favouring wooded lakes and rivers with overhanging trees, notably along the Nene valley.
Year-round
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
An uncommon resident of mature deciduous woodland, found in sites like Salcey Forest and Yardley Chase year-round.
Year-round