Rare Birds in Northumberland

94 species matching this filter.

All birds in Northumberland

Northumberland's diverse landscapes — from the rugged North Sea coastline and the Farne Islands to the upland moors of the Cheviot Hills and the wetlands of the Northumbrian river valleys — attract a remarkable variety of rare bird species. With 94 species classified as rare in the county, patient birders may encounter elusive visitors such as Bohemian Waxwing, Eurasian Bittern, Great White Egret, and Hen Harrier. The county's position on the east coast migration flyway makes it a prime destination for unexpected vagrants and scarce passage migrants throughout the year.

Firecrest
FirecrestSmallest · 9cm
to
Tundra Swan
Tundra SwanLargest · 150cm
Ranges from the Firecrest (9cm) to the Tundra Swan (150cm)40 families represented26 year-round residents

Showing 47–69 of 94 species

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Curruca currucaLC

A rare and secretive summer breeder favouring tall hedgerows and scrubby thickets. Near the northern limit of its regular UK breeding range.

Apr–Oct

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

Little Auk

Alle alleLC

Scarce autumn and early winter visitor, sometimes driven inshore by North Sea gales. Occasionally wrecked on Northumberland beaches.

Oct–Dec

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

Little Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutusLC

A rare but regular small gull seen along the coast and at reservoirs from spring through autumn. Dainty flight and dark underwings are distinctive.

Feb–Nov

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

Little Owl

Athene noctuaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor, occasionally spotted in lowland farmland with old hedgerows. Scarce this far north in England.

Jun–Feb

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubiusLC

A rare breeding visitor to gravel pits and reservoir margins, arriving in April and departing by early autumn.

Apr–Sep

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

Little Stint

Calidris minutaLC

A rare but regular visitor to coastal scrapes and estuarine margins, mostly during autumn passage from August to October.

May–Oct

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

Long-eared Owl

Asio otusLC

A secretive and rarely encountered owl, occasionally recorded on passage in summer. Favours dense conifer plantations when present.

Jun–Jul

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

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudusLC

A rare August passage migrant seen offshore, usually during strong northerly winds pushing seabirds close to the coast.

Aug

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

Spotted something?

Upload a photo to identify it

Identify
Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulataLC

A rare passage visitor occasionally noted in April. Any sightings likely involve wandering feral birds from populations further south.

Apr

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

Marsh Tit

Poecile palustrisLC

A rare non-breeding visitor, near the northern edge of its English range. Occasionally found in mature woodland from autumn to spring.

Nov–Apr

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

Merlin

Falco columbariusLC

A rare resident breeding on upland moorland. More visible in autumn and winter when birds move to lower ground and the coast.

Jul–Apr

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

Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeusLC

A rare passage visitor in June, occasionally noted on heathland edges in southern Northumberland during northward movement.

Jun

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

Northern Goshawk

Accipiter gentilisLC

A rare passage visitor in late winter and spring, occasionally seen hunting over Kielder Forest and upland valleys.

Feb–Apr

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

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottosLC

An exceptionally rare transatlantic vagrant. Any May record in Northumberland would be a major county rarity.

May

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

Northern Pintail

Anas acutaLC

A rare resident, most likely seen in winter on coastal pools and estuaries. Largely absent during midsummer months.

Aug–May

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

Osprey

Pandion haliaetusLC

A rare but increasingly seen passage visitor in late summer, sometimes fishing at Kielder Water or coastal pools.

Aug

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 at coastal pools in July and September. Any record draws keen birders to the county's wetland sites.

Jul–Sep

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

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinusLC

A rare but year-round resident nesting on crags and tall buildings. Hunts over the coast and moorland across the county.

Year-round

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

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinusLC

A rare autumn passage seabird, best spotted during seawatches from headlands in August and September. Distinguished by its heavy build and twisted tail.

Aug–Sep

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

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostraLC

A rare resident of conifer plantations, especially around Kielder. Numbers fluctuate with cone crop availability.

Year-round

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

Red Grouse

Lagopus lagopus scoticaLC

A scarce resident of heather moorland in the Cheviot Hills and upland estates. Its distinctive cackling call carries across the moors.

Nov–Aug

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

Red Kite

Milvus milvusLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally seen soaring over valleys and farmland in late winter and spring. Still scarce this far north.

Feb–Jun

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurioLC

A rare passage migrant appearing briefly in May or September, typically at coastal migration hotspots like Holy Island.

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
PreviousPage 3 of 5Next

Frequently Asked Questions