Rare Birds in Northumberland
94 species matching this filter.
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.
Showing 70–92 of 94 species
Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurusLC
A rare October vagrant from Siberia, occasionally found in coastal scrub and denes along the Northumberland shoreline.
Oct
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
A rare resident near the southern edge of its English range. Found on arable farmland, mainly in the lowland south of the county.
Year-round
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to coastal waters and sheltered bays, most likely seen between autumn and early spring.
Sep–Mar
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
A rare spring passage visitor, occasionally seen spinning on pools at coastal wetlands in May. One of the UK's scarcest regular migrants.
May
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare passage migrant seen briefly in spring and autumn, favouring upland crags and moorland edges in the Cheviots.
Apr–Oct
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
A rare non-native breeder at freshwater lakes from April to September. Subject to national eradication efforts, sightings have become increasingly scarce.
Apr–Sep
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare resident of upland moorland and rough grassland. Numbers bolstered in winter by continental arrivals to coastal marshes.
Sep–May
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally appearing on inland lakes and reservoirs between November and March. Always a sought-after find.
Nov–Mar
Spotted something?
Upload a photo to identify it
Identify
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
A rare winter visitor to the Northumberland coast, favouring shingle beaches and dune tops, often near Holy Island or the Farnes.
Oct–Mar
Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna griseaNT
A rare but regular autumn passage visitor seen from coastal headlands during seawatches, mainly from August to October.
Aug–Oct
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
A rare and declining summer breeder, favouring mature woodland edges and churchyards. Sallies for insects from exposed perches.
May–Sep
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
A rare but regular visitor to estuarine mudflats, present in most months except midwinter. Often seen alongside commoner redshanks at sites like Budle Bay.
Jan–Oct
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A scarce resident of mature woodland and parkland. Its familiar hooting call echoes through Northumberland's river valleys at night.
Nov–Sep
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally stopping at freshwater pool margins in May. Smaller and more skulking than the commoner Little Stint.
May
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare summer breeder in open woodland and forest clearings. Its parachuting song flight is a highlight of spring.
Apr–Sep
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
A rare but year-round resident, creeping mouse-like up tree trunks in mature woodland. Easily overlooked but present across the county.
Year-round
Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostrisLC
A rare passage visitor in late winter, sometimes found among Pink-footed Goose flocks on coastal fields in February and March.
Feb–Mar
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianusLC
A rare passage visitor in November, occasionally stopping at wetlands or joining Whooper Swan flocks on farmland near the coast.
Nov
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
A rare non-breeding visitor to offshore waters, mainly seen from late summer through winter. Often associates with Common Scoter flocks.
Jul–Feb
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
A rare passage visitor found at wetland margins and watercress beds, mainly in winter months and early spring.
Dec–Mar
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
A secretive resident of reedbeds and marshy ditches, more often heard giving its pig-like squeal than seen in the open.
Jun–Apr
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
A rare and declining breeder on upland moorland edges, arriving in April and departing by September.
Apr–Sep
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
A rare and declining resident found in damp willow and birch woodland. One of the UK's fastest-declining species, now very scarce in the county.
Year-round