Uncommon Birds in Northumberland
80 species matching this filter.
Northumberland's diverse landscapes — from the rugged North Sea coastline and the Farne Islands to upland moors and river valleys — support a rich variety of birdlife, including around 80 species classed as uncommon in the county. Among these are striking visitors such as Arctic Tern, Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank, alongside less frequently encountered residents like Bullfinch, Eurasian Tree Sparrow and Greenfinch. Whether you're scanning coastal estuaries or exploring sheltered woodland, these harder-to-find species offer rewarding encounters for patient birdwatchers.
Showing 70–80 of 80 species
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
An uncommon non-breeding visitor to coastal stubble fields and saltmarshes, present from autumn through early spring.
Oct–Apr
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
An uncommon resident of lowland wetlands and reedbeds. Increasingly established in Northumberland after decades of expansion northward.
Year-round
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
An uncommon summer breeder on upland pastures and moorland. Coastal migrants pass through in spring and autumn.
Mar–Oct
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
An uncommon breeder on upland moorland, also seen on passage along the coast from April to September.
Apr–Sep
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
An uncommon summer breeder of hedgerows and scrubby field margins, arriving in April and delivering its scratchy song into late summer.
Apr–Sep
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
Present year-round but most prominent in winter, when Icelandic birds gather on flooded fields and lakes. Bugling calls carry across Northumberland's wetlands.
Year-round
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
An uncommon summer breeder favouring birch and willow scrub on moorland edges. Its gentle descending song is heard from April to July.
Apr–Oct
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, favouring lowland pastures and arable fields. Numbers have declined significantly across northern England.
Apr–Sep
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Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatusLC
An uncommon autumn passage migrant from Siberia, arriving in September and October. The Northumberland coast is a prime spot in Britain.
Sep–Oct
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
An uncommon but increasingly regular gull found along the coast and at reservoirs, present in most months. Requires careful identification.
Jun–Apr
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
An uncommon year-round resident of farmland hedgerows and field margins, its bright song a feature of rural Northumberland in spring.
Year-round