Birds in Nottinghamshire
Explore 180 species found in this region.
Nottinghamshire supports a rich diversity of birdlife, with 177 species recorded across the county's varied habitats, from the ancient woodlands of Sherwood Forest to the wetlands of the Trent Valley. The county's rivers, reservoirs, and gravel pits attract notable species such as Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, and Mandarin Duck, while farmland and heathland provide important habitat for Northern Lapwing and Eurasian Woodcock. Whether you're exploring urban parks where Great Tits and Magpies thrive or venturing to wilder areas in search of scarcer visitors like the Great Grey Shrike, Nottinghamshire offers rewarding birding throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Bar-tailed Godwit arriving this month, and Eurasian Woodcock and Golden Plover depart for the season.
Showing 47–69 of 180 species
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
An established and increasing resident found year-round on lakes, gravel pits and parkland. This naturalised species is now a common sight across the county.
Year-round
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellarisLC
A rare but increasing resident of extensive reedbeds, with sites like Attenborough and Lound offering the best chances of a sighting.
Oct–Aug
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
A familiar resident of gardens, farms and suburban areas throughout Nottinghamshire, heard giving its repetitive three-note call year-round.
Year-round
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
An uncommon but year-round resident of broadleaved and mixed woodland, often detected by its harsh screeching call. Buries acorns in autumn.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
An uncommon resident of mature woodland, found at sites like Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest. Its loud calls ring through oak and beech canopy year-round.
Year-round
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
A common sight along the Trent Valley's gravel pits and flooded fields, breeding on shingle banks from spring through summer.
Jan–Aug
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
Present year-round but uncommon, favouring alder-lined waterways and conifer plantations. Numbers swell in winter with continental arrivals.
Year-round
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
An uncommon resident of arable farmland and grassland, declining due to agricultural intensification. Song flights can be heard over open fields in spring.
Year-round
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Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
An uncommon resident of farmland and rural edges, often visiting feeding stations in small flocks. Has declined nationally but persists locally.
Year-round
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
A common year-round duck on flooded grasslands and reservoir margins. Whistling flocks are most conspicuous in winter across the Trent floodplain.
Year-round
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A secretive resident of damp woodland, most often encountered during winter when continental birds arrive and roding displays in spring.
Dec–Jul
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
One of the county's most abundant residents, found in virtually every habitat with low cover. Its powerful song belies its tiny size.
Year-round
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
A rare and exciting passage vagrant, occasionally overshooting from southern Europe in midsummer. Any sighting draws considerable local attention.
Jul
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A colourful and common resident, often seen in flocks on teasel and thistle heads in autumn and winter.
Year-round
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
An uncommon resident of parkland and woodland edges, often heard giving its loud, laughing call. Feeds on ants in short grassland year-round.
Year-round
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
Present year-round at landfill sites, reservoirs and urban rooftops, though nationally declining as a breeding species.
Year-round
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
A rare and secretive summer breeder in mature woodland, particularly around Sherwood Forest, present from May to August.
May–Aug
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
One of the county's most widespread residents, found in gardens, woodlands, and hedgerows year-round. Its melodious song is heard in every month.
Year-round
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turturVU
A rare and rapidly declining summer breeder, arriving in May. One of the UK's most threatened birds, clinging on at a few farmland sites in the county.
May–Sep
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
A common winter thrush, arriving from Scandinavia in October and foraging in flocks across farmland hedgerows and berry-laden hawthorns until spring.
Oct–Apr
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillaLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally wintering. This tiny jewel-like bird is a scarce but exciting find in the county.
Jan
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
A common year-round resident on lakes and gravel pits, particularly at Attenborough and Idle valley reserves. Numbers have increased in recent decades.
Year-round
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, favouring dense scrubby woodland. Its rich warbling song lacks the Blackcap's clarity.
Apr–Sep