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 93–115 of 180 species
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
A rare and elusive winter visitor, occasionally recorded in mature woodland with hornbeam and cherry trees.
Nov–Mar
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
A graceful summer visitor from April to September, hunting dragonflies over gravel pits and wetlands at sites like Attenborough.
Apr–Sep
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
A rare winter passage visitor in December, occasionally found on larger reservoirs and gravel pits across the county.
Dec
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer visitor nesting under eaves in towns and villages. Arrives in April and gathers in flocks before departing by October.
Apr–Oct
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common resident closely tied to urban and suburban areas, nesting under eaves and in hedges across Nottinghamshire's towns.
Year-round
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A secretive autumn passage visitor, rarely flushed from boggy margins at wetland sites in October. Easily overlooked due to its skulking habits.
Oct
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
An abundant and sociable resident found in towns, villages, and farmland across the county. Often nests in church towers and old buildings throughout Nottinghamshire.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A common year-round resident, often seen hovering over roadside verges and open farmland hunting for voles.
Year-round
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Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common resident seen year-round at reservoirs, tips, and playing fields. Numbers peak in late summer when post-breeding flocks gather.
Year-round
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
A rare passage visitor recorded between January and April. This declining species is occasionally noted in mature broadleaved woodland during late winter.
Jan–Apr
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
An uncommon summer breeder arriving in April, favouring tall hedgerows and scrubby woodland edges across the county.
Apr–Sep
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
An uncommon resident of open farmland and weedy margins, sometimes forming sizeable flocks in winter. Numbers have declined significantly.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
A year-round resident along the Trent Valley and county wetlands, having colonised Nottinghamshire since the early 2000s. Now commonly seen at gravel pits and marshes.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
A common resident on ponds, canals, and sheltered lake margins throughout the county. Its whinnying trill is a familiar wetland sound.
Year-round
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
A rare spring passage visitor in April, occasionally seen over reservoirs and larger gravel pits in the Trent Valley.
Apr
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
A rare and elusive record in the county, occasionally noted around old farmsteads and parkland with mature trees and rough grassland.
Jul
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubiusLC
An uncommon summer breeder, nesting on bare ground at gravel pits and construction sites. Arrives in March and departs by September.
Mar–Sep
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
A rare autumn passage migrant in September and October, occasionally found feeding on muddy scrapes at county wetland reserves.
Sep–Oct
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
A rare and secretive passage visitor, occasionally noted in late spring. Dense conifer plantations offer the best chance of an encounter.
May–Jun
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A charming year-round resident, often seen in noisy family parties moving through hedgerows and woodland edges. Builds elaborate domed nests in spring.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
Abundant and conspicuous year-round in gardens, parks, and hedgerows across the county. Its chattering call is unmistakable.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
The most widespread duck in the county, common year-round on virtually any waterbody from urban park ponds to rural rivers and reservoirs.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A scarce but resident breeder, favouring wooded lakes and rivers such as the Idle valley. Males are strikingly ornate but often elusive.
Year-round