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 162–180 of 180 species
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
A quiet resident of mature woodland, spiralling up tree trunks in Sherwood Forest and other wooded areas throughout the year.
Year-round
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
A common diving duck found year-round on gravel pits, reservoirs and park lakes, with numbers peaking in winter.
Year-round
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianusLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally turning up on Trent valley floodwaters or larger reservoirs, typically in harsh weather further north.
Jan
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
A secretive resident of reedbeds and marshy margins, more often heard squealing than seen. Sites like Attenborough hold birds year-round.
Year-round
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
A rare but increasing resident, breeding at wetland reserves such as Attenborough and Idle Valley with their extensive reedbeds.
Year-round
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
A rare passage visitor seen on open farmland and gravel pits in spring and autumn, rarely lingering long.
Mar–Sep
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
A rare spring passage migrant in April and May, occasionally stopping at wetland sites and flooded fields en route north.
Apr–May
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally pausing on rough grassland and scrubby margins during August and September.
Aug–Sep
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White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterusLC
A rare September passage vagrant, very occasionally recorded at county wetlands. Any sighting is a notable county record.
Sep
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
A common summer visitor breeding in hedgerows and scrubby field margins from April to September. Males sing from exposed perches.
Apr–Sep
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
A rare winter visitor from Iceland, occasionally found on Trent valley floodplain and larger waters between October and April.
Oct–Apr
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
A rare and rapidly declining resident of damp woodland with standing deadwood. One of the UK's most threatened species; Nottinghamshire is a stronghold.
Year-round
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
A common summer breeder arriving from March, filling woodlands and scrub with its sweet descending song. Favours birch and willow at heathland edges.
Mar–Oct
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
A rare summer visitor from May to August, occasionally breeding at marshy pools and flooded gravel pits in the Trent Valley.
May–Aug
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
A rare breeding visitor to heathland areas, arriving from February. Sherwood's sandy heaths offer scarce but suitable habitat.
Feb–Jul
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
An abundant resident found in virtually every habitat from city centres to farmland. Numbers peak in autumn.
Year-round
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
An uncommon summer breeder on lowland pastures and arable fields along the Trent Valley. A declining species nationally.
Apr–Sep
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
A rare breeder recorded from May to July, sometimes nesting among large gull colonies at reservoirs and gravel pits.
Jun–Jan
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
A year-round resident of farmland hedgerows, though declining. Listen for its distinctive 'a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese' song.
Year-round