Common Birds in Oxfordshire
49 species matching this filter.
Oxfordshire is home to 49 commonly spotted bird species, thriving across a rich tapestry of habitats from the Thames Valley wetlands and ancient woodlands to the rolling Chiltern Hills and Cotswold farmland. Familiar favourites such as Blackbirds, Chaffinches, and European Goldfinches are a regular sight in gardens and hedgerows, while Buzzards soar over open countryside and Great Cormorants patrol the county's rivers and gravel pits. For a broader look at the species you might encounter in your back garden, see our guide to 23 Common Garden Birds in the UK (Full Guide with Pictures).
Showing 24–46 of 49 species
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
A common and elegant resident of larger lakes and gravel pits, performing its elaborate courtship display from early spring.
Year-round
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
A common resident of mature woodland, parks, and large gardens. Its loud drumming in spring echoes through Oxfordshire's ancient woodlands.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
A bold and familiar garden visitor year-round, readily using nest boxes in Oxfordshire's parks, woodlands, and hedgerows.
Year-round
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common year-round resident, though numbers have declined sharply due to trichomonosis. Frequents gardens, hedgerows, and farmland across the county.
Year-round
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A common and familiar resident, nesting in heronries near rivers and lakes. Frequently seen standing motionless beside the Thames and its tributaries.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
A common resident found on lakes, rivers, and farmland year-round. Feral populations mix with genuinely wild birds in winter.
Year-round
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer visitor nesting under eaves in towns and villages, often seen hawking insects over the Thames and its tributaries.
Apr–Oct
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common year-round resident closely tied to human habitation, nesting in roof spaces and hedges. Colonial and noisy, found in towns and villages across the county.
Year-round
Spotted something?
Upload a photo to identify it
Identify
Jackdaw
Corvus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in church towers, old trees, and buildings across the county. Often seen in noisy flocks with Rooks.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A common resident, frequently seen hovering over roadside verges and farmland. One of Oxfordshire's most visible birds of prey.
Year-round
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common gull across the county year-round, frequenting reservoirs, farmland and landfill sites. Numbers peak during passage and winter months.
Year-round
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of open farmland, downland, and scrubby margins. Often seen in twittering flocks over Oxfordshire's arable fields.
Year-round
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
Charming acrobatic flocks roam hedgerows and woodland edges throughout the year, often among the first birds to nest in late winter.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident of gardens, parks, and farmland hedgerows. Its bold black-and-white plumage is unmistakable across the county.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Abundant and familiar on rivers, lakes, ponds and park lakes throughout the county year-round. Breeds widely across Oxfordshire.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common resident of ponds, streams, and ditches across the county. Readily seen in parks, gardens, and along the Thames.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A familiar year-round resident, gracing the Thames and its tributaries, Oxford's college ponds, and gravel pit lakes across the county.
Year-round
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
An Oxfordshire success story following the Chilterns reintroduction, now a common and iconic sight soaring over towns and countryside alike.
Year-round
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving in October and foraging in hedgerows and fields. Often found alongside fieldfares in berry-rich areas.
Oct–Apr
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
A common and familiar resident of towns and cities, nesting on buildings throughout Oxford and surrounding urban areas.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A familiar sight across Oxfordshire's arable farmland, nesting in noisy rookeries in tall trees. Large colonies are a characteristic feature of the rural landscape.
Year-round
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A year-round resident of gardens, parks, and woodland, often heard smashing snails on stones. Declining nationally but still widespread here.
Year-round
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
A common resident of farmland, parkland and woodland edges year-round. Often nests in tree holes and old buildings.
Year-round