Rare Birds in England
49 species matching this filter.
England is home to 49 rare bird species that reward the most dedicated and patient birdwatchers. From the striking Golden Oriole and elusive Bluethroat to upland specialists like the Dotterel and Black Grouse, these uncommon visitors and scarce residents inhabit a diverse range of habitats including remote moorlands, coastal cliffs, and ancient woodlands. Spotting any of these rarities is a memorable experience and often requires careful timing, local knowledge, and a good measure of luck.
Showing 1–23 of 49 species
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
A rare visitor mainly seen on coastal waters and reservoirs during winter. Largely absent through summer months.
Sep–May
Bar-headed Goose
Anser indicusLC
A rare visitor, most likely an escapee from wildfowl collections. Occasionally seen on lakes and reservoirs, mainly in spring and summer.
Jan–Aug
Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrixLC
A rare and declining resident confined to moorland edges in northern England. Males display at traditional lekking sites in early spring.
Year-round
Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylleLC
A rare breeder in England, found at a handful of sites in the far northwest. Favours rocky coastlines and harbours with sheltered nesting crevices.
Apr–Dec
Black Swan
Cygnus atratusLC
An introduced species found rarely on lakes and rivers. Small feral populations persist in scattered locations across England.
Year-round
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecicaLC
A rare breeding bird, nesting at a handful of sites in eastern England. Spring males flash a striking blue and orange throat patch during courtship displays.
Mar–Oct
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulusLC
A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving in irruption years to strip berry bushes in supermarket car parks and suburban gardens across eastern England.
Oct–Apr
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
A rare summer breeder, heard far more often than seen, delivering its distinctive 'wet-my-lips' call from arable fields between May and August.
May–Aug
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Dotterel
Eudromias morinellusLC
A rare passage migrant, pausing on high hilltops and ploughed fields in spring and autumn. Traditional stop-over sites attract dedicated observers.
May–Oct
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
A rare but increasingly recorded summer visitor, occasionally attempting to breed. Sightings cause great excitement, mainly along the south coast.
May–Aug
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
A rare and secretive summer breeder in mature woodland, arriving in May. Feeds largely on wasp and bee larvae dug from underground nests.
May–Sep
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreusLC
A rare winter visitor from the Arctic, appearing at harbours, landfill sites, and coastal roosts between November and March.
Nov–Mar
Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolusLC
A rare spring passage visitor, occasionally heard singing from dense canopy in southeast England. Has bred in the past but now extremely scarce.
May–Jun
Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitorLC
A rare winter visitor favouring heathland and scrubby commons, mainly in southern England. Perches prominently on bushes and treetops while hunting.
Oct–Mar
Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicariusLC
A rare autumn and winter passage visitor, typically driven inshore by Atlantic storms. Most often seen at coastal headlands and harbours.
Aug–Dec
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
A rare and elusive resident of mature broadleaved woodland. Best looked for in winter when small flocks gather beneath hornbeams and yews.
Aug–Jun
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornixLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, occasionally seen in eastern and northern England during winter. Easily distinguished from Carrion Crow by its grey body.
Oct–Apr
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatusLC
A rare North American vagrant; English records are debated as some may involve escapes. Occasionally found on lakes and reservoirs in winter.
Dec–May
Hoopoe
Upupa epopsLC
A rare but eagerly sought passage migrant, mainly in spring. Most records come from southern coastal counties of England.
Mar–Nov
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestrisLC
A rare non-breeding visitor wintering on shingle beaches and saltmarshes along the east coast. Often found alongside Snow Buntings.
Oct–Mar
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoidesLC
A rare winter visitor from the Arctic, typically seen at harbours and rubbish tips between November and early spring.
Nov–May
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A secretive winter visitor to boggy marshes and wet meadows, arriving from northern breeding grounds. Often sits tight and flushes silently at close range.
Sep–Apr
Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicusLC
A rare winter visitor to coastal stubble fields and saltmarshes, mainly along the east and north coasts. Most often seen from September to March.
Sep–Mar