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 24–46 of 49 species
Leach's Storm-petrel
Hydrobates leucorhousVU
A rare autumn passage visitor, most often seen from headlands during strong westerly gales between September and November. Breeds far offshore on remote Atlantic islands.
Sep–Nov
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
England's smallest and most elusive woodpecker, now seriously declining. Favours mature broadleaved woodland, mainly in southern and central England.
Nov–Sep
Little Auk
Alle alleLC
A rare winter visitor to English waters, sometimes driven ashore by autumn and winter storms. Tiny and compact, it is the smallest member of the auk family.
Oct–Jan
Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudusLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally seen from seawatching points along the English coast between August and October.
Aug–Oct
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
A rare summer visitor and passage migrant, breeding in small numbers on arable farmland in southern England.
May–Aug
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschataLC
A rare resident of feral origin, found on park lakes and farmyards. Not native to England but small free-flying populations persist in scattered locations.
Year-round
Northern Goshawk
Accipiter gentilisLC
A rare but increasing resident found in large forests and woodland. Secretive and best looked for during spring display flights.
Year-round
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
A rare Nearctic passage wader, mainly seen at freshwater scrapes and coastal pools from July to October. Most records come from well-watched wetland reserves.
May–Oct
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Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusLC
A rare passage seabird best seen from headlands during spring and autumn seawatches. Most records come from the south and east coasts.
Apr–Nov
Purple Heron
Ardea purpureaLC
A rare passage visitor, mainly in spring and summer at wetlands in southern and eastern England. Skulks more than Grey Heron in dense reedbeds.
Apr–Oct
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare but year-round resident of coniferous forests, with numbers boosted by periodic irruptions. Its crossed bill is uniquely adapted for extracting seeds from pine cones.
Year-round
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
Once a regular English breeder, now a rare visitor seen mainly on passage along the east and south coasts from May to October.
May–Oct
Red-breasted Goose
Branta ruficollisVU
A rare visitor from Arctic Russia, occasionally wintering among Brent Goose flocks on eastern English coasts from November to spring.
Nov–May
Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurusLC
A rare vagrant from Asia, mostly recorded in autumn on the east coast. Typically found skulking in dense coastal scrub and gardens at migration watchpoints.
Sep–Jan
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
A rare passage migrant, mainly in autumn, favouring coastal pools and freshwater margins. Most breed far to the north.
May–Oct
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensisLC
A rare Nearctic winter visitor, typically found among large gull flocks at reservoirs and coastal sites from December to April. Requires careful identification.
Dec–Apr
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopusLC
A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, favouring open farmland and coastal marshes mainly in eastern England. Often hovers while hunting for voles.
Oct–Feb
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioidesLC
A rare passage visitor to reedbeds in May and June. Its distinctive reeling song recalls Grasshopper Warbler but is lower-pitched.
May–Jun
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescensLC
A rare visitor, with most English records likely involving feral or escaped birds. Occasionally seen among wild goose flocks.
Aug–May
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzanaLC
A rare and secretive passage migrant through English wetlands in spring and autumn. Skulks in dense marshy vegetation and is extremely difficult to observe.
Apr–Oct
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
A rare passage migrant, mainly in spring and autumn, favouring freshwater pool margins. Most records come from eastern England.
May–Dec
Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostrisLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, with small flocks wintering mainly in Norfolk's Yare Valley. Careful separation from Taiga Bean Goose is required.
Jul–Mar
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
A rare sea duck found in small numbers off the east and north-east coasts. Often associates with Common Scoter flocks; best spotted by seawatching.
Jun–Apr