Birds in Rutland
Explore 201 species found in this region.
Rutland, England's smallest county, punches well above its weight when it comes to birdlife, with 192 species recorded across its diverse habitats. The centrepiece is Rutland Water, one of the largest reservoirs in Europe and a nationally important site for wildfowl and wading birds, attracting species such as Northern Pintail, Common Shelduck, and Pink-footed Goose. From the woodlands sheltering Eurasian Woodcock and Great Tit to the open farmland favoured by Northern Lapwing, Rutland offers exceptional birding opportunities year-round.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Bar-tailed Godwit arriving this month, and Black Redstart and Brent Goose depart for the season.
Showing 93–115 of 201 species
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A familiar sight year-round, standing motionless at the margins of Rutland Water and along streams and farm ponds across the county.
Year-round
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
A rare and declining resident of Rutland's arable farmland. Secretive coveys favour stubble fields and hedgerow margins.
Mar–Jan
Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicariusLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, very occasionally turning up at Rutland Water in September after Atlantic storms.
Sep
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
A rare visitor to Rutland Water's muddy margins in spring and autumn, usually in silvery non-breeding plumage.
Mar–Oct
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident found year-round along streams, weirs and the waterways feeding Rutland Water, bobbing its long tail on rocks.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
A common resident around Rutland Water and surrounding farmland, often grazing in large flocks on waterside meadows throughout the year.
Year-round
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
A rare and elusive passage visitor, occasionally recorded in winter around mature woodland with hornbeam and cherry trees in the county.
Jan
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
A dashing summer visitor arriving in April, often seen hunting dragonflies over Rutland Water's reserves before departing by October.
Apr–Oct
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Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
An uncommon resident on Rutland Water, most often seen in winter plumage from October to April on open water.
Oct–May
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer breeder nesting under the eaves of Rutland's villages, often seen hawking insects high over buildings and water.
Mar–Oct
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common year-round resident closely associated with houses and farms across Rutland's towns and villages, nesting under eaves and in cavities.
Year-round
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoidesLC
A rare passage visitor, very occasionally recorded in late winter among Rutland Water's gull flocks. Requires careful separation from Glaucous Gull.
Feb
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A secretive winter visitor, rarely seen as it skulks in marshy vegetation around Rutland Water's edges. Most likely encountered from October to February.
Oct–Apr
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in tree holes, old buildings and church towers across Rutland. Often seen in noisy flocks with Rooks.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A familiar year-round resident, frequently seen hovering beside Rutland's roads and over open farmland while hunting for voles.
Year-round
Kittiwake
Rissa tridactylaVU
This pelagic gull is a rare inland visitor, occasionally storm-driven to Rutland Water during spring passage from March to May.
Mar–May
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
Common year-round at Rutland Water, with large roosts forming on the reservoir. Numbers peak during passage and winter months.
Year-round
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
An uncommon breeder found in tall hedgerows and scrubby thickets from April to September. Its distinctive rattling song carries across Rutland's farmland.
Apr–Sep
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of hedgerows and farmland, often forming sociable flocks on weedy fields in autumn and winter.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
Now a common resident after rapid range expansion, regularly seen along Rutland Water's shoreline and shallow lagoons throughout the year.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
A common resident found year-round on ponds, lakes and sheltered bays of Rutland Water, often betrayed by its distinctive whinnying call.
Year-round
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
An uncommon visitor from March to November, daintily picking insects from Rutland Water's surface. The smallest gull species seen in the region.
Mar–Nov
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
A scarce but resident owl found on Rutland's farmland, often perching on fence posts and old stone walls at dusk.
Year-round