Birds in Shropshire
Explore 163 species found in this region.
Shropshire's diverse landscape of rolling hills, river valleys, meres, and mosses supports a rich variety of birdlife, with 163 species recorded across the county. From the upland habitats of the Shropshire Hills AONB, home to species such as the Eurasian Woodcock and Northern Lapwing, to the lowland lakes and wetlands that attract wintering wildfowl like Pink-footed Goose and Northern Pintail, the county offers rewarding birding throughout the year. Notable species include the striking Mandarin Duck, the elegant Common Merganser along the River Severn, and familiar garden visitors such as the Great Tit and Magpie.
Visiting in April? Look out for Common Redstart and Common Reed-warbler arriving this month, and Eurasian Woodcock and Great Black-backed Gull depart for the season.
Showing 116–138 of 163 species
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
An uncommon resident found on shallow meres and pools. Numbers increase in winter when migrants join small local breeding populations.
Year-round
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A rare but exciting passage migrant in spring and autumn, occasionally pausing to fish at Shropshire's meres and reservoirs.
Apr–Sep
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, nesting on church towers and quarry cliffs and hunting over open countryside.
Year-round
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podicepsLC
An extremely rare vagrant from North America, with occasional late-autumn records on Shropshire's pools and meres.
Nov–Dec
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally seen in small skeins over Shropshire's meres and farmland between autumn and early spring.
Sep–Mar
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
An uncommon resident, mainly seen on larger meres in winter. This declining species breeds sparingly in the county.
Year-round
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare and unpredictable resident of conifer plantations, with numbers varying year to year. Listen for loud, sharp flight calls over Shropshire's forests.
Year-round
Red Grouse
Lagopus lagopus scoticaLC
A rare breeding bird confined to upland heather moorland on the Long Mynd and surrounding hills. Present mainly from spring to autumn.
Apr–Nov
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Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, now regularly soaring over farmland and wooded valleys. Shropshire's Welsh border hills have aided its eastward spread.
Year-round
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
A very rare passage migrant, with occasional August records on scrubby heathland or hedgerows.
Aug
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
An introduced resident found on arable farmland and field margins year-round. Less numerous than Pheasant and patchily distributed across the county.
Year-round
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded in November on larger meres and reservoirs. A notable find for any Shropshire birder.
Nov
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
A rare breeding bird in Shropshire, present March to September on damp meadows and marshy fields. Declining nationally, making local breeding sites particularly valuable.
Mar–Sep
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, foraging in hedgerows and fields for berries, often alongside Fieldfares.
Sep–Apr
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
An uncommon resident of reedbeds, marshy ditches and damp farmland margins. Males are recognised by their black head and white collar.
Year-round
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare passage migrant through Shropshire, seen briefly on upland hillsides in April and October as it moves between wintering and breeding grounds.
Oct–Apr
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
A rare visitor to gravel pits and reservoir margins, mainly on passage in spring and autumn. Scarce breeding attempts occur.
May–Oct
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Feral populations are uncommon residents in towns and around farm buildings. True wild rock doves are not found in the county.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A gregarious resident, nesting in noisy rookeries in tall trees across Shropshire's farmland and village edges.
Year-round
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
A rare and declining visitor following the national eradication programme. Occasional sightings still occur on meres and pools.
Mar–Sep
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
A rare passage visitor from August to October, pausing at muddy pool edges and shallow scrapes. Most likely at well-watched wetland reserves.
Aug–Oct
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
An uncommon breeding visitor from March to September, nesting colonially in sandy riverbanks. Colonies along the Severn and its tributaries fluctuate with flooding.
Mar–Sep
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
An uncommon summer breeder, arriving in April to nest in dense waterside vegetation around meres and river margins.
Apr–Aug