Uncommon Birds in Suffolk

68 species matching this filter.

All birds in Suffolk

Suffolk's diverse landscapes — from the reedbeds of Minsmere to the Brecks heathlands and the estuaries of the Stour and Deben — support a fascinating array of uncommon bird species. This page features 68 species that occur in the county but are not regularly encountered, including secretive specialists such as the Eurasian Bittern, the charismatic Eurasian Stone-curlew, and winter visitors like the Fieldfare. Whether you're exploring coastal marshes or inland woodlands, these are the birds that make a Suffolk birding trip truly rewarding.

Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-browed WarblerSmallest · 10cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Yellow-browed Warbler (10cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)28 families represented40 year-round residents

Showing 24–46 of 68 species

Goldeneye

Goldeneye

Bucephala clangulaLC

An uncommon winter visitor to Suffolk's reservoirs and estuaries, diving for fish and invertebrates from October to April.

Oct–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatusLC

An uncommon resident of larger lakes and reservoirs, performing its elaborate head-shaking courtship display from late winter onwards.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Ardea albaLC

An uncommon but increasingly regular resident, seen at marshes and wetlands across Suffolk. Numbers have grown markedly in recent years.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifronsLC

An uncommon winter visitor to Suffolk's coastal grazing marshes, arriving from November and departing by March. Often found alongside other wintering geese.

Nov–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropusLC

An uncommon but regular wader found along freshwater ditches, marshes and watercress beds across Suffolk, most often seen singly bobbing along muddy stream edges.

Jun–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greenshank

Greenshank

Tringa nebulariaLC

An uncommon passage and breeding-season visitor, most often seen on Suffolk's estuarine mudflats from late summer into autumn, with a distinctive ringing call.

Mar–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarolaLC

Found year-round on Suffolk's estuarine mudflats and shingle shores, with numbers peaking in winter at sites like the Deben.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinereaLC

An uncommon resident found along streams, rivers and watercress beds. Less numerous than in western England but present year-round.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Hobby

Hobby

Falco subbuteoLC

An uncommon summer breeder, hunting dragonflies over heathland and wetlands. Often seen hawking insects over Suffolk's reedbeds.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Rissa tridactylaVU

An uncommon year-round presence off Suffolk's coast, sometimes driven inshore by storms. Numbers are declining nationally.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Curruca currucaLC

An uncommon summer breeder favouring tall hedgerows and scrubby thickets, arriving in April and departing by October.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollisLC

An uncommon but year-round resident of sheltered ponds, lakes and slow rivers. Its whinnying trill is often heard before the bird is seen.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Gull

Little Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutusLC

An uncommon visitor to Suffolk's coast, most frequently seen at coastal lagoons and offshore from spring through autumn, with its buoyant, tern-like flight.

Apr–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubiusLC

An uncommon summer breeder favouring gravel pits and reservoir margins in Suffolk, arriving from March and departing by September.

Mar–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Tern

Little Tern

Sternula albifronsLC

An uncommon summer breeder nesting on Suffolk's shingle beaches from April to August. Colonies at sites like Minsmere receive active protection.

Apr–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Poecile palustrisLC

An uncommon resident of mature deciduous woodland, declining in Suffolk. Listen for its distinctive "pitchoo" call in ancient copses.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mistle Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Turdus viscivorusLC

An uncommon resident of parkland and tall trees. Often one of the earliest singers in Suffolk, heard from January onwards.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Nightingale

Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchosLC

Suffolk remains a stronghold for this declining summer breeder. Arrives in April and sings from dense scrub and coppiced woodland.

Apr–Jun

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Anas acutaLC

An elegant but uncommon duck present year-round, favouring Suffolk's estuaries and flooded marshes in winter.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Pochard

Pochard

Aythya ferinaVU

An uncommon year-round resident on lakes and gravel pits, though nationally declining. Winter numbers are bolstered by continental arrivals.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red Kite

Red Kite

Milvus milvusLC

An increasingly established resident, now regularly seen soaring over Suffolk's farmland and woodland edges year-round.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red Knot

Red Knot

Calidris canutusNT

Uncommon on Suffolk's coast, small flocks gather on estuarine mudflats, particularly at the Deben and Stour. Numbers peak in winter and during passage periods.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Alectoris rufaNT

An uncommon resident of arable farmland and field margins. Often seen in small coveys along sandy tracks and open fields across the county.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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