Birds in Surrey
Explore 160 species found in this region.
Surrey is home to an impressive diversity of birdlife, with 160 recorded species found across its varied landscapes of heathlands, ancient woodlands, chalk downlands, and river valleys. Notable species include the striking Mandarin Duck, which thrives along the county's wooded waterways, the elusive Eurasian Woodcock in its broadleaf forests, and scarce visitors such as the Great Grey Shrike on open heathlands. From the commons of the North Downs to the wetlands of the Thames Basin, Surrey offers rewarding birdwatching opportunities throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Arctic Tern and Bar-tailed Godwit arriving this month, and Arctic Loon and Barn Owl depart for the season.
Showing 70–92 of 160 species
Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitorLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally found perching prominently on heathland scrub or hedgerow tops between November and March.
Nov–Mar
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
A common resident of mature woodland, parks, and large gardens. Its loud drumming is a familiar sound across Surrey from late winter.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
A common and bold resident, abundant in gardens, parks, and woodlands throughout Surrey. Readily visits feeders year-round.
Year-round
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
A rare winter visitor to Surrey's larger reservoirs and lakes, present from November to April among flocks of Tufted Duck and Pochard.
Nov–Apr
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
A rare winter passage visitor, occasionally recorded in December. Most likely seen on flooded grassland or reservoir margins.
Dec
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
A rare but year-round visitor to Surrey's watercress beds, streams and reservoir edges. Often bobs conspicuously before flying off low.
Jun–Apr
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common year-round resident of gardens, hedgerows, and parks, though populations have suffered steep declines linked to disease in recent years.
Year-round
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
A rare autumn passage migrant seen at Surrey's reservoirs and gravel pits from July to September. Its ringing call often gives it away.
Jul–Sep
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Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A common resident found year-round along Surrey's rivers, lakes and garden ponds. Often seen standing motionless at the water's edge.
Year-round
Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicariusLC
A rare autumn vagrant, very occasionally driven inland to Surrey's reservoirs by September storms. A prized find for local birders.
Sep
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident along Surrey's streams and rivers, bobbing its long tail on rocks. Also visits garden ponds and urban waterways in winter.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
An uncommon year-round resident on Surrey's lakes, reservoirs and gravel pits. Feral populations mix with genuinely wild birds in winter.
Year-round
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
A rare and elusive winter visitor, occasionally seen in mature woodland with hornbeam. Surrey's wooded hills can attract small numbers in irruption years.
Oct–Mar
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
A dashing summer visitor breeding on Surrey's heaths and woodland edges from April to September, often hunting dragonflies over wetlands.
Apr–Sep
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
A rare passage visitor to Surrey's reservoirs in late winter and early spring. Known in Britain as Slavonian Grebe.
Feb–Apr
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestrisLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded in February. Most likely on open farmland or reservoir margins.
Feb
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer breeder, nesting under eaves across Surrey's towns and villages from April to October. Numbers have declined in recent decades.
Apr–Oct
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A familiar year-round resident of gardens, towns, and farmyards across Surrey, though numbers have declined significantly in recent decades.
Year-round
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimusLC
A secretive and rare passage visitor to Surrey's boggy margins and wet meadows in late autumn, easily overlooked due to its skulking habits.
Nov–Dec
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident found in parks, churchyards, and farmland across Surrey, often nesting in old buildings and tree cavities.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
An uncommon year-round resident, hovering over roadside verges and open farmland. Has declined in Surrey alongside grassland habitat loss.
Year-round
Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicusLC
An extremely rare passage visitor, with occasional November records. An Arctic breeder that very seldom strays this far inland in southern England.
Nov
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
An uncommon year-round resident, frequenting reservoirs, tips and playing fields. Numbers peak in late summer and autumn.
Year-round