Birds in West Midlands
Explore 143 species found in this region.
The West Midlands county is home to an impressive 143 recorded bird species, offering surprisingly diverse birdlife for a predominantly urban region. Parks, reservoirs, canals, and green corridors provide vital habitats for species ranging from the familiar Great Tit and Magpie to less expected visitors such as the Common Merganser, Eurasian Woodcock, and Mandarin Duck. Whether you're exploring Sutton Park, Sandwell Valley, or local nature reserves, the West Midlands rewards birdwatchers with a rich variety of resident and migratory species throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Barn Swallow and Black-necked Grebe arriving this month, and Common Gull and Corn Bunting depart for the season.
Showing 93–115 of 143 species
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A bold and abundant resident of gardens, parks and hedgerows, easily recognised by its black-and-white plumage and chattering alarm call.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
A common and widespread resident on virtually any waterbody, from urban canals to rural pools.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A rare but eye-catching resident of wooded lakes and rivers, this introduced species breeds in tree holes near sheltered waterways.
Mar–Jan
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A rare and declining resident of mature deciduous woodland, best looked for in ancient woods with dense understorey.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
An uncommon resident of rough grassland and moorland fringes, most conspicuous in autumn and winter when upland birds move to lowland fields.
Aug–May
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
An uncommon resident of parks, churchyards, and open woodland. Often sings from tall trees in early spring, well before most other thrushes.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common resident of canals, park lakes and reservoirs throughout the West Midlands, easily spotted by its red frontal shield.
Year-round
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschataLC
A rare visitor in May and October, likely escapees from wildfowl collections rather than truly wild birds.
May–Oct
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Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A common and graceful resident of canals, rivers and park lakes, often seen in family groups across the region's waterways.
Year-round
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
An uncommon resident on farmland and wet meadows, declining as a breeder but with winter flocks sometimes gathering on ploughed fields.
Year-round
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to reservoirs and flooded fields in autumn and winter, this elegant duck is scarce inland.
Sep–Feb
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Uncommon year-round, favouring shallow pools and reservoir margins. Numbers increase in winter at key wetland sites.
Year-round
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
A rare but increasingly established resident, nesting on tall buildings in Birmingham and other urban centres, hunting pigeons at speed.
Jan–Nov
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Uncommon year-round on larger lakes and reservoirs. A declining species nationally, making regional sites important.
Year-round
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare passage visitor in October, typically appearing during irruption years. Seeks out conifer plantations to feed on spruce and pine cones.
Oct
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
A rare breeder from March to June, part of the species' ongoing recolonisation of the Midlands. Increasingly seen soaring over rural areas.
Mar–Jun
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally recorded in September on scrubby heathland or hedgerows during southward migration.
Sep
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
A rare passage record in April; this introduced gamebird is scarce in the region, occasionally wandering from nearby release sites.
Apr
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
A rare breeding visitor to wet meadows and marshes from March to July, with very few pairs remaining in the region.
Mar–Jul
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A common winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving in October and feeding on berries in hedgerows and parkland until spring.
Oct–Apr
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
An uncommon resident of reedbeds, marshy scrub and canal margins, sometimes visiting garden feeders in cold weather.
Year-round
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare passage migrant, briefly passing through in April on its way to upland breeding grounds further north and west.
Apr
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
A rare breeder on gravelly shores of reservoirs and gravel pits from April to June, with passage birds appearing in late summer.
Apr–Sep