Birds to See in United Kingdom in July
223 species matching this filter.
The United Kingdom hosts a rich diversity of birdlife in July, with approximately 223 species recorded across its varied habitats, from coastal estuaries and moorlands to ancient woodlands and urban gardens. Summer brings breeding activity to a peak, with species such as the Northern Lapwing displaying on farmland, Common Sandpipers foraging along riverbanks, and Great Tits busily feeding fledglings in hedgerows and parks. July is also an excellent time to spot rarer visitors like the Bluethroat, alongside resident favourites such as the Magpie and the striking Mandarin Duck on tranquil lakes and waterways.
Resident
(184)
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticusLC
Breeds on moorland and coastal areas in northern Scotland. Seen on passage off headlands in autumn, harassing terns and gulls for food.
Mar–Dec
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
A rare breeding bird on Scottish Highland lochs, wintering along sheltered coasts. Known as Black-throated Diver in British usage.
Year-round
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaeaLC
An uncommon breeder on northern and Scottish coasts, arriving from April. Undertakes the longest migration of any bird, wintering in Antarctic waters.
Apr–Nov
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arcticaVU
Breeds in large colonies on remote sea cliffs and offshore islands, notably in Scotland and Wales. Spends winter far out at sea in the North Atlantic.
Year-round
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
A striking wader and RSPB emblem, now commonly found on coastal lagoons and estuaries. A major conservation success story, having recolonised after extinction.
Year-round
Balearic Shearwater
Puffinus mauretanicusCR
A critically endangered seabird seen offshore mainly from late summer to autumn. Best spotted from southern and south-western headlands.
Jun–Nov
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
Found year-round on sandy estuaries and mudflats, with numbers peaking in winter. Large flocks gather at key sites like the Wash, probing the mud with their upturned bills.
Year-round
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
A year-round resident favouring rough grassland, farmland margins, and old barns. Often seen hunting at dusk along hedgerows and field edges.
Year-round
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
Large winter flocks gather on Scottish islands and the Solway Firth from Arctic breeding grounds. A growing feral population also breeds across the UK.
Year-round
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
An uncommon year-round resident of extensive reedbeds, mainly in East Anglia and a few other southern sites. Eruptive autumn movements can spread birds to new areas.
Year-round
Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrixLC
A rare and declining resident of moorland edges in northern England, Wales, and Scotland. Males display at traditional leks in spring.
Year-round
Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylleLC
A charming resident of rocky coasts in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man. Its striking black plumage with white wing patches and bright red feet are distinctive.
Year-round
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
An uncommon year-round resident, favouring urban industrial sites, power stations, and coastal cliffs. Breeds in small numbers, mainly in south-east England.
Year-round
Black Swan
Cygnus atratusLC
A rare feral resident originating from ornamental collections, occasionally seen on lakes and rivers, mainly in southern England.
Year-round
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
An uncommon passage migrant seen over freshwater lakes and reservoirs, mainly in spring and autumn. No longer breeds in the UK.
Apr–Nov
Black-headed Gull
Larus ridibundusLC
An abundant and widespread resident found at coasts, farmland, parks, and urban areas. Winter flocks can number in the thousands at roost sites.
Year-round
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollisLC
An uncommon resident breeding at a handful of shallow lakes. More widespread in winter on reservoirs and sheltered coastal waters.
Year-round
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
Present year-round on estuaries and wet grasslands. The Icelandic subspecies winters in large numbers, while the breeding population remains very small.
Year-round
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
One of the most familiar garden birds, resident year-round in hedgerows, parks, and woodland. Its rich, melodious song is a hallmark of British dusk.
Year-round
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
A common resident and passage migrant found in woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens year-round. Increasingly overwinters thanks to continental migrants supplementing the breeding population.
Year-round
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
One of the most familiar garden birds, present year-round at feeders, in hedgerows and woodland. Easily recognised by its bright blue cap.
Year-round
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
Winters commonly on estuaries and coastal marshes, with large flocks on sites like the Thames Estuary and Norfolk coast. Dark-bellied birds predominate in the south.
Year-round
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
A common but shy resident of hedgerows, woodland edges, and gardens. The male's rosy-pink breast makes it one of Britain's most striking finches.
Year-round
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
A widespread resident raptor, commonly seen soaring over farmland, woodland edges and motorway verges. Has recovered strongly across England.
Year-round
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
An abundant naturalised resident found on lakes, rivers, and park ponds year-round, often forming large and conspicuous flocks.
Year-round
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
An abundant and highly adaptable resident found in virtually every habitat across England and Wales. Replaced by the Hooded Crow in Scotland and Ireland.
Year-round
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibisLC
A recent colonist now breeding in small numbers, mainly in south-west England. Often found alongside livestock in damp pastures.
Year-round
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
A resident of dense wetland scrub and reedbeds, rapidly spreading northwards across England. More often heard than seen, with its explosive burst of song.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
One of the UK's most abundant birds, found in gardens, woodlands and hedgerows year-round. Its cheerful descending song is a hallmark of spring.
Year-round
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
A common warbler whose repetitive two-note song is heard in woodlands and scrub. Increasingly overwinters in southern Britain.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
A common resident of coniferous and mixed woodland, readily visiting garden feeders. Often stores food in bark crevices for later retrieval.
Year-round
Common Crane
Grus grusLC
A recolonising breeder, now nesting in the Norfolk Broads and Somerset Levels. Numbers are slowly increasing thanks to reintroduction and conservation efforts.
Year-round
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
A common resident and winter visitor found on coasts, playing fields and farmland. Breeds mainly in Scotland and northern England.
Year-round
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
An uncommon but iconic resident of rivers and streams, often glimpsed as a flash of electric blue darting low over water.
Year-round
Common Loon
Gavia immerLC
Known locally as Great Northern Diver, found year-round on Scottish lochs and coastal waters. Most numerous in winter, with breeding confined to a handful of Scottish sites.
Year-round
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
A common resident of upland rivers and lakes, often called Goosander in the UK. In winter, gathers in flocks on lowland reservoirs and estuaries.
Year-round
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
An introduced resident abundant across farmland, woodland edges and hedgerows. Millions are released annually for shooting, making it one of the UK's commonest birds.
Year-round
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
A widespread resident that has expanded significantly from western uplands into lowland and urban areas. Its deep, resonant croaking call is increasingly heard across England.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
An uncommon resident and winter visitor, favouring birch and alder woodland. Numbers fluctuate with irruptive movements from the Continent.
Year-round
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
A summer breeding visitor favouring mature oak woodland, especially in Wales and western Britain. Males sport a vivid orange breast.
Apr–Oct
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
Found along upland rivers and lake shores, bobbing its tail constantly. Breeds in the north and west, wintering more widely across lowland waters.
Year-round
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
An uncommon year-round resident, breeding at a few freshwater lochs in Scotland and Ireland. Larger numbers winter offshore, forming rafts along exposed coasts.
Year-round
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
A striking resident of estuaries and coastal mudflats, often seen in large flocks. Nests in rabbit burrows and other cavities near the shore.
Year-round
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
A common resident of wet grasslands and marshes, often detected by its distinctive 'drumming' display flight over moorland in spring.
Year-round
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
A familiar garden resident forming spectacular murmurations at winter roosts. Numbers have declined significantly in recent decades.
Year-round
Coot
Fulica atraLC
A common resident of lakes, reservoirs, and gravel pits across lowland Britain. Often forms large winter flocks on open water.
Year-round
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
A declining resident of arable farmland, often perched on wires or fence posts delivering its jangling song. Now largely restricted to parts of eastern and southern England.
Year-round
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
A common but declining resident of upland moors and farmland. Winters on estuaries and coasts, where its evocative call is iconic.
Year-round
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
An uncommon passage wader seen mainly on coastal mudflats and estuaries from late summer into autumn. Most records come from eastern and southern England.
Apr–Nov
Dartford Warbler
Curruca undataNT
A scarce resident of lowland heathland and gorse scrub, mainly in southern England. Sensitive to harsh winters but has slowly expanded its range in recent decades.
Year-round
Dipper
Cinclus cinclusLC
An uncommon but charismatic resident of fast-flowing upland streams in Wales, Scotland, and northern England. Bobs on rocks before plunging underwater to feed.
Year-round
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
A common wader found year-round on estuaries and mudflats. Winter flocks swell with migrants from Scandinavia and Iceland.
Year-round
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
A common and widespread garden resident, often shuffling quietly beneath hedgerows and shrubs across the UK year-round.
Year-round
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
An established non-native resident, originally from Africa, now breeding widely in England, especially in parks and lakes. Numbers continue to increase steadily.
Year-round
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
A common resident of northern and Scottish coasts, often seen rafting in sheltered bays. Numbers have declined in recent years due to avian flu.
Year-round
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellarisLC
A secretive resident of extensive reedbeds, best known for the male's deep booming call in spring. Conservation efforts have helped numbers recover at key wetland sites.
Year-round
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
A common year-round resident of suburban gardens, farmyards, and villages. Its monotonous three-note cooing call is a familiar sound across the UK.
Year-round
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
A colourful but wary resident of broadleaved and mixed woodland. Buries thousands of acorns each autumn, aiding oak regeneration.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
A year-round resident of mature deciduous woodland, parks and gardens in England and Wales. Absent from Scotland and Ireland.
Year-round
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
A common resident of coastlines, estuaries, and increasingly inland fields, recognised by its bold black-and-white plumage and piping call.
Year-round
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
A common resident breeding in conifer woods, visiting garden feeders in large numbers during autumn and winter.
Year-round
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
A familiar farmland resident whose soaring song flight is iconic across open countryside. Numbers have declined significantly due to agricultural intensification.
Year-round
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, now breeding at a handful of sites in East Anglia. Favours shallow wetlands and coastal lagoons.
Year-round
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
A common but localised resident, mainly found in farmland and rural edges of eastern England. Has declined significantly since the 1970s.
Year-round
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Commonly seen in large flocks on estuaries and flooded grasslands, especially in winter. A small number breed on upland lochs in Scotland.
Year-round
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A secretive resident of damp woodland floors, best seen during its 'roding' display flights at dusk in spring. Winter numbers swell with Continental immigrants.
Oct–Jul
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
One of the UK's most abundant birds, found in almost every habitat with dense cover. Its loud, explosive song belies its tiny size.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A common and colourful resident found in gardens, parks, and farmland year-round. Often seen in lively flocks feeding on seed heads of thistles and teasels.
Year-round
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
A common resident of parkland, orchards, and woodland edges across England and Wales. Its loud, laughing call is a familiar sound, and it feeds mainly on ants.
Year-round
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
A noisy year-round presence at coasts, harbours and increasingly inland towns. Numbers have declined significantly, earning it red-list status.
Year-round
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
Breeds in oak woodlands of western Britain, favouring nest boxes and tree holes. Arrives in spring and departs by autumn, with males sporting bold black-and-white plumage.
Apr–Oct
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
One of the UK's most familiar and beloved garden birds, present year-round. Fiercely territorial, its melodious song is heard in every month of the year.
Year-round
European Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelisLC
A common resident of rocky coastlines and sea cliffs, nesting in colonies around much of Britain's coast. Distinguished from Cormorant by its smaller size and wispy crest.
Year-round
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillaLC
A tiny resident of coniferous and mixed woodland, slowly expanding its breeding range in southern England. Its bold orange crown stripe distinguishes it from the Goldcrest.
Year-round
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialisLC
Nests on sea cliffs around the coast, especially in Scotland and northern England. Numbers have declined sharply in recent years.
Year-round
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
A year-round resident of lakes, reservoirs and gravel pits. Once scarce, it has spread considerably across England and Wales in recent decades.
Year-round
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
Britain's smallest bird, a common resident of coniferous and mixed woodland. Numbers are boosted in autumn by Continental migrants arriving on the east coast.
Year-round
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Breeds on upland moorlands in summer and forms large flocks on lowland farmland in winter. A common and widespread resident.
Year-round
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
Commonly seen on lakes, reservoirs, and sheltered coasts in winter. A small breeding population exists in the Scottish Highlands.
Year-round
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
A common and imposing resident of coastlines, harbours, and rubbish tips year-round. The largest breeding gull in the UK, increasingly found inland.
Year-round
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
A common and widespread resident found on coasts, estuaries, lakes and reservoirs. Inland populations have increased markedly, often roosting communally in trees.
Year-round
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
A common resident of lakes and reservoirs, renowned for its elaborate courtship dance. Moves to larger water bodies in winter.
Year-round
Great Skua
Catharacta skuaLC
Breeds on remote Scottish and Shetland islands, aggressively defending nesting colonies. Known as the 'bonxie', it pirates food from other seabirds.
Year-round
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
A familiar year-round resident of woodlands, parks and gardens. Its loud drumming on branches is a characteristic sound of spring.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
An abundant and familiar garden resident found throughout the UK year-round. Bold and vocal, it readily visits feeders.
Year-round
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
Once a rarity, now a common resident at wetlands across southern and central England, part of a dramatic recent range expansion.
Year-round
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
Mainly a winter visitor to sheltered coastal bays and estuaries, with notable flocks in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scarce in summer.
Jul–May
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifronsLC
An uncommon winter visitor to wet grasslands and marshes, with key flocks in Gloucestershire and on the Swale in Kent. Numbers vary between winters.
Year-round
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
Found along streams, ditches and muddy pool edges year-round. A secretive wader that bobs constantly and flushes with a distinctive call.
Jun–Apr
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common year-round resident of gardens, hedgerows, and farmland. Numbers have declined sharply due to trichomonosis but it remains widespread.
Year-round
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Breeds on Scottish bogs and moorland in summer, then disperses to estuaries and coastal marshes across Britain for the winter months.
Year-round
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A familiar year-round resident, commonly seen standing motionless at rivers, lakes, and garden ponds throughout Britain.
Year-round
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdixLC
An uncommon and declining resident of arable farmland. Once widespread, it has suffered greatly from modern farming practices.
Year-round
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
An uncommon but regular visitor to estuaries and mudflats, mainly from autumn through spring. Breeds in the high Arctic and passes through on migration.
Year-round
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
A graceful resident found along fast-flowing streams, rivers and weirs throughout the year. In winter, often visits lowland watercourses, canals and even garden ponds.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
A common resident boosted by large winter arrivals from Iceland. Found on farmland, lakes, and estuaries nationwide.
Year-round
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
An uncommon resident of upland moorlands, heavily persecuted on some grouse moors. Winters more widely on lowland marshes and farmland.
Year-round
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornixLC
A common resident in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man, replacing the Carrion Crow. Easily identified by its grey body and black head.
Year-round
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritusVU
Known as Slavonian Grebe in the UK, a scarce breeder on Scottish Highland lochs. Winters around sheltered coasts and estuaries.
Sep–Jul
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A familiar year-round resident of towns, gardens, and farmyards across the UK. Despite long-term population declines, it remains one of the most recognisable birds.
Year-round
Jackdaw
Corvus monedulaLC
A sociable and adaptable resident found in towns, villages and farmland. Often seen with rooks, nesting in chimneys, church towers and tree holes.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A familiar hovering raptor seen along motorway verges, farmland, and open country year-round. Numbers have declined in parts of England but it remains widespread.
Year-round
Kittiwake
Rissa tridactylaVU
Breeds in noisy colonies on sea cliffs but is sadly declining. Spends winter months far out at sea.
Year-round
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common year-round gull found at coasts, landfill sites, and urban areas. Numbers bolstered by continental migrants in winter.
Year-round
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minorLC
A rare and declining resident of mature broadleaved woodland, mainly in southern England. Best located by its high-pitched spring call.
Nov–Sep
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A year-round resident of farmland, heathland and coastal scrub. Often seen in flocks outside the breeding season but declining due to habitat loss.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
A now-common resident that colonised naturally in the 1990s, frequenting estuaries, marshes, and coastal lagoons. Numbers continue to increase across England and Wales.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
A common resident of sheltered ponds, lakes, and slow rivers. Often heard before seen, giving a distinctive whinnying trill from dense bankside vegetation.
Year-round
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
An uncommon gull found year-round at reservoirs, coastal marshes, and estuaries. Numbers peak during passage periods, with a dainty, buoyant flight.
Year-round
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
An introduced resident found year-round in lowland farmland and orchards, mainly in England and Wales. Often perches prominently on fence posts and barn roofs.
Year-round
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
A small wader found on coastal mudflats and freshwater margins, peaking in autumn passage. Most numerous along eastern and southern estuaries.
Year-round
Long-eared Owl
Asio otusLC
A secretive nocturnal resident of dense conifer plantations and thick hedgerows, easily overlooked but present year-round across Britain.
Year-round
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A common and charming resident of woodland, hedgerows, and gardens. Roving family parties are a familiar sight year-round.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A bold and familiar garden resident across England and Wales, less common in Scotland. Easily recognised by its chattering alarm call.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
Abundant and widespread on lakes, rivers, canals, and urban park ponds year-round. One of the most familiar and recognisable British ducks.
Year-round
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
An uncommon introduced resident of wooded lakes and rivers. The ornate male is unmistakable on park ponds, especially in southern England.
Year-round
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinusLC
An uncommon breeder on western islands, nesting in burrows on offshore islands. Best known from colonies on Skomer and Rum.
Year-round
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
An uncommon but sedentary resident of mature deciduous woodland in England and Wales. Declining in many areas and absent from Scotland and Ireland.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident of upland moors, rough grassland and coastal areas. In winter, many move to lowland fields and coasts, often forming loose flocks.
Year-round
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
An uncommon resident falcon of upland moors in summer, moving to lowland coasts and marshes in winter.
Year-round
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
A bold, year-round resident of parkland, orchards and open woodland. One of the earliest songsters, singing from treetops even in midwinter.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common year-round resident found on ponds, lakes, and canals across the UK. Often seen flicking its white-edged tail as it forages along waterway margins.
Year-round
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschataLC
A rare feral resident found on park lakes and farmyards, originating from escaped or released captive birds. Not established as a wild species.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
An elegant and familiar resident of lakes, rivers and urban parks across the UK. Pairs defend territories vigorously and are a much-loved sight year-round.
Year-round
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Breeds in spectacular colonies on sea cliffs such as Bass Rock and Bempton. Plunge-dives dramatically for fish and is seen offshore year-round.
Year-round
Northern Goshawk
Accipiter gentilisLC
A rare but increasing resident of mature forests and plantations. Secretive and elusive, most often encountered in large woodlands across Wales and northern England.
Year-round
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
A common resident of farmland and wetland margins, with numbers boosted by continental arrivals in winter. Breeding populations have declined sharply.
Year-round
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
A common and elegant dabbling duck found on estuaries and wetlands. Winter numbers are boosted by large influxes from the continent.
Year-round
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
Present year-round on lakes, reservoirs, and marshes, with numbers boosted in winter by Continental migrants. Easily identified by its large spatulate bill used for filter-feeding.
Year-round
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
A year-round resident increasingly seen on cathedral ledges and city towers. The world's fastest animal has recovered well from past declines.
Year-round
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Huge wintering flocks arrive from Iceland and Greenland, gathering on farmland and estuaries mainly in Scotland and eastern England from autumn to spring.
Year-round
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
Found year-round on lakes and reservoirs, though the breeding population is small and declining. Winter numbers are boosted by Continental arrivals.
Year-round
Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusLC
A rare but regular passage seabird, best seen from headlands during autumn seawatches, especially in strong onshore winds.
Apr–Nov
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritimaLC
An uncommon wader favouring rocky shorelines and harbour walls, mainly in winter. A tiny number breed in the Scottish Highlands.
Jul–May
Razorbill
Alca tordaLC
Breeds on sea cliffs around the coast, especially in Scotland and Wales. Disperses offshore in winter but can be seen from headlands year-round.
Year-round
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A resident of mature conifer plantations, with numbers boosted by periodic irruptions from the continent. Its crossed bill is perfectly adapted for extracting pine seeds.
Year-round
Red Grouse
Lagopus lagopus scoticaLC
A UK endemic subspecies found on heather moorlands across Scotland, northern England and Wales. Populations are closely managed alongside grouse moor shooting.
Year-round
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
A conservation success story, now widespread after near-extinction in the UK. Soars gracefully over Welsh valleys, the Chilterns and increasingly across England.
Year-round
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
Gathers in vast winter flocks on estuaries such as the Wash and Morecambe Bay. These Arctic breeders are a spectacular sight swirling over mudflats at high tide.
Year-round
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
Once a regular breeder, now a rare visitor mostly seen on passage along the east and south coasts. A striking but declining species across Europe.
May–Oct
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
Breeds on rivers and lochs in Scotland and Ireland, moving to sheltered coasts in winter. Often seen in small groups on estuaries.
Year-round
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
An uncommon resident, with a growing feral population centred on southern English gravel pits and reservoirs.
Year-round
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
An introduced resident most common on farmland in lowland England. Often seen in small coveys scurrying across arable fields.
Year-round
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
An uncommon visitor, mainly seen in winter along east coast waters and estuaries. A very scarce breeder, with occasional nesting attempts in Scotland.
Jul–May
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
Breeds on remote Scottish lochs in summer and winters around British coasts. Known locally as Red-throated Diver.
Year-round
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
A common year-round wader of estuaries, saltmarshes and wet grasslands. The breeding population is declining, placing it on the amber list.
Year-round
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
A common resident of reedbeds, marshes, and damp hedgerows. Males are recognised by their black head and white collar, singing from reed stems.
Year-round
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A summer visitor to upland moorlands and crags, arriving in April. Often called the 'mountain blackbird', it is declining as a UK breeder.
Apr–Nov
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
A common resident of sandy and shingle beaches, also found on inland gravel pits. Numbers increase in autumn and winter with arrivals from the Continent.
Year-round
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Ubiquitous in towns and cities as the feral pigeon; truly wild birds survive on remote Scottish and Irish sea cliffs.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
A common resident of rocky coastlines year-round, foraging along wave-splashed shores and sea cliffs throughout Britain and Ireland.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A gregarious resident of farmland and parkland, nesting in large, noisy rookeries. Bare-faced adults probe fields for invertebrates year-round.
Year-round
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Alexandrinus krameriLC
An established non-native resident, especially abundant in London and south-east England. Noisy flocks roost communally in large trees.
Year-round
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
An uncommon introduced resident, now heavily controlled due to threats to native White-headed Ducks. Numbers have declined sharply.
Year-round
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
Found year-round on rocky shorelines and harbours, flipping stones and seaweed to find invertebrates. Numbers peak in winter with arrivals from Arctic breeding grounds.
Year-round
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
An uncommon wader found on coastal marshes and flooded fields, mainly as a passage migrant and winter visitor. Very few now breed in the UK.
Year-round
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
A pale, energetic wader found on sandy beaches year-round, with numbers peaking in winter. Runs rapidly along the tideline chasing waves.
Year-round
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
The earliest tern to return each spring, breeding in noisy colonies on shingle and sandy coasts. Present year-round, with numbers peaking in summer.
Year-round
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
Hunts over moorland, rough grassland and coastal marshes. Breeds in upland areas and disperses to lowland sites in winter.
Year-round
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A common resident of gardens, woodlands and hedgerows, recognised by its rich, repeated song phrases. UK numbers are supplemented by Continental migrants in winter.
Year-round
Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna griseaNT
An uncommon pelagic visitor seen offshore from June to November, mainly from western headlands. Seawatching in autumn gales offers the best chances of sighting.
Jun–Nov
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
A common resident raptor found in woodland, farmland, and gardens. Often seen dashing along hedgerows in pursuit of small birds.
Year-round
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
An uncommon wader found on estuaries and coastal marshes, most numerous on autumn passage and in winter.
Year-round
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
A common but often overlooked resident of farmland, parkland, and woodland edges. Nests in tree holes and old buildings across lowland Britain.
Year-round
Stonechat
Saxicola torquatusLC
A common resident of gorse-covered heaths, coastal cliffs, and rough grassland. Males show a striking black head and orange breast.
Year-round
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A year-round resident of deciduous and mixed woodland across Britain, absent from Ireland. Its familiar hooting call is a classic sound of the British countryside at night.
Year-round
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A declining summer visitor to open woodland and heathland, arriving from April. Its distinctive parachuting song flight sets it apart from the resident Meadow Pipit.
Apr–Oct
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
A common but unobtrusive resident of mature woodland, parks, and large gardens. Spirals mouse-like up tree trunks probing bark crevices for insects.
Year-round
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
A familiar diving duck on lakes, reservoirs and park ponds year-round. Males sport a distinctive drooping head crest and striking black-and-white plumage.
Year-round
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
An uncommon resident of upland moorland in summer, moving to coastal saltmarshes in winter. A declining species of conservation concern in the UK.
Year-round
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
A rare sea duck present year-round in small numbers, mainly off the coasts of Scotland and north-east England. Often found among flocks of Common Scoter.
Year-round
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
A secretive resident of marshes and reedbeds, more often heard giving its pig-like squealing call than seen. Numbers increase in winter with Continental arrivals.
Year-round
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
A conservation success story, now commonly seen quartering over reedbeds and marshes, especially in East Anglia where it has spread steadily.
Year-round
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
A summer breeder on upland moors and coastal grasslands. One of the earliest spring migrants, often seen perched on rocks and walls.
Mar–Nov
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
An uncommon resident with a tiny breeding population in Shetland. Most frequently seen as a passage migrant along coasts in spring and autumn.
Year-round
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
A declining summer visitor favouring upland hay meadows and bracken-covered hillsides. Identified by its bold white eyestripe and orange breast.
Apr–Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus albicillaLC
Successfully reintroduced to Scotland and now spreading to England. This massive raptor hunts over sea lochs, coasts and large lakes.
Year-round
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
An uncommon winter visitor from Iceland, gathering on traditional sites such as the Ouse Washes and Scottish lochs. A few pairs breed in northern Scotland.
Year-round
Willow Tit
Poecile montanusLC
An uncommon and rapidly declining resident of damp woodland and scrubby hedgerows, mainly in England and Wales. A Red List species of high conservation concern.
Year-round
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
An uncommon year-round resident of lowland heaths and forest edges in southern England. Its melodious song can be heard from late winter onwards.
Year-round
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
One of the UK's most abundant birds, found year-round in gardens, parks, woodlands, and farmland. Its numbers have increased significantly in recent decades.
Year-round
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
A declining summer visitor to lowland wet meadows and arable fields, mainly in central and southern England. Departs for Africa by October.
Mar–Oct
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
An uncommon year-round visitor, most often seen at southern reservoirs and landfill sites, with numbers peaking in late summer and autumn.
Year-round
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
A common resident of farmland hedgerows and field margins. Has declined significantly due to agricultural intensification but remains widespread.
Year-round
Breeding
(30)
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
A beloved summer visitor breeding in barns and outbuildings across the countryside. Arrives from March and gathers on wires before autumn departure.
Mar–Nov
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecicaLC
A rare breeder and scarce passage migrant, most often seen at coastal migration hotspots in spring and autumn. Has bred occasionally in eastern England.
Mar–Oct
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
A rare and elusive summer breeder heard far more often than seen, calling from cereal fields and grasslands.
May–Aug
Common Reed-warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceusLC
A common summer breeder arriving in April, singing its chattering song from reedbeds across England and Wales.
Apr–Oct
Common Swift
Apus apusLC
A familiar summer visitor screaming over towns and cities from May to August. Spends almost its entire life on the wing, even sleeping in flight.
Apr–Sep
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLC
A common summer breeder found at coastal colonies, gravel pits, and reservoirs from spring to autumn. Plunge-dives for small fish in open water.
Mar–Oct
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusLC
A declining summer visitor arriving in April, its distinctive call heard across woodlands and reedbeds before departing by September.
Apr–Sep
Eurasian Stone-curlew
Burhinus oedicnemusLC
A scarce breeding visitor to chalk downland and heathland, mainly in East Anglia and Wiltshire. Its eerie nocturnal calls carry far across open stony ground.
Mar–Oct
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorusLC
A scarce summer breeder in mature broadleaved woodlands, feeding largely on wasp and bee larvae. Secretive and easily overlooked during its brief stay.
May–Sep
European Storm-petrel
Hydrobates pelagicusLC
An uncommon breeder on remote western and northern islands, arriving from May and lingering into autumn. Nests in rocky crevices, visiting colonies nocturnally.
May–Nov
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turturVU
A rapidly declining summer visitor to farmland and hedgerows in south-east England. Now one of the UK's most threatened breeding birds.
Apr–Oct
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borinLC
A common summer breeder arriving from April, favouring dense scrub and woodland understorey. Its rich warbling song is often confused with the Blackcap's.
Apr–Oct
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
A scarce summer visitor arriving from Africa in spring, favouring shallow wetlands and flooded meadows mainly in southern and eastern England.
Mar–Oct
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naeviaLC
A skulking summer visitor to dense grassland, marshes, and young plantations. Its extraordinary insect-like reeling song, delivered from deep cover, is easier heard than seen.
Apr–Sep
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
An elegant summer visitor to southern England, hunting dragonflies and small birds over heathland and wetlands from April to October.
Apr–Oct
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer breeder nesting under eaves in towns and villages. Arrives from March and gathers in large flocks before departing south by autumn.
Mar–Nov
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca currucaLC
A summer breeding visitor to hedgerows and scrubby thickets, mainly in England. Its dry, rattling song is distinctive, and it departs southward by October.
Apr–Oct
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubiusLC
A summer breeding visitor favouring gravel pits, reservoirs and river shingle. Arrives from March and departs by early autumn.
Mar–Sep
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
An uncommon summer breeder on shingle beaches and sandy coasts from April to September. A Schedule 1 species, vulnerable to disturbance and declining.
Apr–Sep
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
An uncommon summer breeder in dense scrub and woodland of south-east England. Its rich, powerful song is heard from April to June.
Apr–Aug
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
A summer visitor arriving in May, breeding on heathland, young forestry plantations and moorland edges. Best detected by its distinctive churring song at dusk.
May–Sep
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A summer breeding visitor from March to October, nesting near Scottish lochs and increasingly at reintroduction sites in England and Wales.
Mar–Oct
Roseate Tern
Sterna dougalliiLC
A rare breeding tern, arriving May–September at a handful of coastal colonies. Coquet Island in Northumberland is a key UK site.
May–Sep
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
A common summer breeder nesting colonially in sandy riverbanks and quarry faces. Often the first hirundine to arrive in spring, from March onwards.
Mar–Oct
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
A common summer breeder in reedbeds, marshes, and waterside vegetation. Its chattering song is a characteristic sound of wetlands.
Mar–Oct
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
A declining summer visitor arriving in May, favouring woodland edges, churchyards, and mature gardens. Sallies from exposed perches to catch flying insects.
May–Oct
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
A common summer visitor to hedgerows and scrubby habitats. Its scratchy, energetic song is a hallmark of the British countryside from April.
Apr–Oct
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
One of the most abundant summer migrants, filling woodlands, hedgerows and scrub with its sweet descending song from April onwards.
Mar–Nov
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
A rare breeding bird in the Scottish Highlands, more often seen as a passage migrant at freshwater marshes and pool edges in spring and autumn.
Apr–Oct
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrixLC
An uncommon summer breeder in mature oak and beech woodlands, mainly in Wales and western Britain. Has declined significantly in recent decades.
Apr–Sep
Non-breeding
(1)
Passage
(8)
Aquatic Warbler
Acrocephalus paludicolaVU
An uncommon passage migrant, mainly found in coastal reedbeds and sedge marshes in southern England during late summer and early autumn.
Jun–Sep
Bar-headed Goose
Anser indicusLC
A rare visitor, most sightings likely involve escapes from wildfowl collections. Occasionally recorded on lakes and reservoirs.
Jan–Aug
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticoraxLC
An uncommon passage visitor to wetlands and reedbeds, mainly in spring and late summer. This stocky, nocturnal heron is most often seen at dusk at southern marshes.
Apr–Aug
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterLC
A rare but increasingly recorded summer visitor, with occasional breeding attempts. Colourful flocks sometimes appear along the south coast.
May–Aug
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargusLC
A rare summer visitor and passage migrant, with very few breeding pairs remaining in southern England. Favours open arable farmland and marshes.
May–Aug
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
A rare but annual Nearctic passage migrant, most frequently found at freshwater pools and coastal scrapes in autumn, particularly in south-west England and Ireland.
May–Oct
Purple Heron
Ardea purpureaLC
A rare spring and autumn visitor, mainly to southern English wetlands. Slimmer and darker than Grey Heron, it favours dense reedbeds.
Apr–Oct
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatusLC
A rare passage migrant with a tiny breeding population in northern Scotland. Most sightings occur at coastal pools and marshes during autumn migration.
May–Oct