Birds in Northern Ireland
Explore 166 species found in this region.
Northern Ireland is home to an impressive 164 recorded bird species, thriving across a rich tapestry of habitats from the vast shores of Lough Neagh and Strangford Lough to the rugged Antrim coastline and rolling upland moorlands. Wading birds such as the Northern Lapwing and Common Sandpiper frequent the region's wetlands, while woodlands and hedgerows support species like the Great Tit and Magpie. Coastal estuaries and mudflats attract wintering wildfowl including Common Shelduck and Common Merganser, making Northern Ireland a rewarding destination for birdwatchers year-round.
Visiting in April? Look out for Atlantic Puffin and Barn Swallow arriving this month, and Barnacle Goose and Common Loon depart for the season.
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Get Your Free DigestShowing 139–161 of 166 species
Sabine's Gull
Xema sabiniLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, most likely seen in September from seawatching points during strong westerly gales.
Sep
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
An uncommon summer visitor from March to September, nesting colonially in sandy riverbanks and quarry faces. Often seen hawking insects over lakes and waterways.
Mar–Sep
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to sandy beaches and open shorelines, present in winter months and again on passage in spring and late summer.
Aug–May
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
An uncommon summer breeder, the earliest tern to arrive from March. Favours sandy and shingle coasts, with key colonies around the Ards Peninsula.
Mar–Oct
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenusLC
A summer breeding visitor from April to August, favouring reedbeds, lakeshores, and marshy ditches. Its rapid, chattering song is a feature of wetlands like Lough Neagh.
Apr–Aug
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
Very rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded in February. A striking small merganser that is always a notable find.
Feb
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally seen on exposed coasts and hilltops in October and November during Arctic movements.
Oct–Nov
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A common year-round resident of gardens, hedgerows, and woodland. Its rich, repetitive song is a familiar sound across Northern Ireland from early spring onwards.
Year-round
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Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna griseaNT
A rare September passage visitor from the Southern Ocean, occasionally spotted offshore during seawatches along the north coast.
Sep
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
An uncommon year-round resident of woodland and farmland hedgerows, dashing low through gardens and along field edges to ambush small birds.
Year-round
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
A rare summer breeder present from May to July, favouring woodland edges and mature gardens. Has declined sharply across its range.
May–Jul
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
A rare breeding visitor from May to September, favouring mature woodland with old trees offering nest holes. Scarce and localised here.
May–Sep
Stonechat
Saxicola torquatusLC
Resident year-round on gorse-covered hillsides and coastal scrub. Often perches prominently, flicking its tail and giving a sharp 'chat' call.
Year-round
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
An uncommon but widespread resident, spiralling up tree trunks in mature woodland and parkland. Its thin, high-pitched song is easily missed in Northern Irish forests.
Year-round
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
Uncommon resident breeding on freshwater loughs and wintering in larger flocks. Readily identified by its peaked head and golden eye.
Year-round
Twite
Linaria flavirostrisLC
A rare resident clinging on in coastal and upland areas, feeding on seeds in rough grassland. One of Northern Ireland's most threatened breeding birds.
Year-round
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
A secretive year-round resident of reedbeds and marshy wetlands. More often heard giving its pig-like squeal than seen in the open.
Aug–Jun
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
A rare autumn passage visitor seen in October and November over wetlands and reedbeds. Sightings have increased in recent years.
Oct–Nov
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
A summer breeder on upland pastures and rocky coasts, arriving from March. Often bobs on stone walls and fence posts across open terrain.
Mar–Oct
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
An uncommon breeding visitor from April to September, passing through coastal areas on migration. Its distinctive rippling call aids identification.
Apr–Sep
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
A rare spring passage migrant, briefly passing through in May. Favours rough grassland and scrubby margins but does not breed in the region.
May
Whitethroat
Curruca communisLC
An uncommon summer breeder from May to August, favouring hedgerows and scrubby field margins. Its scratchy song and white throat flash are distinctive in open country.
May–Aug
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
Winters on loughs and flooded fields, arriving from Iceland in autumn. Bugling calls are a highlight at sites like Lough Neagh and Upper Lough Erne.
Sep–May