List of birds of Great Britain

This list of birds of Great Britain comprises all bird species that have been recorded in a wild state in Great Britain. It follows the official British List, maintained by the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU).[1] Decisions relating to the British List are published by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) in its annual reports in the BOU's journal Ibis. These reports were formerly geographically based and included the whole of the British Isles, but records for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are now published by their own ornithological associations. Records from the Isle of Man are adjudicated by the Manx Ornithological Society.[2]

Bird species admitted to the British List are those in BOU categories A, B or C:

  • A: species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.
  • B: species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.
  • C: species that, although originally introduced by humans, either deliberately or accidentally, have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, which maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.

Birds can be listed in more than one category: for example the Canada goose has a large introduced population but there have also been a few naturally occurring vagrants, so it meets the criteria for both categories A and C.

Categories D and E (not listed here) are used for record keeping only, and species in these categories are not included in the British List:

  • D: species that would otherwise appear in categories A or B except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state.
  • E: species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees, or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are not believed to be self-sustaining.

A further category (not listed here) is being compiled:

  • F: species recorded before 1800, including fossil species.[3]

As of 10 October 2023, there are 632 species of birds on the British List,[4] the latest additions being kelp gull and least bittern.[5] Five species groups (birds that were not identified to species level) are included in an appendix – southern/northern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus/halli), Fea's/Desertas petrel (Pterodroma feae/desertas), black-bellied/white-bellied storm petrel (Fregetta tropica/grallaria), brown/south polar skua (Stercorarius antarctica/maccormickii), and Asian/Mediterranean/Turkestan short-toed lark (Alaudala cheleensis/rufescens/heinei). A number of additional species are awaiting consideration by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee.

Species listed on this page as "rare" are those for which a full description is required for acceptance of the record by the British Birds Rarities Committee. Other species have an indication of their breeding and wintering status in Great Britain.

In general the avifauna of Britain is similar to that of the rest of Europe. Because of its mild winters, Great Britain has a considerable population of wintering species, particularly ducks, geese and swans. There are also a number of species, such as the oystercatcher, that are resident on the island of Great Britain, but migrants elsewhere. Britain receives a number of vagrants from Asia and North America. Some American gulls, ducks and waders are regular enough not to be considered rare, including the ring-billed gull, surf scoter and pectoral sandpiper. There is one endemic bird species found in Great Britain: the Scottish crossbill.

Ducks, geese, and swans

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

The swans, ducks and geese are medium to large birds that are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet and bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent. In many ducks the male is colourful while the female is dull brown. The diet consists of a variety of animals and plants. The family is well represented in Britain, especially in winter when large numbers visit from Greenland, Scandinavia and Russia.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Brent goose
(Branta bernicla)
A – winter visitor
Red-breasted goose
(Branta ruficollis)
A – rare vagrant
Canada goose
(Branta canadensis)
A & C – resident introduced population, some wild vagrants
Barnacle goose
(Branta leucopsis)
A & C – winter visitor and resident introduced population
Cackling goose
(Branta hutchinsii)
A – rare vagrant
Ross's goose
(Anser rossii)
A – rare vagrant[6]
Snow goose
(Anser caerulescens)
A & C – resident introduced population, some wild vagrants
Greylag goose
(Anser anser)
A & C – resident wild and feral populations, winter visitor
Taiga bean goose
(Anser fabalis)
A – winter visitor
Pink-footed goose
(Anser brachyrhynchus)
A – winter visitor
Tundra bean goose
(Anser serrirostris)
A – winter visitor
White-fronted goose
(Anser albifrons)
A – winter visitor
Lesser white-fronted goose
(Anser erythropus)
A – rare vagrant
Mute swan
(Cygnus olor)
A & C – resident breeding species
Bewick's swan
(Cygnus columbianus)
A – winter visitor
Whooper swan
(Cygnus cygnus)
A – winter visitor and occasional breeder
Egyptian goose
(Alopochen aegyptiaca)
C – resident introduced population
Shelduck
(Tadorna tadorna)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Ruddy shelduck
(Tadorna ferruginea)
B – Records since 1946 are presumed escapes from captivity
Mandarin duck
(Aix galericulata)
C – resident introduced population
Baikal teal
(Sibirionetta formosa)
A – rare vagrant
Garganey
(Spatula querquedula)
A – breeding summer visitor
Blue-winged teal
(Spatula discors)
A – rare vagrant
Shoveler
(Spatula clypeata)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Gadwall
(Mareca strepera)
A & C – resident breeder and winter visitor
Falcated duck
(Mareca falcata)
A – rare vagrant
Wigeon
(Mareca penelope)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
American wigeon
(Mareca americana)
A – scarce migrant
Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos)
A & C – resident breeder, winter visitor and naturalised releases
Black duck
(Anas rubripes)
A – rare vagrant
Pintail
(Anas acuta)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Teal
(Anas crecca)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Green-winged teal
(Anas carolinensis)
A – scarce migrant
Red-crested pochard
(Netta rufina)
A & C – scarce migrant and introduced breeder
Canvasback
(Aythya valisineria)
A – rare vagrant
Redhead
(Aythya americana)
A – rare vagrant
Pochard
(Aythya ferina)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Ferruginous duck
(Aythya nyroca)
A – scarce migrant
Ring-necked duck
(Aythya collaris)
A – scarce migrant
Tufted duck
(Aythya fuligula)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Scaup
(Aythya marila)
A – winter visitor and occasional breeder
Lesser scaup
(Aythya affinis)
A – rare vagrant
Steller's eider
(Polysticta stelleri)
A – rare vagrant
King eider
(Somateria spectabilis)
A – rare vagrant
Eider
(Somateria mollissima)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Harlequin duck
(Histrionicus histrionicus)
A – rare vagrant
Surf scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata)
A – scarce migrant
Velvet scoter
(Melanitta fusca)
A – winter visitor
White-winged scoter
(Melanitta deglandi)
A – rare vagrant
Common scoter
(Melanitta nigra)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Black scoter
(Melanitta americana)
A – rare vagrant
Long-tailed duck
(Clangula hyemalis)
A – winter visitor and occasional breeder
Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola)
A – rare vagrant
Goldeneye
(Bucephala clangula)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Barrow's goldeneye
(Bucephala islandica)
A – rare vagrant
Smew
(Mergellus albellus)
A – winter visitor
Hooded merganser
(Lophodytes cucullatus)
A – rare vagrant
Goosander
(Mergus merganser)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Red-breasted merganser
(Mergus serrator)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Ruddy duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)
C – introduced species currently subject to an eradication programme

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

These are terrestrial species, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings. Four of these were introduced for hunting or ornamental purposes but one has now apparently died out.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Red grouse
(Lagopus lagopus)
A – resident breeding species
Ptarmigan
(Lagopus muta)
A – resident breeding species
Capercaillie
(Tetrao urogallus)
C – resident reintroduced population
Black grouse
(Lyrurus tetrix)
A – resident breeding species
Grey partridge
(Perdix perdix)
A & C – resident breeder and introduced gamebird
Golden pheasant
(Chrysolophus pictus)
C – resident introduced population
Lady Amherst's pheasant
(Chrysolophus amherstiae)
C – introduced population, now believed to be extirpated
Pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)
C – resident introduced population
Quail
(Coturnix coturnix)
A – breeding summer visitor
Red-legged partridge
(Alectoris rufa)
C – resident introduced population

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Common nighthawk
(Chordeiles minor)
A – rare vagrant
Red-necked nightjar
(Caprimulgus ruficollis)
A – rare vagrant
Nightjar
(Caprimulgus europaeus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Egyptian nightjar
(Caprimulgus aegyptius)
A – rare vagrant

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces.

Common and binomial names Image Status
White-throated needletail
(Hirundapus caudacutus)
A – rare vagrant
Chimney swift
(Chaetura pelagica)
A – rare vagrant
Alpine swift
(Apus melba)
A – scarce migrant
Swift
(Apus apus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Pallid swift
(Apus pallidus)
A – rare vagrant
Pacific swift
(Apus pacificus)
A – rare vagrant
Little swift
(Apus affinis)
A – rare vagrant
White-rumped swift
(Apus caffer)
A – rare vagrant

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Large, sturdy birds of open plains with long legs and necks and strong feet. They are all rarities.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Great bustard
(Otis tarda)
A – rare vagrant and recently reintroduced breeding resident species
Macqueen's bustard
(Chlamydotis macqueenii)
B – rare vagrant
Little bustard
(Tetrax tetrax)
A – rare vagrant

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

Birds of variable size with slender bodies and long tails. Some species are known for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Great spotted cuckoo
(Clamator glandarius)
A – rare vagrant
Yellow-billed cuckoo
(Coccyzus americanus)
A – rare vagrant
Black-billed cuckoo
(Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
A – rare vagrant
Cuckoo
(Cuculus canorus)
A – breeding summer visitor

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sturdy, medium-sized birds with a small head and long, pointed wings.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Pallas's sandgrouse
(Syrrhaptes paradoxus)
A – rare vagrant; has bred

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 344 species worldwide, seven in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Rock pigeon or feral pigeon
(Columba livia)
A & C – resident; most birds are of feral origin
Stock dove
(Columba oenas)
A – resident breeding species
Woodpigeon
(Columba palumbus)
A – resident breeding species
Turtle dove
(Streptopelia turtur)
A – breeding summer visitor
Oriental turtle dove
(Streptopelia orientalis)
A – rare vagrant
Collared dove
(Streptopelia decaocto)
A – resident breeding species
Mourning dove
(Zenaida macroura)
A – rare vagrant

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

These birds mainly occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, marshes or rivers. Many are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Water rail
(Rallus aquaticus)
A – resident breeding species
Corncrake
(Crex crex)
A – breeding summer visitor
Sora rail
(Porzana carolina)
A – rare vagrant
Spotted crake
(Porzana porzana)
A – scarce breeding summer visitor
Moorhen
(Gallinula chloropus)
A – resident breeding species
Coot
(Fulica atra)
A – resident breeding species
American coot
(Fulica americana)
A – rare vagrant
Allen's gallinule
(Porphyrio alleni)
A – rare vagrant
American purple gallinule
(Porphyrio martinicus)
A – rare vagrant
Western swamphen[7]
(Porphyrio porphyrio)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2016
Baillon's crake
(Zapornia pusilla)
A – rare vagrant, formerly bred
Little crake
(Zapornia parva)
A – rare vagrant

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Common and binomial names Image Status
Sandhill crane
(Antigone canadensis)
A – rare vagrant
Crane
(Grus grus)
A – resident breeding species and passage migrant

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large diving birds with lobed toes and pointed bills. They are seen mainly on lowland waters and coasts. They feed on aquatic animals and nest on a floating platform of vegetation.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Little grebe
(Tachybaptus ruficollis)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Pied-billed grebe
(Podilymbus podiceps)
A – rare vagrant
Red-necked grebe
(Podiceps grisegena)
A – winter visitor; has bred
Great crested grebe
(Podiceps cristatus)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Slavonian grebe
(Podiceps auritus)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Black-necked grebe
(Podiceps nigricollis)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor

Stone-curlews

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

A small family of medium to large waders with strong black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Stone curlew
(Burhinus oedicnemus)
A – breeding summer visitor

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy wading birds with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are eleven species worldwide with one in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ostralegus)
A – resident breeding species

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

A family of fairly large wading birds. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are ten species worldwide with two in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Black-winged stilt
(Himantopus himantopus)
A – scarce migrant and occasional breeder
Avocet
(Recurvirostra avosetta)
A – resident breeding species

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Small to medium-sized wading birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Lapwing
(Vanellus vanellus)
A – resident breeding species
Sociable plover
(Vanellus gregarius)
A – rare vagrant
White-tailed plover
(Vanellus leucurus)
A – rare vagrant
Golden plover
(Pluvialis apricaria)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce breeder
Pacific golden plover
(Pluvialis fulva)
A – rare vagrant
American golden plover
(Pluvialis dominica)
A – scarce migrant
Grey plover
(Pluvialis squatarola)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Ringed plover
(Charadrius hiaticula)
A – resident breeding species and summer visitor
Semipalmated plover
(Charadrius semipalmatus)
A – rare vagrant
Little ringed plover
(Charadrius dubius)
A – breeding summer visitor
Killdeer
(Charadrius vociferus)
A – rare vagrant
Kentish plover
(Charadrius alexandrinus)
A – former breeder, now rare vagrant.
Lesser sand plover
(Charadrius mongolus)
A – rare vagrant
Greater sand plover
(Charadrius leschenaultii)
A – rare vagrant
Caspian plover
(Charadrius asiaticus)
A – rare vagrant
Dotterel
(Charadrius morinellus)
A – breeding summer visitor

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

A large, diverse family of wading birds. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Upland sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda)
A – rare vagrant
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Hudsonian whimbrel
(Numenius hudsonicus)
A – rare vagrant
Little whimbrel
(Numenius minutus)
A – rare vagrant
Eskimo curlew
(Numenius borealis)		B – extinct
Curlew
(Numenius arquata)
A – resident breeding species
Bar-tailed godwit
(Limosa lapponica)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Black-tailed godwit
(Limosa limosa)
A – winter visitor, passage migrant and scarce summer breeding species
Hudsonian godwit
(Limosa haemastica)
A – rare vagrant
Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres)
A – resident breeding species
Great knot
(Calidris tenuirostris)
A – rare vagrant
Knot
(Calidris canutus)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Ruff
(Calidris pugnax)
A – passage migrant and scarce breeding resident
Broad-billed sandpiper
(Calidris falcinellus)
A – rare vagrant
Sharp-tailed sandpiper
(Calidris acuminata)
A – rare vagrant
Stilt sandpiper
(Calidris himantopus)
A – rare vagrant
Curlew sandpiper
(Calidris ferruginea)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Temminck's stint
(Calidris temminckii)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Long-toed stint
(Calidris subminuta)
A – rare vagrant
Red-necked stint
(Calidris ruficollis)
A – rare vagrant
Sanderling
(Calidris alba)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce breeder
Purple sandpiper
(Calidris maritima)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Baird's sandpiper
(Calidris bairdii)
A – rare vagrant
Little stint
(Calidris minuta)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Least sandpiper
(Calidris minutilla)
A – rare vagrant
White-rumped sandpiper
(Calidris fuscicollis)
A – scarce migrant
Buff-breasted sandpiper
(Calidris subruficollis)
A – passage migrant
Pectoral sandpiper
(Calidris melanotos)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Semipalmated sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla)
A – rare vagrant
Western sandpiper
(Calidris mauri)
A – rare vagrant
Long-billed dowitcher
(Limnodromus scolopaceus)
A – rare vagrant
Short-billed dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus)
A – rare vagrant
Woodcock
(Scolopax rusticola)
A – resident breeding species
Jack snipe
(Lymnocryptes minimus)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Great snipe
(Gallinago media)
A – rare vagrant
Snipe
(Gallinago gallinago)
A – resident breeding species and summer visitor
Wilson's snipe
(Gallinago delicata)
A – rare vagrant
Terek sandpiper
(Xenus cinereus)
A – rare vagrant
Wilson's phalarope
(Phalaropus tricolor)
A – rare vagrant
Red-necked phalarope
(Phalaropus lobatus)
A – winter visitor: scarce and localised summer breeding in far North
Grey phalarope
(Phalaropus fulicaria)
A – scarce winter visitor
Common sandpiper
(Actitis hypoleucos)
A – resident breeding species and passage migrant
Spotted sandpiper
(Actitis macularius)
A – rare vagrant
Green sandpiper
(Tringa ochropus)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Solitary sandpiper
(Tringa solitaria)
A – rare vagrant
Grey-tailed tattler
(Tringa brevipes)
A – rare vagrant
Lesser yellowlegs
(Tringa flavipes)
A – scarce migrant, formerly a rare vagrant[8]
Redshank
(Tringa totanus)
A – resident breeding species
Marsh sandpiper
(Tringa stagnatilis)
A – rare vagrant
Wood sandpiper
(Tringa glareola)
A – passage migrant and rare localised breeder in far North
Spotted redshank
(Tringa erythropus)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Greenshank
(Tringa nebularia)
A – resident breeding species and passage migrant
Greater yellowlegs
(Tringa melanoleuca)
A – rare vagrant

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

A family of slender, long-winged wading birds.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Cream-coloured courser
(Cursorius cursor)
A – rare vagrant
Collared pratincole
(Glareola pratincola)
A – rare vagrant
Oriental pratincole
(Glareola maldivarum)
A – rare vagrant
Black-winged pratincole
(Glareola nordmanni)
A – rare vagrant

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Medium to large seabirds with grey, white and black plumage, webbed feet and strong bills. Many are opportunistic and adaptable feeders.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Kittiwake
(Rissa tridactyla)
A – breeding summer visitor and resident species
Ivory gull
(Pagophila eburnea)
A – rare vagrant
Sabine's gull
(Xema sabini)
A – scarce winter visitor
Slender-billed gull
(Chroicocephalus genei)
A – rare vagrant
Bonaparte's gull
(Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
A – rare vagrant
Black-headed gull
(Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
A – resident breeding species
Little gull
(Hydrocoloeus minutus)
A – winter visitor, occasional breeder
Ross's gull
(Rhodostethia rosea)
A – rare vagrant
Laughing gull
(Leucophaeus atricilla)
A – rare vagrant
Franklin's gull
(Leucophaeus pipixcan)
A – rare vagrant
Audouin's gull
(Ichthyaetus audouinii)
A – rare vagrant
Mediterranean gull
(Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)
A – breeding summer visitor, and resident in south.
Great black-headed gull
(Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
B – rare vagrant
Common gull
(Larus canus)
A – resident breeding species, winter visitor and passage migrant
Ring-billed gull
(Larus delawarensis)
A – scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Great black-backed gull
(Larus marinus)
A – resident breeding species and passage migrant
Kelp gull
(Larus dominicanus)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2022[9][4]
Glaucous-winged gull
(Larus glaucescens)
A – rare vagrant
Glaucous gull
(Larus hyperboreus)
A – winter visitor; has bred
Iceland gull
(Larus glaucoides)
A – scarce winter visitor
European herring gull
(Larus argentatus)
A – resident breeding species
American herring gull
(Larus smithsonianus)
A – rare vagrant
Caspian gull
(Larus cachinnans)
A – scarce migrant
Yellow-legged gull
(Larus michahellis)
A – non-breeding late-summer visitor and passage migrant; has bred[10]
Slaty-backed gull
(Larus schistisagus)
A – rare vagrant
Lesser black-backed gull
(Larus fuscus)
A – resident breeding species and passage migrant
Gull-billed tern
(Gelochelidon nilotica)
A – rare vagrant; has bred
Caspian tern
(Hydroprogne caspia)
A – rare vagrant
Royal tern
(Thalasseus maximus)
A – rare vagrant
Lesser crested tern
(Thalasseus bengalensis)
A – rare vagrant
Sandwich tern
(Thalasseus sandvicensis)
A – breeding summer visitor
Cabot's tern
(Thalasseus acuflavida)
A – rare vagrant
Elegant tern
(Thalasseus elegans)
A – rare vagrant
Little tern
(Sternula albifrons)
A – breeding summer visitor
Least tern
(Sternula antillarum)
A – rare vagrant
Aleutian tern
(Onychoprion aleutica)
A – rare vagrant
Bridled tern
(Onychoprion anaethetus)
A – rare vagrant
Sooty tern
(Onychoprion fuscata)
A – rare vagrant
Roseate tern
(Sterna dougallii)
A – scarce breeding summer visitor
Common tern
(Sterna hirundo)
A – breeding summer visitor
Arctic tern
(Sterna paradisaea)
A – breeding summer visitor
Forster's tern
(Sterna forsteri)
A – rare vagrant
Whiskered tern
(Chlidonias hybridus)
A – rare vagrant
White-winged black tern
(Chlidonias leucopterus)
A – scarce migrant
Black tern
(Chlidonias niger)
A – passage migrant, occasional breeder

Skuas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Medium to large seabirds with mainly grey or brown plumage, sharp claws and a hooked tip to the bill. They chase other seabirds to force them to drop their catches.

Common and binomial names Image Status
South Polar skua
(Stercorarius maccormicki)
A – rare vagrant[11]
Great skua
(Stercorarius skua)
A – passage migrant and localised summer breeder
Pomarine skua
(Stercorarius pomarinus)
A – passage migrant
Arctic skua
(Stercorarius parasiticus)
A – passage migrant and localised summer breeder
Long-tailed skua
(Stercorarius longicaudus)
A – passage migrant

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

A family of seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins, with their black-and-white colours, upright posture and some of their habits, but which are able to fly.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Little auk
(Alle alle)
A – rare winter visitor
Brünnich's guillemot
(Uria lomvia)
A – rare vagrant
Common guillemot
(Uria aalge)
A – breeding summer visitor and resident species
Razorbill
(Alca torda)
A – breeding summer visitor and resident species
Great auk
(Pinguinus impennis)
B – extinct
Black guillemot
(Cepphus grylle)
A – resident localised breeding species
Long-billed murrelet
(Brachyramphus perdix)
A – rare vagrant
Ancient murrelet
(Synthliboramphus antiquus)
A – rare vagrant
Puffin
(Fratercula arctica)
A – breeding summer visitor
Tufted puffin
(Fratercula cirrhata)
A – rare vagrant

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Red-billed tropicbird
(Phaethon aethereus)
A – rare vagrant

Divers

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Divers are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. They swim well and fly adequately but are almost helpless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body. They feed on fish and other aquatic animals.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Red-throated diver
(Gavia stellata)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Black-throated diver
(Gavia arctica)
A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Pacific diver
(Gavia pacifica)
A – rare vagrant
Great northern diver
(Gavia immer)
A – winter visitor; has bred
White-billed diver
(Gavia adamsii)
A – rare vagrant

Southern storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The southern storm petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on plankton and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. They nest in colonies on the ground, most often in burrows.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Wilson's storm petrel
(Oceanites oceanicus)
A – rare vagrant, more regularly seen well offshore
White-faced storm petrel
(Pelagodroma marina)
A – rare vagrant

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest flying birds, with long, narrow wings for gliding. The majority are found in the Southern Hemisphere with only vagrants occurring in the North Atlantic.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Black-browed albatross
(Thalassarche melanophris)
A – rare vagrant
Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross
(Thalassarche chlororhynchos)
A – rare vagrant

Northern storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The northern storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on plankton and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. They nest in colonies on the ground, most often in burrows.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Storm petrel
(Hydrobates pelagicus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Swinhoe's petrel
(Hydrobates monorhis)
A – rare vagrant
Leach's petrel
(Hydrobates leucorhous)
A – breeding summer visitor

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

These are highly pelagic birds with long, narrow wings and tube-shaped nostrils. They feed at sea on fish, squid and other marine life. They come to land to breed in colonies, nesting in burrows or on cliffs.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Fulmar
(Fulmarus glacialis)
A – resident and migrant breeder, passage migrant
Zino's petrel
(Pterodroma madeira)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2020[12][13]
Black-capped petrel
(Pterodroma hasitata)
B – rare vagrant
White-chinned petrel
(Procellaria aequinoctialis)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2020
Scopoli's shearwater
(Calonectris diomedea)
A – rare vagrant
Cory's shearwater
(Calonectris borealis)
A – scarce migrant
Sooty shearwater
(Ardenna grisea)
A – passage migrant
Great shearwater
(Ardenna gravis)
A – passage migrant
Manx shearwater
(Puffinus puffinus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Yelkouan shearwater
(Puffinus yelkouan)
A – rare vagrant
Balearic shearwater
(Puffinus mauretanicus)
A – passage migrant
Barolo shearwater
(Puffinus baroli)
A – rare vagrant

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They fly with the neck extended.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Black stork
(Ciconia nigra)
A – rare vagrant
White stork
(Ciconia ciconia)
A – scarce migrant, formerly bred. Birds from a reintroduced population bred at Knepp Wildland in 2020.

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white, or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Ascension frigatebird
(Fregata aquila)
A – rare vagrant
Magnificent frigatebird
(Fregata magnificens)
A – rare vagrant

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

Gannets are large seabirds that plunge-dive for fish and nest in large colonies. They have a torpedo-shaped body, long, narrow, pointed wings and a fairly long tail. There are ten species worldwide with three in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Gannet
(Morus bassanus)
A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Red-footed booby
(Sula sula)
A – rare vagrant
Brown booby
(Sula leucogaster)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2019[14]

Cormorants and shag

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large aquatic birds with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin and sharply hooked for catching fish and aquatic invertebrates. They nest in colonies by water, usually by the sea or on the banks of rivers.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax carbo)
A – resident breeding species
Shag
(Gulosus aristotelis)
A – resident breeding species
Double-crested cormorant
(Nannopterum auritum)
A – rare vagrant

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

A family of long-legged, long-necked wading birds. Ibises have long, curved bills. Spoonbils have a flattened bill, wider at the tip.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Glossy ibis
(Plegadis falcinellus)
A – scarce migrant, formerly a rare vagrant;[8] has bred[15]
Spoonbill
(Platalea leucorodia)
A – scarce migrant, recently bred

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive. They all fly with their necks retracted. The sharp bill is used to catch fish, amphibians and other animals. Many species nest in colonies, often in trees. There are 64 species worldwide and 15 in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Bittern
(Botaurus stellaris)
A – resident breeding species and winter migrant
American bittern
(Botaurus lentiginosus)
A – rare vagrant
Least bittern
(Ixobrychus exilis)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2022[16][4]
Little bittern
(Ixobrychus minutus)
A – scarce migrant, recently bred
Night-heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax)
A – scarce migrant, has bred
Green heron
(Butorides virescens)
A – rare vagrant
Squacco heron
(Ardeola ralloides)
A – rare vagrant
Chinese pond heron
(Ardeola bacchus)
A – rare vagrant
Cattle egret
(Bubulcus ibis)
A – scarce but increasing resident, recently bred
Grey heron
(Ardea cinerea)
A – resident breeding species and winter migrant
Great blue heron
(Ardea herodias)
A – rare vagrant
Purple heron
(Ardea purpurea)
A – scarce migrant, recently bred
Great white egret
(Ardea alba)
A – resident breeding species, first bred 2012
Snowy egret
(Egretta thula)
A – rare vagrant
Little egret
(Egretta garzetta)
A – resident breeding species and passage migrant

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Dalmatian pelican
(Pelecanus crispus)
A – very rare migrant[17]

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

A large fish-eating bird of prey belonging to a family of its own. It is mainly brown above and white below with long, angled wings.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
A – breeding summer visitor

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

A family of birds of prey which includes hawks, buzzards, eagles, kites and harriers. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Egyptian vulture
(Neophron percnopterus)
B – rare vagrant
Honey-buzzard
(Pernis apivorus)
A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Short-toed eagle
(Circaetus gallicus)
A – rare vagrant
Spotted eagle
(Clanga clanga)
A – rare vagrant
Golden eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos)
A – resident breeding species
Sparrowhawk
(Accipiter nisus)
A – resident breeder and passage migrant
Goshawk
(Accipiter gentilis)
A & C – resident breeder and naturalised escapes
Marsh harrier
(Circus aeruginosus)
A – resident breeder and passage migrant
Hen harrier
(Circus cyaneus)
A – resident breeder, winter visitor and passage migrant
Northern harrier
(Circus hudsonius)
A – rare vagrant
Pallid harrier
(Circus macrourus)
A – rare vagrant
Montagu's harrier
(Circus pygargus)
A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Red kite
(Milvus milvus)
A & C – resident breeder and widespread introductions
Black kite
(Milvus migrans)
A – scarce migrant
White-tailed eagle
(Haliaeetus albicilla)
A & C – resident breeder; reintroduction projects underway and ongoing
Rough-legged buzzard
(Buteo lagopus)
A – winter visitor
Buzzard
(Buteo buteo)
A – resident breeder and passage migrant

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Barn owl
(Tyto alba)
A – resident breeding species

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disc.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Tengmalm's owl
(Aegolius funereus)
A – rare vagrant
Little owl
(Athene noctua)
C – resident introduced population
Hawk owl
(Surnia ulula)
A – rare vagrant
Scops owl
(Otus scops)
A – rare vagrant
Long-eared owl
(Asio otus)
A – scarce resident breeding species
Short-eared owl
(Asio flammeus)
A – resident breeding species or winter visitor
Snowy owl
(Bubo scandiacus)
A – rare vagrant; has bred Shetland Islands
Tawny owl
(Strix aluco)
A – resident breeding species

Hoopoe

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

A small family with a long curved bills, crests and black-and-white striped wings and tails.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Eurasian hoopoe
(Upupa epops)
A – scarce summer visitor, occasional breeder

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

A small family of colourful, medium-sized birds with a crow-like shape that feed mainly on insects.

Common and binomial names Image Status
European roller
(Coracias garrulus)
A – rare vagrant

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Kingfisher
(Alcedo atthis)
A – resident breeding species
Belted kingfisher
(Megaceryle alcyon)
A – rare vagrant

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

A group of near-passerine birds characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail-feathers.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Blue-cheeked bee-eater
(Merops persicus)
A – rare vagrant
Bee-eater
(Merops apiaster)
A – scarce summer visitor; occasional breeder

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Wryneck
(Jynx torquilla)
A – rare passage migrant; occasional breeder
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
(Sphyrapicus varius)
A – rare vagrant
Lesser spotted woodpecker
(Dryobates minor)
A – resident breeding species
Great spotted woodpecker
(Dendrocopos major)
A – resident breeding species
Green woodpecker
(Picus viridis)
A – resident breeding species

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

A family of small to medium-sized, diurnal birds of prey with pointed wings. They do not build their own nests and mainly catch prey in the air.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Lesser kestrel
(Falco naumanni)
A – rare vagrant
Kestrel
(Falco tinnunculus)
A – resident breeding species
American kestrel
(Falco sparverius)
A – rare vagrant
Red-footed falcon
(Falco vespertinus)
A – scarce migrant
Amur falcon
(Falco amurensis)
A – rare vagrant
Eleonora's falcon
(Falco eleonorae)
A – rare vagrant
Merlin
(Falco columbarius)
A – resident breeding species
Hobby
(Falco subbuteo)
A – breeding summer visitor
Gyr falcon
(Falco rusticolus)
A – rare vagrant
Peregrine
(Falco peregrinus)
A – resident breeding species

Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. They are found mainly in areas with warm climates.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Ring-necked parakeet
(Psittacula krameri)
C – resident introduced population

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

A large family from the Americas.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Eastern phoebe
(Sayornis phoebe)
A – rare vagrant
Yellow-bellied flycatcher
(Empidonax flaviventris)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2020[18]
Acadian flycatcher
(Empidonax virescens)
A – rare vagrant
Alder flycatcher
(Empidonax alnorum)
A – rare vagrant
Eastern kingbird
(Tyrannus tyrannus)
A – rare vagrant

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Brown shrike
(Lanius cristatus)
A – rare vagrant
Red-backed shrike
(Lanius collurio)
A – scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder
Daurian shrike
(Lanius isabellinus)
A – rare vagrant
Turkestan shrike
(Lanius phoenicuroides)
A – rare vagrant
Long-tailed shrike
(Lanius schach)
A – rare vagrant
Lesser grey shrike
(Lanius minor)
A – rare vagrant
Great grey shrike
(Lanius excubitor)
A – scarce winter visitor
Woodchat shrike
(Lanius senator)
A – scarce migrant
Masked shrike
(Lanius nubicus)
A – rare vagrant

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Yellow-throated vireo
(Vireo flavifrons)
A – rare vagrant
Philadelphia vireo
(Vireo philadelphicus)
A – rare vagrant
Red-eyed vireo
(Vireo olivaceus)
A – rare vagrant

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The orioles are medium-sized passerines, mostly with bright and showy plumage, the females often have duller plumage than the males The beak is long, slightly curved and hooked. Orioles are arboreal and tend to feed in the canopy. There are 36 species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in Great Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Golden oriole
(Oriolus oriolus)
A – scarce breeding summer visitor

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The crows and their relatives are fairly large birds with strong bills and are usually intelligent and adaptable.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Jay
(Garrulus glandarius)
A – resident breeding species
Magpie
(Pica pica)
A – resident breeding species
Nutcracker
(Nucifraga caryocatactes)
A – rare vagrant
Chough
(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
A – resident breeding species
Jackdaw
(Coloeus monedula)
A – resident breeding species
Rook
(Corvus frugilegus)
A – resident breeding species
Carrion crow
(Corvus corone)
A – resident breeding species
Hooded crow
(Corvus cornix)
A – resident breeding species
Raven
(Corvus corax)
A – resident breeding species

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterised by soft, silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Waxwing
(Bombycilla garrulus)
A – winter visitor in highly variable numbers
Cedar waxwing
(Bombycilla cedrorum)
A – rare vagrant

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

Tits are mainly small, stocky, woodland species with short stout bills. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Coal tit
(Periparus ater)
A – resident breeding species
Crested tit
(Lophophanes cristatus)
A – resident breeding species
Marsh tit
(Poecile palustris)
A – resident breeding species
Willow tit
(Poecile montana)
A – resident breeding species
Blue tit
(Cyanistes caeruleus)
A – resident breeding species
Great tit
(Parus major)
A – resident breeding species

Penduline tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

Small birds with finely pointed bills that build purse-like nests hanging from a branch.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Penduline tit
(Remiz pendulinus)
A – rare vagrant

Bearded tit

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Panuridae

A single species formerly placed in the Sylviidae family.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Bearded tit
(Panurus biarmicus)
A – resident breeding species

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Woodlark
(Lullula arborea)
A – scarce resident breeding species and summer migrant
White-winged lark
(Alauda leucoptera)
A – rare vagrant
Skylark
(Alauda arvensis)
A – resident breeding species
Crested lark
(Galerida cristata)
A – rare vagrant
Shore lark
(Eremophila alpestris)
A – scarce winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Short-toed lark
(Calandrella brachydactyla)
A – scarce migrant
Bimaculated lark
(Melanocorypha bimaculata)
A – rare vagrant
Calandra lark
(Melanocorypha calandra)
A – rare vagrant
Black lark
(Melanocorypha yeltoniensis)
A – rare vagrant

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Sand martin
(Riparia riparia)
A – breeding summer visitor
Tree swallow
(Tachycineta bicolor)
A – rare vagrant
Purple martin
(Progne subis)
A – rare vagrant
Crag martin
(Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
A – rare vagrant
Swallow
(Hirundo rustica)
A – breeding summer visitor
House martin
(Delichon urbicum)
A – breeding summer visitor
Red-rumped swallow
(Cecropis daurica)
A – scarce migrant
American cliff swallow
(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
A – rare vagrant

Bush warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cettiidae

A recently split family formerly placed in the Sylviidae family. There are 32 species worldwide, with one found in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Cetti's warbler
(Cettia cetti)
A – resident breeding species

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Small, long-tailed birds that typically live in flocks for much of the year. There are 13 species worldwide with one in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Long-tailed tit
(Aegithalos caudatus)
A – resident breeding species

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

A recently split family of small insectivorous birds, formerly included within the Sylviidae. There are 81 species, with 16 in Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Wood warbler
(Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
A – breeding summer visitor
Western Bonelli's warbler
(Phylloscopus bonelli)
A – scarce migrant
Eastern Bonelli's warbler
(Phylloscopus orientalis)
A – rare vagrant
Hume's warbler
(Phylloscopus humei)
A – rare vagrant
Yellow-browed warbler
(Phylloscopus inornatus)
A – scarce migrant
Pallas's warbler
(Phylloscopus proregulus)
A – scarce migrant
Radde's warbler
(Phylloscopus schwarzi)
A – scarce migrant
Sulphur-bellied warbler
(Phylloscopus griseolus)
A – rare vagrant; first reported 2021[19]
Dusky warbler
(Phylloscopus fuscatus)
A – scarce migrant
Willow warbler
(Phylloscopus trochilus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Chiffchaff
(Phylloscopus collybita)
A – breeding summer visitor
Iberian chiffchaff
(Phylloscopus ibericus)
A – rare vagrant
Eastern crowned warbler
(Phylloscopus coronatus)
A – rare vagrant
Green warbler
(Phylloscopus nitidus)
A – rare vagrant
Two-barred greenish warbler
(Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus)
A – scarce migrant
Greenish warbler
(Phylloscopus trochiloides)
A – scarce migrant
Pale-legged leaf warbler
(Phylloscopus tenellipes)
A – rare vagrant
Arctic warbler
(Phylloscopus borealis)
A – scarce migrant

Reed warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

A small, insectivorous and vocal group of species, formerly included within the family Sylviidae.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Great reed warbler
(Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
A – rare vagrant; has bred
Aquatic warbler
(Acrocephalus paludicola)
A – formerly a scarce migrant, now a rare vagrant[8]
Sedge warbler
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Paddyfield warbler
(Acrocephalus agricola)
A – rare vagrant
Blyth's reed warbler
(Acrocephalus dumetorum)
A – formerly a rare vagrant, now a scarce migrant[8]
Reed warbler
(Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Marsh warbler
(Acrocephalus palustris)
A – breeding summer visitor
Thick-billed warbler
(Arundinax aedon)
A – rare vagrant
Booted warbler
(Iduna caligata)
A – rare vagrant
Sykes's warbler
(Iduna rama)
A – rare vagrant
Eastern olivaceous warbler
(Iduna pallida)
A – rare vagrant
Olive-tree warbler
(Hippolais olivetorum)
A – rare vagrant
Melodious warbler
(Hippolais polyglotta)
A – scarce migrant, occasional breeder
Icterine warbler
(Hippolais icterina)
A – scarce migrant, occasional breeder

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

A recently split family, previously part of the family Sylviidae.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Pallas's grasshopper warbler
(Helopsaltes certhiola)
A – rare vagrant
Lanceolated warbler
(Locustella lanceolata)
A – rare vagrant
River warbler
(Locustella fluviatilis)
A – rare vagrant
Savi's warbler
(Locustella luscinioides)
A – rare breeding summer visitor
Grasshopper warbler
(Locustella naevia)
A – breeding summer visitor

Cisticolas and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

A group of insectivorous species, previously included within the family Sylviidae.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Fan-tailed warbler
(Cisticola juncidis)
A – rare vagrant

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

A group of small insectivorous birds.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Blackcap
(Sylvia atricapilla)
A – resident breeding species and summer visitor
Garden warbler
(Sylvia borin)
A – breeding summer visitor
Barred warbler
(Curruca nisoria)
A – passage migrant
Lesser whitethroat
(Curruca curruca)
A – breeding summer visitor
Western Orphean warbler
(Curucca hortensis)
A – rare vagrant
Eastern Orphean warbler
(Curucca crassirostris)
A – rare vagrant
Asian desert warbler
(Curruca nana)
A – rare vagrant
Rüppell's warbler
(Curruca ruppeli)
A – rare vagrant
Sardinian warbler
(Curruca melanocephala)
A – rare vagrant
Western subalpine warbler
(Curruca iberiae)
A – rare vagrant
Moltoni's subalpine warbler
(Curruca subalpina)
A – rare vagrant
Eastern subalpine warbler
(Curruca cantillans)
A – rare vagrant
Whitethroat
(Curruca communis)
A – breeding summer visitor
Spectacled warbler
(Curruca conspicillata)
A – rare vagrant
Marmora's warbler
(Curruca sarda)
A – rare vagrant
Dartford warbler
(Curruca undata)
A – resident breeding species

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

A family of very small birds.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Ruby-crowned kinglet
(Corthylio calendula)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2020[20]
Goldcrest
(Regulus regulus)
A – resident breeding species
Firecrest
(Regulus ignicapillus)
A – scarce resident breeding species and passage migrant

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Wren
(Troglodytes troglodytes)
A – resident breeding species

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds with the unusual ability to climb down trees head-first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Red-breasted nuthatch
(Sitta canadensis)
A – rare vagrant
Nuthatch
(Sitta europaea)
A – resident breeding species

Wallcreeper

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tichodromadidae

One species, in its own family, a rare visitor to Britain.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Wallcreeper
(Tichodroma muraria)
A – rare vagrant

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin, pointed, down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Treecreeper
(Certhia familiaris)
A – resident breeding species
Short-toed treecreeper
(Certhia brachydactyla)
A – rare vagrant

Mockingbirds and thrashers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

Medium-sized passerine birds with long tails. Some are notable for their ability to mimic sounds such as other birds' songs.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Grey catbird
(Dumetella carolinensis)
A – rare vagrant (two records)
Northern mockingbird
(Mimus polyglottos)
A – rare vagrant
Brown thrasher
(Toxostoma rufum)
A – rare vagrant (one record)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Rose-coloured starling
(Pastor roseus)
Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)
Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)
A – rare vagrant
Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris)
A – resident breeding species and winter visitor

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Varied thrush
(Ixoreus naevius)
A – very rare vagrant (two records as of 2023)
Wood thrush
(Hylocichla mustelina)
A – rare vagrant
Swainson's thrush
(Catharus ustulatus)
A – rare vagrant
Hermit thrush
(Catharus guttatus)
A – rare vagrant
Grey-cheeked thrush
(Catharus minimus)
A – rare vagrant
Veery
(Catharus fuscescens)
A – rare vagrant
White's thrush
(Zoothera dauma)
A – rare vagrant
Siberian thrush
(Geokichla sibirica)
A – rare vagrant
Song thrush
(Turdus philomelos)
A – resident breeding species
Mistle thrush
(Turdus viscivorus)
A – resident breeding species
Redwing
(Turdus iliacus)
A – winter visitor, rare breeder
Blackbird
(Turdus merula)
A – resident breeding species
Eyebrowed thrush
(Turdus obscurus)
A – rare vagrant
Fieldfare
(Turdus pilaris)
A – winter visitor, rare breeder
Ring ouzel
(Turdus torquatus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Black-throated thrush
(Turdus atrogularis)
A – rare vagrant
Red-throated thrush
(Turdus ruficollis)
A – rare vagrant
Dusky thrush
(Turdus eunomus)
A – rare vagrant
Naumann's thrush
(Turdus naumanni)
A – rare vagrant
American robin
(Turdus migratorius)
A – rare vagrant

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae. Subfamily: Muscicapinae

The flycatchers and chats are small, mainly insectivorous birds. The flycatchers fly out from a perch to catch insects in the air.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Rufous-tailed scrub robin
(Cercotrichas galactotes)
A – rare vagrant
Spotted flycatcher
(Muscicapa striata)
A – breeding summer visitor
Asian brown flycatcher
(Muscicapa dauurica)
A – rare vagrant
Robin
(Erithacus rubecula)
A – resident breeding species
Siberian blue robin
(Larvivora cyanea)
A – rare vagrant
Rufous-tailed robin
(Larvivora sibilans)
A – rare vagrant
Bluethroat
(Luscinia svecica)
A – scarce migrant, occasional breeder
Thrush nightingale
(Luscinia luscinia)
A – rare vagrant
Nightingale
(Luscinia megarhynchos)
A – breeding summer visitor
White-throated robin
(Irania gutturalis)
A – rare vagrant
Siberian rubythroat
(Calliope calliope)
A – rare vagrant
Red-flanked bluetail
(Tarsiger cyanurus)
A – scarce migrant, formerly a rare vagrant[8]
Taiga flycatcher
(Ficedula albicilla)
A – rare vagrant
Red-breasted flycatcher
(Ficedula parva)
A – scarce migrant
Pied flycatcher
(Ficedula hypoleuca)
A – breeding summer visitor
Collared flycatcher
(Ficedula albicollis)
A – rare vagrant
Black redstart
(Phoenicurus ochruros)
A – scarce breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor
Redstart
(Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
A – breeding summer visitor
Moussier's redstart
(Phoenicurus moussieri)
A – rare vagrant
Rock thrush
(Monticola saxatilis)
A – rare vagrant
Blue rock thrush
(Monticola solitarius)
A – rare vagrant
Whinchat
(Saxicola rubetra)
A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Stonechat
(Saxicola rubicola)
A – resident breeding species
Siberian stonechat
(Saxicola maurus)
A – rare vagrant
Stejneger's stonechat
(Saxicola stejnegeri)
A – rare vagrant
Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Isabelline wheatear
(Oenanthe isabellina)
A – rare vagrant
Desert wheatear
(Oenanthe deserti)
A – rare vagrant
Western black-eared wheatear
(Oenanthe hispanica)
A – rare vagrant
Eastern black-eared wheatear
(Oenanthe melanoleuca)
A – rare vagrant
Pied wheatear
(Oenanthe pleschanka)
A – rare vagrant
White-crowned black wheatear
(Oenanthe leucopyga)
A – rare vagrant

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dark, dumpy, aquatic birds which are able to forage for food on the beds of rivers.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Dipper
(Cinclus cinclus)
A – resident breeding species

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Sparrows tend to be small, plump, brownish or greyish birds with short tails and short, powerful beaks. They are seed-eaters and they also consume small insects.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Rock sparrow
(Petronia petronia)
A – rare vagrant
Tree sparrow
(Passer montanus)
A – resident breeding species
Spanish sparrow
(Passer hispaniolensis)
A – rare vagrant
House sparrow
(Passer domesticus)
A – resident breeding species

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

A small family of drab, unobtrusive, insectivorous birds with thin, pointed bills.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Alpine accentor
(Prunella collaris)
A – rare vagrant
Siberian accentor
(Prunella montanella)
A – rare vagrant with multiple records in 2016
Dunnock
(Prunella modularis)
A – resident breeding species

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They are slender, ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Yellow wagtail
(Motacilla flava)
Seven races including:
  • Blue-headed wagtail M. f. flava (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)
  • Yellow wagtail M. f. flavissima (subspecies breeding in Britain)
Eastern yellow wagtail
(Motacilla tschutschensis)
A – rare vagrant
Citrine wagtail
(Motacilla citreola)
A – scarce migrant, formerly a rare vagrant[8]
Grey wagtail
(Motacilla cinerea)
A – resident breeding species
Pied wagtail
(Motacilla alba)
A – resident breeding species with two additional visiting races
  • M. a. alba (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)
  • M. a. leucopsis, Amur wagtail (rare vagrant)
  • M. a. yarrelli, pied wagtail (subspecies breeding in Britain)
Richard's pipit
(Anthus richardi)
A – scarce migrant
Blyth's pipit
(Anthus godlewskii)
A – rare vagrant
Tawny pipit
(Anthus campestris)
A – rare vagrant, formerly a scarce migrant[8]
Meadow pipit
(Anthus pratensis)
A – resident breeding species
Tree pipit
(Anthus trivialis)
A – breeding summer visitor
Olive-backed pipit
(Anthus hodgsoni)
A – rare vagrant
Pechora pipit
(Anthus gustavi)
A – rare vagrant
Red-throated pipit
(Anthus cervinus)
A – rare vagrant, formerly a scarce migrant[8]
Buff-bellied pipit
(Anthus rubescens)
A – rare vagrant
Water pipit
(Anthus spinoletta)
A – winter visitor
Rock pipit
(Anthus petrosus)
A – resident breeding species

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Seed-eating passerine birds that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Chaffinch
(Fringilla coelebs)
A – resident breeding species
Brambling
(Fringilla montifringilla)
A – winter visitor, occasional breeder
Evening grosbeak
(Hesperiphona vespertina)
A – rare vagrant
Hawfinch
(Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
A – scarce resident breeding species
Pine grosbeak
(Pinicola enucleator)
A – rare vagrant
Bullfinch
(Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
A – resident breeding species
Trumpeter finch
(Bucanetes githagineus)
A – rare vagrant
Common rosefinch
(Carpodacus erythrinus)
A – scarce migrant, occasional breeder
Greenfinch
(Chloris chloris)
A – resident breeding species
Twite
(Linaria flavirostris)
A – resident breeding species
Linnet
(Linaria cannabina)
A – resident breeding species
Common redpoll
(Acanthis flammea)
A – winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Lesser redpoll
(Acanthis cabaret)
A – resident breeding species
Arctic redpoll
(Acanthis hornemanni)
A – rare vagrant, formerly a scarce migrant[8]
Parrot crossbill
(Loxia pytyopsittacus)
A – resident breeding species
Scottish crossbill
(Loxia scotica)
A – resident endemic breeding species
Crossbill
(Loxia curvirostra)
A – resident breeding species
Two-barred crossbill
(Loxia leucoptera)
A – rare vagrant
Goldfinch
(Carduelis carduelis)
A – resident breeding species
Citril finch
(Carduelis citrinella)
A – rare vagrant
Serin
(Serinus serinus)
A – scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder
Siskin
(Spinus spinus)
A – resident breeding species and winter visitor

Longspurs and arctic buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

A small family of migratory seed eating birds.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Lapland bunting
(Calcarius lapponicus)
A – winter visitor, occasional breeder
Snow bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis)
A – winter visitor and scarce breeder

Old World buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae. A large group of seed-eating passerine birds with a distinctively shaped bill.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Corn bunting
(Emberiza calandra)
A – resident breeding species
Yellowhammer
(Emberiza citrinella)
A – resident breeding species
Pine bunting
(Emberiza leucocephalos)
A – rare vagrant
Rock bunting
(Emberiza cia)
A – rare vagrant
Ortolan bunting
(Emberiza hortulana)
A – scarce migrant
Cretzschmar's bunting
(Emberiza caesia)
A – rare vagrant
Cirl bunting
(Emberiza cirlus)
A – resident breeding species
Chestnut-eared bunting
(Emberiza fucata)
A – rare vagrant
Little bunting
(Emberiza pusilla)
A – scarce migrant
Yellow-browed bunting
(Emberiza chrysophrys)
A – rare vagrant
Rustic bunting
(Emberiza rustica)
A – rare vagrant, formerly a scarce migrant[8]
Yellow-breasted bunting
(Emberiza aureola)
A – rare vagrant
Chestnut bunting
(Emberiza rutila)
A – rare vagrant
Black-headed bunting
(Emberiza melanocephala)
A – rare vagrant
Black-faced bunting
(Emberiza spodocephala)
A – rare vagrant
Pallas's reed bunting
(Emberiza pallasi)
A – rare vagrant
Reed bunting
(Emberiza schoeniclus)
A – resident breeding species

New World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae.

A seed eating group of species, recently split from the family Emberizidae.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Lark sparrow
(Chondestes grammacus)
A – rare vagrant
Dark-eyed junco
(junco hyemalis)
A – rare vagrant
White-crowned sparrow
(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
A – rare vagrant
White-throated sparrow
(Zonotrichia albicollis)
A – rare vagrant
Savannah sparrow
(Passerculus sandwichensis)
A – rare vagrant
Song sparrow
(Melospiza melodia)
A – rare vagrant
Eastern towhee
(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
A – rare vagrant

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae.

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Bobolink
(Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
A – rare vagrant
Baltimore oriole
(Icterus galbula)
A – rare vagrant
Red-winged blackbird
(Agelaius phoeniceus)
A – rare vagrant
Brown-headed cowbird
(Molothrus ater)
A – rare vagrant

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

A group of small, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal and insectivorous.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Ovenbird
(Seiurus aurocapilla)
A – rare vagrant
Northern waterthrush
(Parkesia noveboracensis)
A – rare vagrant
Golden-winged warbler
(Vermivora chrysoptera)
A – rare vagrant
Black-and-white warbler
(Mniotilta varia)
A – rare vagrant
Tennessee warbler
(Leiothlypis peregrina)
A – rare vagrant
Common yellowthroat
(Geothlypis trichas)
A – rare vagrant
Hooded warbler
(Setophaga citrina)
A – rare vagrant
American redstart
(Setophaga ruticilla)
A – rare vagrant
Cape May warbler
(Setophaga tigrina)
A – rare vagrant
Northern parula
(Setophaga americana)
A – rare vagrant
Magnolia warbler
(Setophaga magnolia)
A – rare vagrant
Bay-breasted warbler
(Setophaga castanea)
A – rare vagrant
Blackburnian warbler
(Setophaga fusca)
A – rare vagrant
Yellow warbler
(Setophaga petechia)
A – rare vagrant
Chestnut-sided warbler
(Setophaga pensylvanica)
A – rare vagrant
Blackpoll warbler
(Setophaga striata)
A – rare vagrant
Yellow-rumped warbler
(Setophaga coronata)
A – rare vagrant
Wilson's warbler
(Cardellina pusilla)
A – rare vagrant

Cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Summer tanager
(Piranga rubra)
A – rare vagrant
Scarlet tanager
(Piranga olivacea)
A – rare vagrant
Rose-breasted grosbeak
(Pheucticus ludovicianus)
A – rare vagrant
Indigo bunting
(Passerina cyanea)
A – rare vagrant

The links above lead to family accounts and individual species. Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so other arrangements may be found, as in Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy.

Species awaiting acceptance

The following species have been recorded recently and the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee has not yet made a decision on whether to accept them onto the British List.

Common and binomial names Image Status
Fea's petrel
(Pterodroma feae)
Feas petrel
Feas petrel
A – rare vagrant, previously accepted onto the British list as Fea's petrel but since split into three distinct species
Grey-headed lapwing

(Vanellus cinereus)
A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2023[21]
Canada warbler (Cardellina canadensis) A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2023[22]

See also

References
  1. British Ornithologists' Union (2013). "The British List". Ibis. 155: 635–676. doi:10.1111/ibi.12069.
  2. "Maintaining the British List". BOU. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  3. BOURC. "Species categories". Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  4. "Changes to the British List". British Ornithologists' Union. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. "Three species added to British list". BirdGuides Ltd. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  6. "Ross's Goose added to Category A of British list". Birdguides. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  7. Harvey, Robert (2018). "Western Swamphen in Suffolk and Lincolnshire:new to Britain". British Birds. 111 (9): 512–514.
  8. "BBRC Species". BBRC. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  9. "Kelp gull first sighting in UK is 'extraordinary'". BBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  10. "Yellow-legged Gull". BTO. Retrieved 2 August 2023. ...including a small number of breeding pairs along the south coast
  11. "South Polar Skua added to British list". Birdguides. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  12. "Zino's Petrel of Scilly – a first for Britain". BirdGuides. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  13. "Changes to the British List (17 June 2022)". BOURC. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  14. "Changes to the British List (8 June 2021)". British Ornithologists' Union. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  15. Hutchinson, Steve (13 September 2023). "Glossy Ibis breeds in Britain for first time". BirdGuides. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  16. Viles, Sam (10 October 2022). "Review of the Week: 3-9 October 2022". BirdGuides. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  17. "Dalmatian pelican seen 'for first time' in UK at Land's End". BBC News. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  18. "Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Tiree". BirdGuides. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  19. "Sulphur-bellied Warbler in Devon". BirdGuides. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  20. "First Ruby-crowned Kinglet for Britain on Barra". BirdGuides. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  21. "Grey-headed lapwing: Sighting in Northumberland is UK first". BBC News. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  22. Weston, Phoebe (25 September 2023). "'In total shock': birdwatchers amazed as 'uber-rare' American birds land in UK". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
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