Bird list

This list is not intended to be comprehensive in terms of species seen in the UK – although based on the full BTO list I have removed all the real rarities and made a list based on what I’ve seen in the past, and what I think I’m likely to maybe see this year: I can always add species back if I see something really unusual 🙂

The “Will I see it?” column is given1-5 (1 = most likely, 5 = least likely) based on my past experience and limited knowledge of distribution, rather than on anything scientific!

You can click on the columns or use the search function to re-order the data – allowing you to quickly find out what we’ve seen so far, or to locate a particular species.

COMMON NAME (UK)LATIN NAMEWILL I SEE IT?SEEN IN 2023?FIRST DATE SEEN
(mm-month name/dd)
STEVE'S NOTES
Brent GooseBranta bernicla1y01-Jan/04
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollis5
Canada GooseBranta canadensis1y02-Feb/11
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis1y03-Mar/30
Snow GooseAnser caerulescens4
Greylag GooseAnser anser1y01-Jan/03
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalis4
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus1y01-Jan/05
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris5
White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons1y01-Jan/15
Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropus4
Mute SwanCygnus olor1y01-Jan/03
Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus1
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus1y01-Jan/17
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca1y01-Jan/14
ShelduckTadorna tadorna1y01-Jan/04
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea4y02-Feb/10
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata2y05-May/22
Baikal TealSibirionetta formosa5
GarganeySpatula querquedula2y03-Mar/26
Blue-winged TealSpatula discors5
ShovelerSpatula clypeata1y01-Jan/04
GadwallMareca strepera1y01-Jan/09
WigeonMareca penelope1y01-Jan/03
MallardAnas platyrhynchos1y01-Jan/03
PintailAnas acuta1y01-Jan/03
TealAnas crecca1y01-Jan/03
Green-winged TealAnas carolinensis4y02-Feb/19
Red-crested PochardNetta rufina5
PochardAythya ferina1y01-Jan/24
Ferruginous DuckAythya nyroca4
Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris4y04-Apr/06
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula1y01-Jan/24
ScaupAythya marila2y03-Mar/17
EiderSomateria mollissima1y02-Feb/16
Harlequin DuckHistrionicus histrionicus5
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra3y04-Apr/07
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis1y02-Feb/16
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula1y01-Jan/03
SmewMergellus albellus2
GoosanderMergus merganser1y02-Feb/14
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator1y01-Jan/12
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis4
Red GrouseLagopus lagopus1y07-Jul/21
PtarmiganLagopus muta4
CapercaillieTetrao urogallus5
Black GrouseLyrurus tetrix3
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix1y01-Jan/13
PheasantPhasianus colchicus1y01-Jan/03
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa1y01-Jan/08
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus2y05-May/17
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbay03-Mar/24New UK list species
SwiftApus apus1y05-May/07
CuckooCuculus canorus2y05-May/09
Rock DoveColumba livia2y05-May/29
Stock DoveColumba oenas2y08-Aug/12
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus1y01-Jan/01
Turtle DoveStreptopelia turtur2y05-May/07
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto1y01-Jan/06
Water RailRallus aquaticus3y01-Jan/03
CorncrakeCrex crex5
MoorhenGallinula chloropus1y01-Jan/09
CootFulica atra1y01-Jan/09
CraneGrus grus2y03-Mar/02
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis1y01-Jan/05
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena2
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus1y01-Jan/23
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritus2y07-Jul/22
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis2y07-Jul/30
Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemus2y05-May/01
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus1y01-Jan/05
Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus5y05-May/28
AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta1y01-Jan/09
LapwingVanellus vanellus1y01-Jan/04
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria1y01-Jan/09
American Golden PloverPluvialis dominicay06-Jun/17New life-list species
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola1y01-Jan/12
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula1y01-Jan/23
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius1y04-Apr/14
DotterelCharadrius morinellus3y05-May/05
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus3
CurlewNumenius arquata1y01-Jan/04
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2y09-Sep/05
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa1y01-Jan/04
TurnstoneArenaria interpres1y01-Jan/12
KnotCalidris canutus1y06-Jun/17
RuffCalidris pugnax1y01-Jan/09
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferruginea2y05-May/05
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii4y05-May/05
SanderlingCalidris alba2y01-Jan/21
DunlinCalidris alpina1y01-Jan/09
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima3y03-Mar/17
Little StintCalidris minuta3y05-May/15
WoodcockScolopax rusticola3
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus4
SnipeGallinago gallinago1y01-Jan/12
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus5
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius5
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos1y05-May/04
Pectoral sandpiperCalidris melanotosy07-Jul/16
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus3y07-Jul/31
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes4
RedshankTringa totanus1y01-Jan/04
Wood SandpiperTringa glareola2y05-May/12
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus2y07-Jul/06
GreenshankTringa nebularia1y01-Jan/12
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla1y05-May/29
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus1y01-Jan/03
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus2y05-May/07
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus1y04-Apr/11
Common GullLarus canus1y01-Jan/17
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus1y01-Jan/09
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus4
Herring GullLarus argentatus1y01-Jan/01
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis3
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus1y01-Jan/04
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis1y06-Jun/17
Little TernSternula albifrons1y05-May/25
Roseate TernSterna dougallii4
Common TernSterna hirundo1y05-May/07
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea1y06-Jun/10
Black TernChlidonias niger3y06-Jun/10
Great SkuaStercorarius skua4
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus5
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus3
Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudus5
Little AukAlle alle4
Common GuillemotUria aalge1y05-May/29
RazorbillAlca torda1y02-Feb/16
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle2y02-Feb/16
PuffinFratercula arctica1y05-May/29
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata1y02-Feb/16
Black-throated DiverGavia arctica2y07-Jul/23
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2
White-billed DiverGavia adamsii4
Black-browed AlbatrossThalassarche melanophris5
Storm PetrelHydrobates pelagicus4
FulmarFulmarus glacialis1y05-May/29
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus4
GannetMorus bassanus1y02-Feb/19
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo1y01-Jan/05
ShagGulosus aristotelis1y02-Feb/16
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus3y05-May/05
SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia1y03-Mar/01
BitternBotaurus stellaris3y04-Apr/25
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis2y09-Sep/20
Grey HeronArdea cinerea1y01-Jan/03
Purple HeronArdea purpurea4
Night HeronNycticorax nycticoraxy04-Apr/16New UK list species
Great White EgretArdea alba2y01-Jan/01
Little EgretEgretta garzetta1y01-Jan/04
OspreyPandion haliaetus1y06-Jun/01
Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus4y07-Jul/05
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos3
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus1y01-Jan/17
GoshawkAccipiter gentilis5y02-Feb/01New life list species
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus1y01-Jan/04
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus1y01-Jan/17
Pallid HarrierCircus macrourus3y01-Jan/31New life list species
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus5
Red KiteMilvus milvus1y01-Jan/05
White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla3y01-Jan/15
Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus4
BuzzardButeo buteo1y01-Jan/02
Barn OwlTyto alba1y01-Jan/07
Little OwlAthene noctua3y03-Mar/03
Long-eared OwlAsio otus5y01-Jan/13
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus4y09-Sep/09
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus5
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2y01-Jan/19
HoopoeUpupa epops4
KingfisherAlcedo atthis3y01-Jan/19
Bee-eaterMerops apiaster4y07-Jul/03
WryneckJynx torquilla4
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor4
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major1y01-Jan/03
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis1y01-Jan/27
KestrelFalco tinnunculus1y01-Jan/02
MerlinFalco columbarius2y01-Jan/17
HobbyFalco subbuteo2y05-May/01
Gyr FalconFalco rusticolus5
PeregrineFalco peregrinus1y01-Jan/24
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri1y05-May/03
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio5
Lesser Grey ShrikeLanius minor5
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitor4
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus5
JayGarrulus glandarius1y01-Jan/16
MagpiePica pica1y01-Jan/01
ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax3
JackdawColoeus monedula1y01-Jan/01
RookCorvus frugilegus1y01-Jan/02
Carrion CrowCorvus corone1y01-Jan/01
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix1y07-Jul/22
RavenCorvus corax1y01-Jan/01
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus3
Coal TitPeriparus ater1y01-Jan/01
Crested TitLophophanes cristatus1y01-Jan/02
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2y01-Jan/19
Willow TitPoecile montanus4
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus1y01-Jan/01
Great TitParus major1y01-Jan/01
Penduline TitRemiz pendulinus5
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicus3y03-Mar/07
WoodlarkLullula arborea3y04-Apr/12New life list species
SkylarkAlauda arvensis1y01-Jan/29
Shore LarkEremophila alpestris2y01-Jan/05
Sand MartinRiparia riparia1y03-Mar/26
SwallowHirundo rustica1y04-Apr/06
House MartinDelichon urbicum1y04-Apr/21
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2y01-Jan/23
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus1y01-Jan/06
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrix3
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus4
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus3y04-Apr/10
King EiderSomateria spectabilisy03-Mar/17
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita1y03-Mar/17
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus1y04-Apr/18
Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceusy05-May/11New life list species
Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus1y05-May/01
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia4
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla1y04-Apr/16
Garden WarblerSylvia borin3y05-May/09
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca4y05-May/09
WhitethroatCurruca communis2y04-Apr/25
Dartford WarblerCurruca undata4
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla5y01-Jan/29
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2y01-Jan/14
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes1y01-Jan/01
NuthatchSitta europaea1y01-Jan/19
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris1y01-Jan/02
Rose-coloured StarlingPastor roseus4
StarlingSturnus vulgaris1y01-Jan/03
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos1y02-Feb/03
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus1y01-Jan/24
RedwingTurdus iliacus1y01-Jan/24
BlackbirdTurdus merula1y01-Jan/01
FieldfareTurdus pilaris1y01-Jan/02
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus4y04-Apr/19
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata3y07-Jul/21
RobinErithacus rubecula1y01-Jan/02
BluethroatLuscinia svecica5
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos4
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurus5
Red-breasted FlycatcherFicedula parva5
Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca3y05-May/01
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros4y03-Mar/14
RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus3y06-Jun/09
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra3
StonechatSaxicola rubicola1y01-Jan/09
Isabelline WheatearOenanthe isabellinay04-Apr/21New UK list species
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe1y04-Apr/21
DipperCinclus cinclus2y03-Mar/12
Tree SparrowPasser montanus1y01-Jan/01
House SparrowPasser domesticus1y01-Jan/06
DunnockPrunella modularis1y01-Jan/01
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2y04-Apr/21
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2y04-Apr/16
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba1y01-Jan/14
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis1y01-Jan/23
Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2y05-May/31
Water PipitAnthus spinoletta2y03-Mar/07New life list species
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus2y03-Mar/14
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs1y01-Jan/01
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2y01-Jan/19
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes3y02-Feb/04
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula1y01-Jan/10
GreenfinchChloris chloris1y01-Jan/19
TwiteLinaria flavirostris3y02-Feb/11
LinnetLinaria cannabina1y01-Jan/10
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea2y01-Jan/19
Lesser RedpollAcanthis cabaret2
Arctic RedpollAcanthis hornemanni4
Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacus5
Scottish CrossbillLoxia scotica4
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra3
Two-barred CrossbillLoxia leucoptera5
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis1y01-Jan/01
SerinSerinus serinus3
SiskinSpinus spinus2y01-Jan/03
Lapland BuntingCalcarius lapponicus4y02-Feb/26New life list species
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis1y01-Jan/05
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra3
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella1y01-Jan/03
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus1y01-Jan/03
Hume's warblerPhylloscopus humei)y01-Jan/07New life list species
Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusy01-Jan/09New life list species
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscay03-Mar/11New life list species
Pallas' leaf warblerPhylloscopus proregulusy02-Feb/23New life list species
Kentish ploverCharadrius alexandrinusy04-Apr/14New UK list species