List of birds of Great Britain

European Robin

The list of British birds comprises all those bird species which have occurred in a wild state in Great Britain. In general the avifauna of Britain is similar to that of Europe, although with fewer breeding species. There are 596 species of birds on the British list as of 9 December 2012, with the latest addition Scopoli's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea). Band-rumped Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma castro) was removed in the latest update as it has recently been split into several species and it is not clear which form the single accepted British record belongs to. The species order and scientific names used here follow that of the Official British List, maintained by the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU). Decisions relating to the British List are published by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) in its annual reports in Ibis, the journal of the BOU. 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, although adjudicated by the Manx Ornithological Society, continue to be published in the BOU reports.

The BOU uses the following categories for British bird species:

• A: species which have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.
• B: species which 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 man, either deliberately or accidentally, have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, that maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.

Categories A, B and C constitute the Official British List. 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 categories A and C. Two further categories are used for record keeping only

• 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 thought not to be self-sustaining.

Birds in Categories D and E are not on the official British List, and are not included here. A sixth category, Category F, is being compiled to include species recorded before 1800 including fossil species.

Species listed as rare here are those for 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.

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 Oystercatcher, which are resident in this island, but migrants elsewhere. Also because of its position, 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. These include Ring-billed Gull, Surf Scoter and Pectoral Sandpiper; 150 of the latter species were found in Britain in the record month of September 2003, with a further 40 in Ireland.

Ducks, geese and swans

Order: Anseriformes. Family: Anatidae

The swans, ducks and geese are medium to large birds that are modified for 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. There are about 160 species worldwide with 55 in Britain.

Mallard

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

Grouse

Order: Galliformes. Family: Tetraonidae

Red Grouse

Grouse are sturdy, medium-sized terrestrial birds of the Northern Hemisphere. They have feathered feet and nostrils and short, rounded wings. They feed mainly on plant material and lay their eggs in a simple scrape on the ground. They are gamebirds and large numbers were shot in the past in moorland areas. There are about 19 species worldwide, 4 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red Grouse	Lagopus lagopus	A resident breeding species
Ptarmigan	Lagopus muta	A resident breeding species
Black Grouse	Tetrao tetrix	A resident breeding species
Western Capercaillie	Tetrao urogallus	C resident reintroduced population

Pheasants, partridges and quail

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. There are about 155 species worldwide with 6 in Britain. 4 of these were introduced for hunting or ornamental purposes but one has now apparently died out.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-legged Partridge	Alectoris rufa	C resident introduced population
Grey Partridge	Perdix perdix	A & C resident breeder and introduction
Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix	A breeding summer visitor
Common Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	C resident introduced population
Golden Pheasant	Chrysolophus pictus	C resident introduced population
Lady Amherst's Pheasant	Chrysolophus amherstiae	C introduced population no longer self-sustaining

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, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are almost hopeless on land. They feed on fish and other aquatic animals. There are 5 species worldwide with 5 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	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

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. There are at least 13 species worldwide with 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-browed Albatross	Thalassarche melanophris	A rare vagrant
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross	Thalassarche chlororhynchos	A rare vagrant

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. There are about 77 species worldwide, 11 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern Fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis	A resident and migrant breeder, passage migrant
Fea's Petrel	Pterodroma feae	A rare vagrant
Capped Petrel	Pterodroma hasitata	B rare vagrant
Bulwer's Petrel	Bulweria bulwerii	A rare vagrant
Cory's Shearwater	Calonectris borealis	A scarce migrant
Scopoli's Shearwater	Calonectris diomedea	A rare vagrant
Great Shearwater	Puffinus gravis	A passage migrant
Sooty Shearwater	Puffinus griseus	A passage migrant
Manx Shearwater	Puffinus puffinus	A breeding summer visitor
Balearic Shearwater	Puffinus mauretanicus	A passage migrant
Macaronesian Shearwater	Puffinus baroli	A rare vagrant

Storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes. Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest of 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. There are about 20 species worldwide, 5 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wilson's Storm Petrel	Oceanites oceanicus	A rare vagrant, more regularly seen well offshore
White-faced Storm Petrel	Pelagodroma marina	B rare vagrant
European Storm Petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus	A breeding summer visitor
Leach's Storm Petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhea	A breeding summer visitor
Swinhoe's Storm Petrel	Oceanodroma monorhis	A rare vagrant

Tropicbirds

Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Phaethontidae

One species in Britain, vagrant only

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-billed Tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus	A rare vagrant

Gannets

Order: Pelecaniformes. 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 about 10 species worldwide with 1 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern Gannet	Morus bassanus	A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant

Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes. 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, usually by the sea. There are about 39 species worldwide, 3 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	A resident breeding species
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	A rare vagrant
European Shag	Phalacrocorax aristotelis	A resident breeding species

Frigatebirds

Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Fregatidae

2 species in Britain, both rarities.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens	A rare vagrant
Ascension Frigatebird	Fregata aquila	A rare vagrant

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ardeidae

Grey Heron.

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 about 63 species worldwide, 13 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great Bittern	Botaurus stellaris	A resident breeding species and winter migrant
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	A rare vagrant
Little Bittern	Ixobrychus minutus	A rare vagrant, recently bred
Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	A rare vagrant
Green Heron	Butorides virescens	A rare vagrant
Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides	A rare vagrant
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	A rare vagrant, recently bred
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	A resident breeding species and passage migrant
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	A rare vagrant
Great Egret	Ardea alba	A rare vagrant, first bred 2012
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

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. There are about 19 species worldwide with 2 occurring as vagrants in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black Stork	Ciconia nigra	A rare vagrant
White Stork	Ciconia ciconia	A scarce migrant, formerly bred

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes. 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. There are about 33 species worldwide with 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	A rare vagrant
Common Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	A scarce migrant, recently bred

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 waterbodies and coasts. They feed on aquatic animals and nest on a floating platform of vegetation. There are about 19 species worldwide with 6 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	A rare vagrant
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	A resident breeder and winter visitor
Great Crested Grebe	Podiceps cristatus	A resident breeder and winter visitor
Red-necked Grebe	Podiceps grisegena	A winter visitor, has bred
Slavonian Grebe	Podiceps auritus	A resident breeder and winter visitor
Black-necked Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	A resident breeder and winter visitor

Buzzards, kites and allies

Order: Falconiformes. 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. There are about 240 species worldwide, 16 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European Honey-buzzard	Pernis apivorus	A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	A scarce migrant
Red Kite	Milvus milvus	A & C resident breeder and widespread introductions
White-tailed Eagle	Haliaeetus albicilla	A & C resident breeder and widespread introductions
Egyptian Vulture	Neophron percnopterus	B rare vagrant
Short-toed Snake Eagle	Circaetus gallicus	A rare vagrant
Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus	A resident breeder and passage migrant
Hen Harrier	Circus cyaneus	A resident breeder, winter visitor and passage migrant
Pallid Harrier	Circus macrourus	A rare vagrant
Montagu's Harrier	Circus pygargus	A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	A & C resident breeder and naturalised escapes
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	A resident breeder and passage migrant
Common Buzzard	Buteo buteo	A resident breeder and passage migrant
Rough-legged Buzzard	Buteo lagopus	A winter visitor
Greater Spotted Eagle	Aquila clanga	B rare vagrant
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	A resident breeding species

Osprey

Order: Falconiformes. 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 name	Binomial	Status
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	A breeding summer visitor

Falcons

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. There are about 64 species worldwide, 10 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Lesser Kestrel	Falco naumanni	A rare vagrant
Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	A resident breeding species
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	A rare vagrant
Red-footed Falcon	Falco vespertinus	A rare vagrant
Amur Falcon	Falco amurensis	A rare vagrant
Merlin	Falco columbarius	A resident breeding species
(Eurasian) Hobby	Falco subbuteo	A breeding summer visitor
Eleonora's Falcon	Falco eleonorae	A rare vagrant
Gyr Falcon	Falco rusticolus	A rare vagrant
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	A resident breeding species

Rails, crakes 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, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. There are about 135 species worldwide, 11 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus	A resident breeding species
Spotted Crake	Porzana porzana	A scarce breeding summer visitor
Sora	Porzana carolina	A rare vagrant
Little Crake	Porzana parva	A rare vagrant
Baillon's Crake	Porzana pusilla	A rare vagrant, formerly bred
Corn Crake	Crex crex	A breeding summer visitor
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	A resident breeding species
Allen's Gallinule	Porphyrio alleni	A rare vagrant
American Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinicus	A rare vagrant
Coot	Fulica atra	A resident breeding species
American Coot	Fulica americana	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". There are about 15 species worldwide, 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Crane	Grus grus	A resident breeding species and passage migrant
Sandhill Crane	Grus americana	A rare vagrant

Bustards

Order: Gruiformes. Family: Otididae

Large, sturdy birds of open plains with long legs and necks and strong feet. There are about 26 species worldwide, 3 in Britain. They are all rarities.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Little Bustard	Tetrax tetrax	A rare vagrant
Macqueen's Bustard	Chlamydotis macqueenii	B rare vagrant
Great Bustard	Otis tarda	A rare vagrant and recently reintroduced breeding resident species

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 about 11 species worldwide with 1 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	A resident breeding species

Avocets and stilts

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 about 10 species worldwide with 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	A rare vagrant and occasional breeder
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	A resident breeding species

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Burhinidae

A small family of medium to large waders with strong black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. There are 9 species worldwide with 1 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Stone Curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	A breeding summer visitor

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Glareolidae

A family of slender, long-winged wading birds. There are 17 species worldwide, 4 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	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

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Charadriidae

Small to medium-sized wading birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. There are about 66 species worldwide, 16 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	A breeding summer visitor
Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula	A resident breeding species and summer visitor
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	A rare vagrant
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	A rare vagrant
Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	A rare passage migrant, formerly bred
Lesser Sand Plover	Charadrius mongolus	A rare vagrant
Greater Sand Plover	Charadrius leschenaultii	A rare vagrant
Caspian Plover	Charadrius asiaticus	A rare vagrant
Eurasian Dotterel	Charadrius morinellus	A breeding summer visitor
American Golden Plover	Pluvialis dominica	A rare vagrant
Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva	A rare vagrant
European Golden Plover	Pluvialis apricaria	A winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce breeder
Grey Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	A winter visitor and passage migrant
Sociable Lapwing	Vanellus gregarius	A rare vagrant
White-tailed Lapwing	Vanellus leucurus	A rare vagrant
Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	A resident breeding species

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Scolopacidae

A large, diverse family of wading birds. Different lengths of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are about 89 species worldwide, 55 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great Knot	Calidris tenuirostris	A rare vagrant
Red Knot	Calidris canutus	A winter visitor and passage migrant
Sanderling	Calidris alba	A winter visitor & passage migrant
Semipalmated Sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	A rare vagrant
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri	A rare vagrant
Red-necked Stint	Calidris ruficollis	A rare vagrant
Little Stint	Calidris minuta	A winter visitor & passage migrant
Temminck's Stint	Calidris temminckii	A winter visitor & passage migrant, occasional breeder
Long-toed Stint	Calidris subminuta	A rare vagrant
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	A rare vagrant
White-rumped Sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	A rare vagrant
Baird's Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	A rare vagrant
Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	A winter visitor & passage migrant
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Calidris acuminata	A rare vagrant
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	A winter visitor and passage migrant
Stilt Sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	A rare vagrant
Purple Sandpiper	Calidris maritima	A winter visitor & passage migrant, occasional breeder
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	A winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce brreder
Broad-billed Sandpiper	Limicola falcinellus	A rare vagrant
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Tryngites subruficollis	A passage migrant
Ruff	Philomachus pugnax	A passage migrant and scarce breeding resident
Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus	A winter visitor & passage migrant
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	A resident breeding species and summer visitor
Wilson's Snipe	Gallinago delicata	A rare vagrant
Great Snipe	Gallinago media	A rare vagrant
Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus	A rare vagrant
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	A rare vagrant
Woodcock	Scolopax rusticola	A resident breeding species
Black-tailed Godwit	Limosa limosa	A winter visitor, passage migrant and scarce summer breeding species
Hudsonian Godwit	Limosa haemastica	A rare vagrant
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica	A winter visitor & passage migrant
Little Curlew	Numenius minutus	A rare vagrant
Eskimo Curlew	Numenius borealis	B (extinct)
Hudsonian Whimbrel	Numenius hudsonicus	A rare vagrant
Eurasian Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	A breeding summer visitor
Slender-billed Curlew	Numenius tenuirostris	A rare vagrant
Curlew	Numenius arquata	A resident breeding species
Upland Sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda	A rare vagrant
Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus	A rare vagrant
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 & passage migrant, occasional breeder
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	A rare vagrant
Grey-tailed Tattler	Tringa brevipes	A rare vagrant
Spotted Redshank	Tringa erythropus	A winter visitor and passage migrant
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	A rare vagrant
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	A resident breeding species and passage migrant
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	A rare vagrant
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	A rare vagrant
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	A passage migrant & rare localised breeder in far North
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	A resident breeding species
Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	A resident breeding species
Wilson's Phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor	A rare vagrant
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	A winter visitor: scarce & localised summer breeding in far North
Grey Phalarope	Phalaropus fulicaria	A scarce winter visitor

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. There are about 7 species worldwide with 4 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
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
Great Skua	Stercorarius skua	A passage migrant and localised summer breeder

Gulls

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. There are about 56 species worldwide, 24 in Britain.

Black-headed Gull

Common name	Binomial	Status
Ivory Gull	Pagophila eburnea	A rare vagrant
Sabine's Gull	Xema sabini	A scarce winter visitor
Black-legged Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	A breeding summer visitor and resident species
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	Larus atricilla	A rare vagrant
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan	A rare vagrant
Mediterranean Gull	Larus melanocephalus	A breeding summer visitor, & resident in south.
Audouin's Gull	Larus audouinii	A rare vagrant
Great Black-headed Gull	Larus ichthyaetus	B rare vagrant
Common Gull	Larus canus	A resident breeding species, winter visitor & passage migrant
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	A scarce winter visitor & passage migrant
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	A resident breeding species and passage migrant
European Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	A resident breeding species
Yellow-legged Gull	Larus michahellis	A non-breeding late-summer visitor and passage migrant, has bred
Caspian Gull	Larus cachinnans	A rare winter visitor
American Herring Gull	Larus smithsonianus	A rare vagrant
Iceland Gull	Larus glaucoides	A rare winter visitor
Glaucous-winged Gull	Larus glaucescens	A rare vagrant
Glaucous Gull	Larus hyperboreus	A rare winter visitor, has bred
Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	A resident breeding species and passage migrant

Terns

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Sternidae

Terns are slender seabirds with long, pointed wings, a pointed bill and a tail which is usually forked. There are about 44 species worldwide, 17 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Aleutian Tern	Onychoprion aleutica	A rare vagrant
Sooty Tern	Onychoprion fuscata	A rare vagrant
Bridled Tern	Onychoprion anaethetus	A rare vagrant
Little Tern	Sternula albifrons	A breeding summer visitor
Gull-billed Tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	A rare vagrant, has bred
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia	A rare vagrant
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybridus	A rare vagrant
Black Tern	Chlidonias niger	A rare vagrant, occasional breeder
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	A rare vagrant
Cabot's Tern	Sterna acuflavida	A rare vagrant
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis	A breeding summer visitor
Royal Tern	Sterna maximus	A rare vagrant
Lesser Crested Tern	Sterna bengalensis	A rare vagrant
Forster's Tern	Sterna forsteri	A rare vagrant
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	A breeding summer visitor
Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii	A scarce breeding summer visitor
Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisaea	A breeding summer visitor

Auks

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Alcidae

A family of seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins with their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits but which are able to fly. There are about 23 species worldwide, 10 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Guillemot	Uria aalge	A breeding summer visitor and resident species
Brunnich's Guillemot	Uria lomvia	A rare vagrant
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
Little Auk	Alle alle	A rare winter visitor
Atlantic Puffin	Fratercula arctica	A breeding summer visitor
Tufted Puffin	Fratercula cirrhata	A rare vagrant

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes. Family: Pteroclididae

Sturdy, medium-sized birds with a small head and long, pointed wings. There are 16 species worldwide. 1 has occurred as a vagrant in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	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 about 308 species worldwide, 7 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	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
Wood Pigeon	Columba palumbus	A resident breeding species
Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	A resident breeding species
Turtle Dove	Streptopelia turtur	A breeding summer visitor
Oriental Turtle Dove	Streptopelia orientalis	A rare vagrant
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	A rare vagrant

Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes. Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. They are found mainly in areas with warm climates. There are about 347 species worldwide with 1 introduced species in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Ring-necked Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	C resident introduced population

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. There are about 141 species worldwide, 4 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great Spotted Cuckoo	Clamator glandarius	A rare vagrant
Common Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	A breeding summer visitor
Black-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus	A rare vagrant
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	A rare vagrant

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes. Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium-sized to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are about 16 species worldwide with 1 in Britain .

Common name	Binomial	Status
Barn Owl	Tyto alba	A resident breeding species

Typical 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. There are about 199 species worldwide, 8 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Scops Owl	Otus scops	A rare vagrant
Snowy Owl	Bubo scandiacus	A rare vagrant, has bred Shetland Islands
Northern Hawk-Owl	Surnia ulula	A rare vagrant
Little Owl	Athene noctua	C resident introduced population
Tawny Owl	Strix aluco	A resident breeding species
Long-eared Owl	Asio otus	A scarce resident breeding species
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	A resident breeding species or winter visitor
Tengmalm's Owl	Aegolius funereus	A rare vagrant

Nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes. Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. There are about 91 species worldwide, 4 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European Nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	A breeding summer visitor
Red-necked Nightjar	Caprimulgus ruficollis	A rare vagrant
Egyptian Nightjar	Caprimulgus aegyptius	A rare vagrant
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	A rare vagrant

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes. Family: Apodidae

The swifts are small aerial birds, spending 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. There are about 100 species worldwide, 7 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica	A rare vagrant
Needle-tailed Swift	Hirundapus caudacutus	A rare vagrant
Common Swift	Apus apus	A breeding summer visitor
Pallid Swift	Apus pallidus	A rare vagrant
Pacific Swift	Apus pacificus	A rare vagrant
Alpine Swift	Apus melba	A rare vagrant
Little Swift	Apus affinis	A rare vagrant

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes. Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are about 93 species worldwide, 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common 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. There are about 26 species worldwide, 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater	Merops persicus	A rare vagrant
European Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	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. There are about 12 species worldwide with 1 in Britain and Wales.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European Roller	Coracias garrulus	A rare vagrant

Hoopoe

Order: Coraciiformes. Family: Upupidae

A distinctive bird in its own family with a long curved bill, a crest and black-and-white striped wings and tail.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Hoopoe	Upupa epops	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. There are about 219 species worldwide, 5 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian Wryneck	Jynx torquilla	A rare passage migrant, occasional breeder
European Green Woodpecker	Picus viridis	A resident breeding species
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	A rare vagrant
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos major	A resident breeding species
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos minor	A resident breeding species

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Tyrannidae

A family from the Americas with 1 very rare vagrant recorded in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe	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. There are about 52 species worldwide. 3 have occurred as vagrants in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	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 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 27 species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in Great Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	A scarce breeding summer visitor

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. There are about 30 species worldwide, 9 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Brown Shrike	Lanius cristatus	A rare vagrant
Isabelline Shrike	Lanius isabellinus	A rare vagrant
Red-backed Shrike	Lanius collurio	A scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder
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
Southern Grey Shrike	Lanius meridionalis	A rare vagrant
Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator	A rare vagrant
Masked Shrike	Lanius nubicus	A rare vagrant

Crows and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Corvidae

The crows and their relatives are fairly large birds with strong bills and are usually intelligent and adaptable. There are about 119 species worldwide with 9 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-billed Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	A resident breeding species
Eurasian Magpie	Pica pica	A resident breeding species
Eurasian Jay	Garrulus glandarius	A resident breeding species
Spotted Nutcracker	Nucifraga caryocatactes	A rare vagrant
Jackdaw	Corvus 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
Common Raven	Corvus corax	A resident breeding species

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Regulidae

A family of very small birds. There are 7 species worldwide with 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus	A resident breeding species
Common Firecrest	Regulus ignicapillus	A scarce resident breeding species and passage migrant

Penduline tits

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Remizidae

Small birds with finely-pointed bills that build purse-like nests hanging from a branch. There are about 13 species worldwide with 1 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Penduline Tit	Remiz pendulinus	A rare vagrant

Tits

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. There are about 59 species worldwide, 6 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blue Tit	Cyanistes caeruleus	A resident breeding species
Great Tit	Parus major	A resident breeding species
Crested Tit	Lophophanes cristatus	A resident breeding species
Coal Tit	Periparus ater	A resident breeding species
Willow Tit	Poecile montana	A resident breeding species
Marsh Tit	Poecile palustris	A resident breeding species

Bearded Tit

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Panuridae

A single species formerly placed in the Old World babbler family.

Common name	Binomial	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. There are about 96 species worldwide, 10 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Calandra Lark	Melanocorypha calandra	A rare vagrant
Bimaculated Lark	Melanocorypha bimaculata	A rare vagrant
White-winged Lark	Melanocorypha leucoptera	A rare vagrant
Black Lark	Melanocorypha yeltoniensis	A rare vagrant
Greater Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	A rare vagrant
Lesser Short-toed Lark	Calandrella rufescens	A rare vagrant
Crested Lark	Galerida cristata	A rare vagrant
Woodlark	Lullula arborea	A scarce resident breeding species and summer migrant
Eurasian Skylark	Alauda arvensis	A resident breeding species
Shore Lark	Eremophila alpestris	A scarce winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Hirundinidae

A group of passerines characterized by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with wide gape. There are about 83 species worldwide, 8 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	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
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	A breeding summer visitor
House Martin	Delichon urbicum	A breeding summer visitor
Red-rumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica	A rare vagrant
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	A rare vagrant

Bush warblers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Cettiidae

Common name	Binomial	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 8 species worldwide with 1 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Long-tailed Tit	Aegithalos caudatus	A resident breeding species

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Phylloscopidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eastern Crowned Warbler	Phylloscopus coronatus	A rare vagrant
Green Warbler	Phylloscopus nitidus	A rare vagrant
Greenish Warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides	A rare vagrant
Arctic Warbler	Phylloscopus borealis	A rare vagrant
Pallas's Warbler	Phylloscopus proregulus	A rare vagrant
Yellow-browed Warbler	Phylloscopus inornatus	A rare vagrant
Hume's Warbler	Phylloscopus humei	A rare vagrant
Radde's Warbler	Phylloscopus schwarzi	A rare vagrant
Dusky Warbler	Phylloscopus fuscatus	A rare vagrant
Western Bonelli's Warbler	Phylloscopus bonelli	A rare vagrant
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler	Phylloscopus orientalis	A rare vagrant
Wood Warbler	Phylloscopus sibilatrix	A breeding summer visitor
Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	A breeding summer visitor
Iberian Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus ibericus	A rare vagrant
Willow Warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus	A breeding summer visitor

Typical warblers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Sylviidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	A resident breeding species & summer visitor
Garden Warbler	Sylvia borin	A breeding summer visitor
Barred Warbler	Sylvia nisoria	A rare vagrant
Lesser Whitethroat	Sylvia curruca	A breeding summer visitor
Orphean Warbler	Sylvia hortensis	A rare vagrant
Asian Desert Warbler	Sylvia nana	A rare vagrant
Whitethroat	Sylvia communis	A breeding summer visitor
Spectacled Warbler	Sylvia conspicillata	A rare vagrant
Dartford Warbler	Sylvia undata	A resident breeding species
Marmora's Warbler	Sylvia sarda	A rare vagrant
Rüppell's Warbler	Sylvia rueppelli	A rare vagrant
Subalpine Warbler	Sylvia cantillans	A rare vagrant
Sardinian Warbler	Sylvia melanocephala	A rare vagrant

Grasshopper warblers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Locustellidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler	Locustella certhiola	A rare vagrant
Lanceolated Warbler	Locustella lanceolata	A rare vagrant
Grasshopper Warbler	Locustella naevia	A breeding summer visitor
River Warbler	Locustella fluviatilis	A rare vagrant
Savi's Warbler	Locustella luscinioides	A rare breeding summer visitor

Reed warblers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Acrocephalidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Thick-billed Warbler	Iduna aedon	A rare vagrant
Booted Warbler	Iduna caligata	A rare vagrant
Sykes' Warbler	Iduna rama	A rare vagrant
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler	Iduna pallida	A rare vagrant
Olive-tree Warbler	Hippolais olivetorum	A rare vagrant
Icterine Warbler	Hippolais icterina	A rare vagrant, occasional breeder
Melodious Warbler	Hippolais polyglotta	A rare vagrant, occasional breeder
Aquatic Warbler	Acrocephalus paludicola	A rare vagrant
Sedge Warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	A breeding summer visitor
Paddyfield Warbler	Acrocephalus agricola	A rare vagrant
Blyth's Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum	A rare vagrant
Marsh Warbler	Acrocephalus palustris	A breeding summer visitor
Eurasian Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	A breeding summer visitor
Great Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus arundinaceus	A rare vagrant, has bred

Cisticolas

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Cisticolidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Zitting Cisticola	Cisticola juncidis	A rare vagrant

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. There are 3 species worldwide, 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	A rare vagrant
Bohemian Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus	A winter visitor in highly varied numbers.

Wallcreeper

Order: Passeriformes. Family Tichodromadidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wallcreeper	Tichodroma muraria	A rare vagrant

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. There are about 24 species worldwide, 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	A rare vagrant
Eurasian Nuthatch	Sitta europaea	A resident breeding species

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. There are 7 species worldwide, 2 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Treecreeper	Certhia familiaris	A resident breeding species
Short-toed Treecreeper	Certhia brachydactyla	A rare vagrant

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and a thin down-turned bill. There are about 80 species worldwide with one in Britain.

Wren at the nest.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	A resident breeding species

Mockingbirds and allies

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. There are about 35 species worldwide. Three have occurred as vagrants in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	A rare vagrant
Brown Thrasher	Toxostoma rufum	A rare vagrant one record
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	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.There are about 114 species worldwide with two in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	A resident breeding species and winter visitor
Rosy Starling	Sturnus roseus	A rare vagrant

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Cinclidae

Dark, dumpy, aquatic birds that are able to forage for food on the beds of rivers. There are 5 species worldwide with 1 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White-throated Dipper	Cinclus cinclus	A resident breeding species

Thrushes

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Muscicapidae. Subfamily: Turdinae

The thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. There are about 183 species worldwide, 20 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White's Thrush	Zoothera dauma	A rare vagrant
Varied Thrush	Ixoreus naevius	A one record
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	A rare vagrant
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	A rare vagrant
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	A rare vagrant
Gray-cheeked Thrush	Catharus minimus	A rare vagrant
Veery	Catharus fuscescens	A rare vagrant
Siberian Thrush	Geokichla sibirica	A rare vagrant
Ring Ouzel	Turdus torquatus	A breeding summer visitor
Blackbird	Turdus merula	A resident breeding species
Eyebrowed Thrush	Turdus obscurus	A rare vagrant
Dusky Thrush	Turdus eunomus	A rare vagrant
Naumann's Thrush	T. naumanni	A rare vagrant
Black-throated Thrush	T. atrogularis	A rare vagrant
Red-throated Thrush	T. ruficollis	A rare vagrant
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris	A winter visitor, rare breeder
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	A resident breeding species
Redwing	Turdus iliacus	A winter visitor, rare breeder
Mistle Thrush	Turdus viscivorus	A resident breeding species
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	A rare vagrant

Old World flycatchers and chats

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. There are about 297 species worldwide, 30 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rufous Bush Robin	Cercotrichas galactotes	A rare vagrant
Asian Brown Flycatcher	Muscicapa dauurica	A rare vagrant
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	A breeding summer visitor
European Robin	Erithacus rubecula	A resident breeding species
Siberian Blue Robin	Luscinia cyanea	A rare vagrant
Rufous-tailed Robin	Luscinia sibilans	A rare vagrant
Siberian Rubythroat	Luscinia calliope	A rare vagrant
White-throated Robin	Irania gutturalis	A rare vagrant
Red-flanked Bluetail	Tarsiger cyanurus	A rare vagrant
Thrush Nightingale	Luscinia luscinia	A rare vagrant
Nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos	A breeding summer visitor
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica	A rare vagrant, occasional breeder
Red-breasted Flycatcher	Ficedula parva	A rare vagrant
Taiga Flycatcher	Ficedula albicilla	A rare vagrant
Collared Flycatcher	Ficedula albicollis	A rare vagrant
Pied Flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca	A breeding summer visitor
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	A scarce breeding resident, passage migrant & winter visitor
Common 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 & passage migrant
Siberian Stonechat	Saxicola maurus	A rare vagrant
European Stonechat	Saxicola rubicola	A resident breeding species
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	A rare vagrant
Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	A breeding summer visitor & passage migrant
Pied Wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	A rare vagrant
Black-eared Wheatear	Oenanthe hispanica	A rare vagrant
Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	A rare vagrant
White-crowned Wheatear	Oenanthe leucopyga	A rare vagrant

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Prunellidae

A small family of drab, unobtrusive, insectivorous birds with thin, pointed bills. There are 13 species worldwide with two recorded in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Dunnock	Prunella modularis	A resident breeding species
Alpine Accentor	Prunella collaris	A rare vagrant

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. There are about 38 species worldwide, 4 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	A resident breeding species
Spanish Sparrow	Passer hispaniolensis	A rare vagrant
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	A resident breeding species
Rock Sparrow	Petronia petronia	A rare vagrant

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Motacillidae

The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They are slender, ground-feeding insectivores of open country. There are about 66 species worldwide, 15 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Western Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	A seven races including: Blue-headed Wagtail M. f. flava (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant) Yellow Wagtail M. f. flavissima (subspecies breeding in Britain)
Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla citreola	A rare vagrant
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	A resident breeding species
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba	A three 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 vagrant
Blyth's Pipit	Anthus godlewskii	A rare vagrant
Tawny Pipit	Anthus campestris	A rare vagrant
Olive-backed Pipit	Anthus hodgsoni	A rare vagrant
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis	A breeding summer visitor
Pechora Pipit	Anthus gustavi	A rare vagrant
Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis	A resident breeding species
Red-throated Pipit	Anthus cervinus	A rare vagrant
Rock Pipit	Anthus petrosus	A resident breeding species
Water Pipit	Anthus spinoletta	A winter visitor
Buff-bellied Pipit	Anthus rubescens	A rare vagrant

Finches

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. There are about 176 species worldwide, 22 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	A resident breeding species
Brambling	Fringilla montifringilla	A winter visitor, occasional breeder
European Serin	Serinus serinus	A rare passage migrant, occasional breeder
European Greenfinch	Chloris chloris	A resident breeding species
Citril Finch	Carduelis citrinella	A rare vagrant
European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	A resident breeding species
Eurasian Siskin	Carduelis spinus	A resident breeding species and winter visitor
Eurasian Linnet	Carduelis cannabina	A resident breeding species
Twite	Carduelis flavirostris	A resident breeding species
Lesser Redpoll	Carduelis cabaret	A resident breeding species
Mealy Redpoll	Carduelis flammea	A winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Arctic Redpoll	Carduelis hornemanni	A rare vagrant
Two-barred Crossbill	Loxia leucoptera	A rare vagrant
Common Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	A resident breeding species
Scottish Crossbill	Loxia scotica	A resident breeding species
Parrot Crossbill	Loxia pytyopsittacus	A resident breeding species
Trumpeter Finch	Rhodopechys githaginea	A rare vagrant
Common Rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	A rare vagrant, occasional breeder
Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator	A rare vagrant
Eurasian Bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula	A resident breeding species
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes	A scarce resident breeding species
Evening Grosbeak	Coccothraustes vespertinus	A rare vagrant

Longspurs

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Calcariini

Common name	Binomial	Status
Snow Bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis	A winter visitor & scarce breeder
Lapland Bunting	Calcarius lapponicus	A winter visitor, occasional breeder

Cardinals and relatives

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Cardinalini

Common name	Binomial	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

Buntings and American sparrows

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Emberizini

A large group of seed-eating passerine birds with a distinctively-shaped bill. There are about 179 species worldwide, 23 in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rufous-sided Towhee	Pipilo erythrophthalmus	A rare vagrant
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus	A rare vagrant
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	A rare vagrant
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	A rare vagrant
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	A rare vagrant
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	A rare vagrant
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	A rare vagrant
Black-faced Bunting	Emberiza spodocephala	A rare vagrant
Pine Bunting	Emberiza leucocephalos	A rare vagrant
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella	A resident breeding species
Cirl Bunting	Emberiza cirlus	A resident breeding species
Rock Bunting	Emberiza cia	A rare vagrant
Ortolan Bunting	Emberiza hortulana	A rare vagrant
Cretzschmar's Bunting	Emberiza caesia	A rare vagrant
Yellow-browed Bunting	Emberiza chrysophrys	A rare vagrant
Rustic Bunting	Emberiza rustica	A rare vagrant
Chestnut-eared Bunting	Emberiza fucata	A rare vagrant
Little Bunting	Emberiza pusilla	A rare vagrant
Yellow-breasted Bunting	Emberiza aureola	A rare vagrant
Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus	A resident breeding species
Pallas' Reed Bunting	Emberiza pallasi	A rare vagrant
Black-headed Bunting	Emberiza melanocephala	A rare vagrant
Corn Bunting	Emberiza calandra	A resident breeding species

Icterids

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Icterini

Three rare vagrants.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus	A rare vagrant
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	A rare vagrant
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	A rare vagrant

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Parulini

Common Yellowthroat

A group of small, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal and insectivorous. There are about 118 species worldwide. 18 have occurred as vagrants in Britain.

Common name	Binomial	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	Oreothlypis 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

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 name	Binomial	Status
Elegant Tern	Sterna elegans
Alder Flycatcher	Empidonax alnorum

See also

• List of non-native birds of Great Britain
• List of birds of Leicestershire and Rutland
• List of birds of Wales
• List of birds of Ireland
• British Birds Rarities Committee
• British Birds (a long- established ornithology journal).
• Birdwatching
• European birds
• Ornithology

External references

• List of British birds published by The British Ornithologists' Union.
• Taxonomic Recommendations for European Birds
• Taxonomic recommendations for British birds (both in PDF format).
• The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and RSPB A to Z of UK Birds
• Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists - Martin Collinson, British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323
• British Trust for Ornithology surveys