British birds

Mallard

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, of course, similar to that of Europe, although with fewer breeding species. There are about 550 species of birds on the British list.

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.

Because of its position, Britain receives a number of vagrants from Asia and North America. Some American gulls, ducks and waders are regular enough to not 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.

This page lists the British bird species in the non-passerine families, which are listed in accordance with the 2003 reordering of the British list. See also British birds: passerines

Table of contents

1 List of British birds

1.1 Anseriformes
1.2 Galliformes
1.3 Gaviiformes
1.4 Podicipediformes
1.5 Procellariiformes
1.6 Pelecaniformes
1.7 Ciconiiformes
1.8 Accipitriformes
1.9 Falconiformes
1.10 Gruiformes
1.11 Charadriiformes
1.12 Pterocliformes
1.13 Columbiformes
1.14 Psittaciformes
1.15 Cuculiformes
1.16 Strigiformes
1.17 Caprimulgiformes
1.18 Apodiformes
1.19 Coraciiformes
1.20 Piciformes
1.21 Passeriformes

2 References and links
3 See also

List of British birds

Anseriformes

Anatidae swans, geese and ducks
- Greylag Goose, Anser anser
- White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons
- Lesser White-fronted Goose, Anser erythropus
- Bean Goose, Anser fabalis
- Pink-footed Goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
- Snow Goose, Anser caerulescens, rare
- Brent Goose, Branta bernicla
- Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis
- Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
- Red-breasted Goose, Branta ruficollis
- Mute Swan, Cygnus olor
- Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus
- Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus
  - Bewick's Swan, Cygnus columbianus bewickii is the Eurasian form
  - Whistling Swan, Cygnus columbianus columbianus is the North American race, which occurs as a vagrant
- Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus introduced
- Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea, rare
- Common Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
- Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, introduced
- Mandarin, Aix galericulata , introduced
- Wigeon, Anas penelope
- American Wigeon, Anas americana, rare
- Gadwall, Anas strepera
- Common Teal, Anas crecca
- Green-winged Teal, Anas carolinensis, rare
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
- American Black Duck, Anas rubripes, rare
- Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
- Garganey, Anas querquedula
- Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors, rare
- Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata
- Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina
- Canvasback, Aythya valisineria, very rare
- Pochard, Aythya ferina
- Redhead, Aythya americana, very rare
- Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris, rare
- Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca
- Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula
- Greater Scaup, Aythya marila
- Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis, rare
- Steller's Eider, Polysticta stelleri, very rare
- Common Eider, Somateria mollissima
- King Eider, Somateria spectabilis, rare
- Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histrionicus, very rare
- Common Scoter, Melanitta nigra
- Velvet Scoter, Melanitta fusca
- Surf Scoter, Melanitta perspicillata, rare
- Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis
- Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
- Barrow's Goldeneye, Bucephala islandica, very rare
- Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola, very rare
- Smew, Mergellus albellus
- Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus, very rare
- Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
- Goosander, Mergus merganser

Galliformes

Tetraonidae, grouse
- Red Grouse, Lagopus lagopus scoticus
- Ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus
- Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix
- Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus, reintroduced
Phasianidae, partridges, pheasants and quails
- Red-legged Partridge, Alectoris rufa, introduced
- Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix
- Golden Pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus, introduced
- Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Chrysolophus amherstiae, introduced
- Common Pheasant, Phasanius colchicus, introduced

Gaviiformes

Gaviidae, divers
- Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer .
- White-billed Diver , Gavia adamsii .
- Black-throated Diver, Gavia arctica .
- Red-throated Diver, Gavia stellata.

Podicipediformes

Podicepidae grebes
- Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena
- Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
- Slavonian Grebe, Podiceps auritus
- Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
- Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
- Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, rare

Procellariiformes

Diomedeidae, albatrosses
- Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophris, very rare vagrant
Procellariidae fulmars, shearwaters (gadfly and other petrels as rare vagrants)
- Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
- Cory's Shearwater, Calonectis diomedea
- Great Shearwater, Puffinus gravis
- Sooty Shearwater, Puffinus griseus
- Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus
- Mediterranean Shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus
- Little Shearwater, Puffinus assimilis
- Bulwer's Petrel, Bulweria bulwerii, very rare
- Fea's Petrel, Pterodroma feae, rare
- Black-capped Petrel, Pterodroma hasitata, very rare
- Madeira Petrel, Pterodroma madeira very rare
Hydrobatidae, storm petrels
- Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Oceanites oceanicus, rare
- European Storm-Petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
- Leach's Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhea
- Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis, very rare
- White-faced Storm-Petrel, Pelagodroma marina, one old record

Pelecaniformes

Sulidae gannets
- Northern Gannet, '\'Morus bassanus''
Phalacrocoracidae cormorants
- Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus, very rare
- Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
- Common Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Fregatidae frigatebirds very rare vagrant
- Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens, very rare
- Ascension Frigatebird, Fregata aquila, very rare - one record
Phaethontidae tropicbirds very rare vagrant
- Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaeton aetherius very rare

White Stork

Ciconiiformes

Ardeidae, herons and bitterns
- Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
- Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea
- Great Egret or Great White Egret, Ardea alba, rare
- Green Heron or Green-backed Heron, Butorides virescens, very rare
- Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, rare
- Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis, rare
- Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
- Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, one record
- Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax rare
- Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus rare
- American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosa, rare
- Great Bittern or European Bittern, Botaurus stellata
Ciconiidae, storks (rare)
- White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, rare
- Black Stork, Ciconia nigra, rare
Threskiornithidae, ibises and spoonbills
- Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, rare
- Common Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Accipitriformes

Some classifications also include the Falconidae.

Pandionidae, Osprey
- Osprey,Pandion haliaetus
Accipitridae hawks, eagles, buzzards, harrierss, kitess and allies
- European Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus
- Red Kite, Milvus milvus
- Black Kite, Milvus migrans, rare
- Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
- Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
- Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo
- Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo lagopus
- Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
- White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
- Montague's Harrier, Circus pygargus
- Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
- Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
- Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus, rare
- Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicus, very rare, one record

Falconiformes

Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes

Falconidae falcons
- Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni, very rare
- Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
- American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, very rare
- Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus, rare
- Eleanora's Falcon, Falco eleonorae, very rare
- Merlin, Falco columbarius
- Eurasian Hobby, Falco subbuteo
- Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus, rare
- Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus

Gruiformes

Gruidae, cranes
- Common Crane, Grus grus, rare
- Sandhill Crane, Grus americana, very rare
Rallidae rails and crakes
- Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus
- Corncrake, Crex crex
- Little Crake, Porzana parva, very rare
- Baillon's Crake, Porzana pusilla, very rare
- Spotted Crake, Porzana porzana
- Sora, Porzana carolina, very rare
- Allen's Gallinule, Porphyrio alleni, very rare
- American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica
- Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
- Eurasian Coot or Common Coot, Fulica atra
- American Coot, Fulica americana, very rare
Otidae bustards formerly bred, now rare vagrants
- Great Bustard, Otis tarda, rare
- Macqueen's Bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii, very rare
- Little Bustard, Tetrax tetrax, rare

Charadriiformes

Dunlin

Haematopodidae, oystercatchers
- Common Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Charadriidae, plovers and lapwings
- Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
- Sociable Lapwing, Vanellus gregarius, rare
- White-tailed Lapwing, Vanellus leucurus, very rare
- Eurasian Golden Plover, Pluvialis apricaria
- Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva, rare
- American Golden Plover, Pluvialis dominica, rare
- Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola
- Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula
- Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, very rare
- Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius
- Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus, rare
- Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
- Lesser Sandplover, Charadrius mongolus, very rare
- Greater Sandplover, Charadrius leschenaultii, rare
- Caspian Plover, Charadrius asiaticus, very rare
- Eurasian Dotterel, Charadrius morinellus
Scolopacidae, typical waders or shorebirds
- Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
- Jack Snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
- Great Snipe, Gallinago media, rare
- Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago
- Short-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus, very rare
- Long-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus, rare
- Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa
- Hudsonian Godwit, Limosa haemastica, very rare
- Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica
- Little Curlew, Numenius minutus, very rare
- Eskimo Curlew, Numenius borealis, very rare
- Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
- Slender-billed Curlew, Numenius tenuirostris, very rare, one record
- Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata
- Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda, rare
- Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus
- Common Redshank, Tringa totanus
- Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis, rare
- Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia
- Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, rare
- Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes, rare
- Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
- Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria, rare
- Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola
- Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus, rare
- Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
- Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularia
- Grey-tailed Tattler, Heterosceles brevipes, very rare
- Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres
- Great Knot, Calidris tenuirostris, very rare
- Red Knot, Calidris canutus
- Sanderling, Calidris alba
- Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla, rare
- Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri, rare
- Red-necked Stint, Calidris ruficollis, very rare
- Little Stint, Calidris minuta
- Temminck's Stint, Calidris temminckii
- Long-toed Stint, Calidris subminuta, very rare
- Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla, rare
- White-rumped Sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis, rare
- Baird's Sandpiper, Calidris bairdii, rare
- Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Calidris acuminata, rare
- Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
- Purple Sandpiper, Calidris maritima
- Dunlin, Calidris alpina
- Broad-billed Sandpiper, Limicola falcinellus, rare
- Stilt Sandpiper, Micropalama himantopus, rare
- Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis, rare
- Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
- Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor, rare
- Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
- Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicaria
Burhinidae, thick-knees one species
- Stone Curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus
Glareolidae, coursers and pratincoles as rare vagrants
- Collared Pratincole, Glareola pratincola, rare
- Oriental Pratincole, Glareola maldivarum, very rare
- Black-winged Pratincole, Glareola. normanni, rare
- Cream-coloured Courser, Cursorius cursor, very rare
Recurvirostridae, avocets and stilts
- Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
- Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus
Stercorariidae, skuas
- Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus
- Pomarine Skua, Stercorarius pomarinus
- Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus
- Great Skua Catharactus skua
Laridae, gulls
- Common Gull, Larus canus
- Audouin's Gull, Larus audouinii, one record
- Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
- Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus
- Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus
- Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides
- Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
- Yellow-legged Gull, Larus cachinnans
- Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus
- Great Black-headed Gull, Larus ichthyaetus
- Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus
- Slender-billed Gull, Larus genei, very rare
- Bonaparte's Gull, Larus philadelphia, rare
- Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus
- Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla, rare
- Franklin's Gull, Larus pipixcan, rare
- Little Gull, Larus minutus
- Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
- Ivory Gull, Pagophila eburnea
- Ross's Gull, Rhodostethia rosea, very rare
- Sabine's Gull, Xema sabini, rare
Sternidae, terns
- Gull-billed Tern, Sterna nilotica, rare
- Little Tern Sterna albifrons
- Least Tern Sterna antillarum
- Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis, very rare
- Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
- Common Tern Sterna hirundo
- Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia
- Elegant Tern, Sterna elegans, very rare
- Sandwich Tern, Sterna sandvicensis
- Royal Tern, Sterna maximus, very rare
- Roseate Tern, Sterna dougallii
- Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri, rare
- Bridled Tern, Sterna anaethetus, very rare
- Sooty Tern, Sterna fuscata, very rare
- Black Tern Childonias niger
- White-winged Black Tern Childonias leucopterus, rare
- Whiskered Tern Childonias hybridus, rare
Alcidae, auks
- Little Auk, Alle alle
- Great Auk, Pinguinus impennis, extinct
- Common Guillemot, Uria aalge
- Brunnich's Guillemot, Uria lomvia, rare
- Razorbill, Alca torda
- Black Guillemot, Cepphus grylle
- Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus, very rare, one record
- Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica

Pterocliformes

Pteroclidae sandgrouse. One species as rare vagrant
- Pallas's Sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus, rare, has bred

Columbiformes

Columbidae pigeons and doves
- Rock Dove or feral pigeon, Columba livia
- Stock Dove Columba oenas
- Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus
- Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
- Turtle Dove Streptopelia risoria
- Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis, very rare
- Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura, very rare

Psittaciformes

Psittacidae, parrots
- Rose-ringed Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, introduced

Cuculiformes

Cuculidae, cuckoos
- Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
- Great Spotted Cuckoo, Clamator glandarius, rare
- Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus, very rare
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, rare

Strigiformes

Tytonidae barn owls
- Barn Owl, Tyto alba
Strigidae owls
- European Scops Owl, Otus scops, very rare
- Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiaca
- Tawny Owl, Strix aluco
- Northern Hawk Owl, Surnia ulula, very rare
- Little Owl, Athene noctua, introduced
- Tengmalm's Owl, Aegolius funereus, very rare
- Long-eared Owl, Asio otus
- Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus

Caprimulgiformes

Caprimulgidae, nightjars
- Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor, very rare
- Egyptian Nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius , very rare
- European Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
- Red-necked Nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis, very rare

Apodiformes

Apodidae swifts
- White-throated Needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus, very rare
- Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica, very rare
- Alpine Swift, Tachymarptis melba
- Common Swift, Apus apus
- Pallid Swift, Apus pallidus, very rare
- Pacific Swift, Apus pacificus, very rare
- Little Swift, Apus affinis, very rare

Coraciiformes

Alcedinidae, kingfishers
- European Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
- Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon, very rare
Meropidae, bee-eaters
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Merops persicus, very rare
- European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster, rare, has bred
Coraciidae, rollers rarity
- European Roller Coracias garrulus, rare
Upupidae Hoopoes
- Hoopoe, Upupa epops

Piciformes

Picidae woodpeckers
- Eurasian Wryneck, Jynx torquilla
- Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis
- Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos minor
- Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius, very rare

Passeriformes

See British birds/Passerines

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.

References and links

The British Ornithologists' Union publishes a List of British birds.
Also see Taxonomic Recommendations for European Birds and *Taxonomic recommendations for British birds (both in PDF format).