List of birds of Great Britain

Updated on Oct 04, 2024

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This list of birds of Great Britain comprises all bird species which have been recorded 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 598 species of birds on the British list as of 7 February 2015, with the latest additions being the alder flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) and Moltoni's warbler (Sylvia subalpina). 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 the 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 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.

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 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 the ring-billed gull, surf scoter and pectoral sandpiper.

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. There are about 160 species worldwide with 55 in Britain.

Grouse

Order: Galliformes Family: Tetraonidae

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 nineteen species worldwide, four in Britain.

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 six in Britain. Four of these were introduced for hunting or ornamental purposes but one has now apparently died out.

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. There are five species worldwide, all of which occur in Britain.

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 thirteen species worldwide with two in Britain.

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.

Storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

The 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. There are about twenty species worldwide, five in Britain.

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae

There is one species in Britain, only as a vagrant.

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 about ten species worldwide with one in Britain.

Cormorants

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, usually by the sea. There are about thirty-nine species worldwide, three in Britain.

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae

There are two species in Britain, both of which are rare.

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 about 63 species worldwide, 13 in Britain.

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. There are about thirty-three species worldwide with two in Britain.

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 nineteen species worldwide with two occurring as vagrants in Britain.

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. There are about nineteen species worldwide with six in Britain.

Buzzards, kites and allies

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. There are about 240 species worldwide, 16 in Britain.

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.

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.

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

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 fifteen species worldwide, two in Britain.

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes Family: Otididae

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

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 eleven species worldwide with one in Britain.

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 ten species worldwide with two in Britain.

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 nine species worldwide with one in Britain.

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae

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

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.

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. There are about 89 species worldwide, 54 in Britain.

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 seven species worldwide with four in Britain.

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.

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.

Auks

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. There are about 23 species worldwide, 10 in Britain.

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes Family: Pteroclididae

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

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, seven in Britain.

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. There is one introduced species in Britain.

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, four in Britain.

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. There are about sixteen species worldwide with one in Britain.

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, eight in Britain.

Nightjars

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. There are about 91 species worldwide, four in Britain.

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. There are about 100 species worldwide, seven in Britain.

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, two in Britain.

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 twenty-six species worldwide, two in Britain.

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 twelve species worldwide with one in Britain and Wales.

Hoopoe

Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Upupidae

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

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, five in Britain.

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae

A family from the Americas with two very rare vagrants recorded in Britain.

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. Three have occurred as vagrants in Britain.

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 twenty-seven species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in Great Britain.

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 thirty species worldwide, nine in Britain.

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 nine in Britain.

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae

A family of very small birds. There are seven species worldwide with two in Britain.

Penduline tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae

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

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, six in Britain.

Bearded tit

Order: Passeriformes Family: Panuridae

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

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.

Swallows and martins

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. There are about 83 species worldwide, eight in Britain.

Bush warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cettiidae

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae

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

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae

Typical warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae

Grasshopper warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae

Reed warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae

Cisticolas

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cisticolidae

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 three species worldwide, two in Britain.

Wallcreeper

Order: Passeriformes Family: Tichodromadidae

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

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 twenty-four species worldwide, two in Britain.

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 seven species worldwide, two in Britain.

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. There are about 80 species worldwide with one in Britain.

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.

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.

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae

Dark, dumpy, aquatic birds which are able to forage for food on the beds of rivers. There are five species worldwide with one in Britain.

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.

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.

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae

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

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 thirty-eight species worldwide, four in Britain.

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. There are about 66 species worldwide, 15 in Britain.

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.

Longspurs

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Calcariini

Cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Cardinalini

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.

Icterids

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Icterini

There are three rare vagrants in Britain.

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae. Tribe: Parulini

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

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.

References

List of birds of Great Britain Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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