LIST OF BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN


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 575 species of birds on the British list as at 26 July, 2007, with the latest addition Magnificent Frigatebird (''Fregata magnificens''). The species order and scientific names used here follow that of the 'Official British List', maintained by the 'British Ornithologists' Union' ('BOU'). In a few cases, the English names used here differ from those adopted by the BOU, to reflect names in more widespread use among the British birding public.
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, and decisions relating to Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man are summarised in these 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 January 1, 1950.

★ 'B' Species which were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once up to December 31, 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.



★ Note that birds can be listed in more than one category, e.g. Canada Goose, with a small number of naturally occurring birds (A), and also many introduced birds (C).

★ '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).
Species listed as 'rare' here are those for which records are assessed by the British Birds Rarities Committee ('BBRC'); claims of these species are not accepted unless documented by adequate field descriptions.
The British List has always been geographically rather than politically based. It was for most of its existence a British and Irish list, but is now simply the official list of birds of Great Britain as determined by the British Ornithologists' Union.
Birds records for Northern Ireland are kept by the Northern Ireland Birdwatchers’ Association and the Manx Ornithological Society (MOS) has responsibility for Isle of Man (which is not a legislative part of the UK).
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.

Contents
List of British birds
Species awaiting acceptance
References and links
See also

List of British birds


===Anseriformes===

Anatidae: swans, geese and ducks



Mute Swan - ''Cygnus olor'' 'A & C'


Tundra Swan - ''Cygnus columbianus'' 'A'


Whooper Swan - ''Cygnus cygnus'' 'A'


Bean Goose - ''Anser fabalis'' 'A'


Pink-footed Goose - ''Anser brachyrhynchus'' 'A'


White-fronted Goose - ''Anser albifrons'' 'A'


Lesser White-fronted Goose - ''Anser erythropus'' 'A rare'


Greylag Goose - ''Anser anser'' 'A & C'


Snow Goose - ''Anser caerulescens'' 'A' most records are presumed escapes from captivity


Canada Goose - ''Branta canadensis'' 'A & C'


Barnacle Goose - ''Branta leucopsis'' 'A'


Brent Goose - ''Branta bernicla'' 'A'


Red-breasted Goose - ''Branta ruficollis'' 'A rare'


Egyptian Goose - ''Alopochen aegyptiaca'' 'C'


Ruddy Shelduck - ''Tadorna ferruginea'' 'B & C' many records are presumed escapes from captivity


Common Shelduck - ''Tadorna tadorna'' 'A'


Mandarin Duck - ''Aix galericulata'' 'C'


Wigeon - ''Anas penelope'' 'A'


American Wigeon - ''Anas americana'' 'A rare'


Gadwall - ''Anas strepera'' 'A & C'


Common Teal - ''Anas crecca'' 'A'


Green-winged Teal - ''Anas carolinensis'' 'A'


Mallard - ''Anas platyrhynchos'' 'A & C'


American Black Duck - ''Anas rubripes'' 'A rare'


Northern Pintail - ''Anas acuta'' 'A'


Garganey - ''Anas querquedula'' 'A'


Blue-winged Teal - ''Anas discors'' 'A rare'


Northern Shoveler - ''Anas clypeata'' 'A'


Red-crested Pochard - ''Netta rufina'' 'A & C'


Pochard - ''Aythya ferina'' 'A'


Redhead - ''Aythya americana'' 'A rare'


Canvasback - ''Aythya valisineria'' 'A rare'


Ring-necked Duck - ''Aythya collaris'' 'A'


Ferruginous Duck - ''Aythya nyroca'' 'A rare' many records are presumed escapes from captivity


Tufted Duck - ''Aythya fuligula'' 'A'


Greater Scaup - ''Aythya marila'' 'A'


Lesser Scaup - ''Aythya affinis'' 'A rare'


Common Eider - ''Somateria mollissima'' 'A'


King Eider - ''Somateria spectabilis'' 'A rare'


Steller's Eider - ''Polysticta stelleri'' 'A rare'


Harlequin Duck - ''Histrionicus histrionicus'' 'A rare'


Long-tailed Duck - ''Clangula hyemalis'' 'A'


Common Scoter - ''Melanitta nigra'' 'A'


Black Scoter - ''Melanitta americana'' 'A rare'


Surf Scoter - ''Melanitta perspicillata'' 'A'


Velvet Scoter - ''Melanitta fusca'' 'A'


Bufflehead - ''Bucephala albeola'' 'A rare' most records are presumed escapes from captivity


Barrow's Goldeneye - ''Bucephala islandica'' 'A rare' most records are presumed escapes from captivity


Common Goldeneye - ''Bucephala clangula'' 'A'


Smew - ''Mergellus albellus'' 'A'


Red-breasted Merganser - ''Mergus serrator'' 'A'


Goosander - ''Mergus merganser'' 'A'


Ruddy Duck - ''Oxyura jamaicensis'' 'C' introduced species currently subject to an eradication programme
===Galliformes===

Tetraonidae: grouse
Red Grouse



Red Grouse - ''Lagopus lagopus scotica'' 'A'


Ptarmigan - ''Lagopus muta'' 'A'


Eurasian Black Grouse - ''Tetrao tetrix'' 'A'


Capercaillie - ''Tetrao urogallus'' 'B & C' reintroduced

Phasianidae: partridges, pheasants and quails


Red-legged Partridge - ''Alectoris rufa'' 'C'


Grey Partridge - ''Perdix perdix'' 'A & C'


Common Quail - ''Coturnix coturnix'' 'A'


Common Pheasant - ''Phasianus colchicus'' 'C'


Golden Pheasant - ''Chrysolophus pictus'' 'C'


Lady Amherst's Pheasant - ''Chrysolophus amherstiae'' 'C'
===Gaviiformes===

Gaviidae: divers


Red-throated Diver - ''Gavia stellata'' 'A'


Black-throated Diver - ''Gavia arctica'' 'A'


Great Northern Diver - ''Gavia immer'' 'A'


White-billed Diver - ''Gavia adamsii'' 'A rare'
===Podicipediformes===

Podicepidae: grebes


Pied-billed Grebe - ''Podilymbus podiceps'' 'A rare'


Little Grebe - ''Tachybaptus ruficollis'' 'A'


Great Crested Grebe - ''Podiceps cristatus'' 'A'


Red-necked Grebe - ''Podiceps grisegena'' 'A'


Slavonian Grebe - ''Podiceps auritus'' 'A'


Black-necked Grebe - ''Podiceps nigricollis'' 'A'
===Procellariiformes===

Diomedeidae: albatrosses


Black-browed Albatross ''Thalassarche melanophris'' 'A rare'

Procellariidae: fulmar, shearwaters, gadfly and other petrels


Northern Fulmar - ''Fulmarus glacialis'' 'A'


Fea's Petrel - ''Pterodroma feae'' 'A rare'


Capped Petrel - ''Pterodroma hasitata'' 'B rare'


Cory's Shearwater - ''Calonectis diomedea'' 'A'


Great Shearwater - ''Puffinus gravis '' 'A'


Sooty Shearwater - ''Puffinus griseus '' 'A'


Manx Shearwater - ''Puffinus puffinus '' 'A'


Balearic Shearwater - ''Puffinus mauretanicus'' 'A'


North Atlantic Little Shearwater - ''Puffinus baroli'' 'A rare'

Hydrobatidae: storm petrels


Wilson's Petrel - ''Oceanites oceanicus'' 'A rare' (though more regular well offshore)


White-faced Petrel - ''Pelagodroma marina'' 'B rare'


Storm Petrel - ''Hydrobates pelagicus'' 'A'


Leach's Petrel - ''Oceanodroma leucorhea'' 'A'


Swinhoe's Petrel - ''Oceanodroma monorhis'' 'A rare'


Madeiran Petrel - ''Oceanodroma castro'' 'B rare'
===Pelecaniformes===

Sulidae: gannets


Gannet - ''Morus bassanus'' 'A'

Phalacrocoracidae: cormorants


Cormorant - ''Phalacrocorax carbo'' 'A'


Double-crested Cormorant, ''Phalacrocorax auritus'' 'A rare'


Common Shag - ''Phalacrocorax aristotelis'' 'A'

Fregatidae: frigatebirds


Ascension Frigatebird - ''Fregata aquila'' 'A' rare


Magnificent Frigatebird - ''Fregata magnificens'' 'A' rare

Phaethontidae: tropicbirds


Red-billed Tropicbird - ''Phaeton aetherius'' 'A rare'

===Ciconiiformes===

Ardeidae: herons and bitterns


Bittern - ''Botaurus stellata'' 'A'


American Bittern - ''Botaurus lentiginosa'' 'A rare'


Little Bittern - ''Ixobrychus minutus'' 'A rare'


Night Heron - ''Nycticorax nycticorax'' 'A rare'


Green Heron - ''Butorides virescens'' 'A rare'


Squacco Heron - ''Ardeola ralloides'' 'A rare'


Cattle Egret - ''Bubulcus ibis'' 'A rare'


Little Egret - ''Egretta garzetta'' 'A'


Snowy Egret - ''Egretta thula'' 'A rare'


Great White Egret - ''Ardea alba'' 'A rare'


Grey Heron - ''Ardea cinerea'' 'A'


Purple Heron - ''Ardea purpurea'' 'A'

Ciconiidae: storks (rare)


Black Stork - ''Ciconia nigra'' 'A rare'


White Stork - ''Ciconia ciconia'' 'A'

Threskiornithidae: ibises and spoonbills


Glossy Ibis - ''Plegadis falcinellus'' 'A rare'


Common Spoonbill - ''Platalea leucorodia'' 'A'
===Accipitriformes===
Some classifications also include the Falconidae.

Pandionidae: Osprey


Osprey - ''Pandion haliaetus'' 'A'

Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and allies


★ European Honey Buzzard - ''Pernis apivorus'' 'A'


Black Kite - ''Milvus migrans'' 'A rare'


Red Kite - ''Milvus milvus'' 'A & C'


White-tailed Eagle - ''Haliaeetus albicilla'' 'A & C'


Egyptian Vulture - ''Neophron percnopterus'' 'B'


Short-toed Eagle - ''Circaetus gallicus'' 'A rare'


Marsh Harrier - ''Circus aeruginosus'' 'A'


Hen Harrier - ''Circus cyaneus'' 'A'


Pallid Harrier - ''Circus macrourus'' 'A rare'


Montagu's Harrier - ''Circus pygargus'' 'A'


Goshawk - ''Accipiter gentilis'' 'A & C'


Eurasian Sparrowhawk - ''Accipiter nisus'' 'A'


Common Buzzard - ''Buteo buteo'' 'A'


Rough-legged Buzzard - ''Buteo lagopus'' 'A'


Greater Spotted Eagle - ''Aquila clanga'' 'B'


Golden Eagle - ''Aquila chrysaetos'' 'A'
===Falconiformes===
Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes

Falconidae: falcons


Lesser Kestrel - ''Falco naumanni'' 'A rare'


Common Kestrel - ''Falco tinnunculus'' 'A'


American Kestrel - ''Falco sparverius'' 'A rare'


Red-footed Falcon - ''Falco vespertinus'' 'A rare'


Merlin - ''Falco columbarius'' 'A'


Eurasian Hobby - ''Falco subbuteo'' 'A'


Eleonora's Falcon - ''Falco eleonorae'' 'A rare'


Gyr Falcon - ''Falco rusticolus'' 'A rare'


Peregrine Falcon - ''Falco peregrinus'' 'A'
===Gruiformes===

Rallidae: rails and crakes


Water Rail - ''Rallus aquaticus'' 'A'


Spotted Crake - ''Porzana porzana'' 'A'


Sora - ''Porzana carolina'' 'A rare'


Little Crake - ''Porzana parva'' 'A rare'


Baillon's Crake - ''Porzana pusilla'' 'A rare'


Corn Crake - ''Crex crex'' 'A'


Common Moorhen - ''Gallinula chloropus'' 'A'


Allen's Gallinule - ''Porphyrio alleni'' 'A rare'


American Purple Gallinule - ''Porphyrio martinica'' 'A rare'


Coot - ''Fulica atra'' 'A'


American Coot - ''Fulica americana'' 'A rare'

Gruidae: cranes


Common Crane - ''Grus grus'' 'A'


Sandhill Crane - ''Grus americana'' 'A rare'

Otidae: bustards


Little Bustard - ''Tetrax tetrax'' 'A rare'


Macqueen's Bustard - ''Chlamydotis macqueenii'' 'B rare'


Great Bustard - ''Otis tarda'' 'A rare'
===Charadriiformes

Suborder Charadrii: waders


Dunlin


Haematopodidae: oystercatchers


Common Pied Oystercatcher - ''Haematopus ostralegus'' 'A'

Recurvirostridae: avocets and stilts


Black-winged Stilt - ''Himantopus himantopus'' 'A rare'


Avocet - ''Recurvirostra avosetta'' 'A'

Burhinidae: thick-knees


Stone Curlew - ''Burhinus oedicnemus'' 'A'

Glareolidae: coursers and pratincoles


Cream-coloured Courser - ''Cursorius cursor'' 'A rare' rare


Collared Pratincole - ''Glareola pratincola'' 'A rare'


Oriental Pratincole - ''Glareola maldivarum'' 'A rare'


Black-winged Pratincole - ''Glareola nordmanni'' 'A rare'

Charadriidae: plovers and lapwings


Little Ringed Plover - ''Charadrius dubius'' 'A'


Ringed Plover - ''Charadrius hiaticula'' 'A'


Semipalmated Plover - ''Charadrius semipalmatus'' 'A rare'


Killdeer - ''Charadrius vociferus'' 'A rare'


Kentish Plover - ''Charadrius alexandrinus'' 'A'


Lesser Sand Plover - ''Charadrius mongolus'' 'A rare'


Greater Sand Plover - ''Charadrius leschenaultii'' 'A rare'


Caspian Plover - ''Charadrius asiaticus'' 'A rare'


Eurasian Dotterel - ''Charadrius morinellus'' 'A'


American Golden Plover - ''Pluvialis dominica'' 'A rare'


Pacific Golden Plover - ''Pluvialis fulva'' 'A rare'


Golden Plover - ''Pluvialis apricaria'' 'A'


Grey Plover - ''Pluvialis squatarola'' 'A'


Sociable Lapwing - ''Vanellus gregarius'' 'A rare'


White-tailed Lapwing - ''Vanellus leucurus'' 'A rare'


Lapwing - ''Vanellus vanellus'' 'A'

Scolopacidae: typical waders or shorebirds


Great Knot - ''Calidris tenuirostris'' 'A rare'


Red Knot - ''Calidris canutus'' 'A'


Sanderling - ''Calidris alba'' 'A'


Semipalmated Sandpiper - ''Calidris pusilla'' 'A rare'


Western Sandpiper - ''Calidris mauri'' 'A rare'


Red-necked Stint - ''Calidris ruficollis'' 'A rare'


Little Stint - ''Calidris minuta'' 'A'


Temminck's Stint - ''Calidris temminckii'' 'A'


Long-toed Stint - ''Calidris subminuta'' 'A rare'


Least Sandpiper - ''Calidris minutilla'' 'A rare'


White-rumped Sandpiper - ''Calidris fuscicollis'' 'A rare'


Baird's Sandpiper - ''Calidris bairdii'' 'A rare'


Pectoral Sandpiper - ''Calidris melanotos'' 'A'


Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - ''Calidris acuminata'' 'A rare'


Curlew Sandpiper - ''Calidris ferruginea'' 'A'


Stilt Sandpiper - ''Calidris himantopus'' 'A rare'


Purple Sandpiper - ''Calidris maritima'' 'A'


Dunlin - ''Calidris alpina'' 'A'


Broad-billed Sandpiper - ''Limicola falcinellus'' 'A rare'


Buff-breasted Sandpiper - ''Tryngites subruficollis'' 'A'


Ruff - ''Philomachus pugnax'' 'A'


Jack Snipe - ''Lymnocryptes minimus'' 'A'


Common Snipe - ''Gallinago gallinago'' 'A'


Great Snipe - ''Gallinago media'' 'A rare'


Short-billed Dowitcher - ''Limnodromus griseus'' 'A rare'


Long-billed Dowitcher - ''Limnodromus scolopaceus'' 'A rare'


Woodcock - ''Scolopax rusticola'' 'A'


Black-tailed Godwit - ''Limosa limosa'' 'A'


Hudsonian Godwit - ''Limosa haemastica'' 'A rare'


Bar-tailed Godwit - ''Limosa lapponica'' 'A'


Little Curlew - ''Numenius minutus'' 'A rare'


Eskimo Curlew - ''Numenius borealis'' 'B extinct'


Whimbrel - ''Numenius phaeopus'' 'A'


Slender-billed Curlew - ''Numenius tenuirostris'' 'A rare'


Curlew - ''Numenius arquata'' 'A'


Upland Sandpiper - ''Bartramia longicauda'' 'A rare'


Spotted Redshank - ''Tringa erythropus'' 'A'


Common Redshank - ''Tringa totanus'' 'A'


Marsh Sandpiper - ''Tringa stagnatilis'' 'A rare'


Common Greenshank - ''Tringa nebularia'' 'A'


Greater Yellowlegs - ''Tringa melanoleuca'' 'A rare'


Lesser Yellowlegs - ''Tringa flavipes'' 'A rare'


Solitary Sandpiper - ''Tringa solitaria'' 'A rare'


Green Sandpiper - ''Tringa ochropus'' 'A'


Wood Sandpiper - ''Tringa glareola'' 'A'


Terek Sandpiper - ''Xenus cinereus'' 'A rare'


Common Sandpiper - ''Actitis hypoleucos'' 'A'


Spotted Sandpiper - ''Actitis macularius'' 'A rare'


Grey-tailed Tattler - ''Heterosceles brevipes'' 'A rare'


Turnstone - ''Arenaria interpres'' 'A'


Wilson's Phalarope - ''Phalaropus tricolor'' 'A rare'


Red-necked Phalarope - ''Phalaropus lobatus'' 'A'


Grey Phalarope - ''Phalaropus fulicaria'' 'A'

Suborder Lari: skuas, gulls & terns



Stercorariidae: skuas


Pomarine Skua - ''Stercorarius pomarinus'' 'A'


Arctic Skua - ''Stercorarius parasiticus'' 'A'


Long-tailed Skua - ''Stercorarius longicaudus'' 'A'


Great Skua - ''Stercorarius skua'' 'A'

Laridae: gulls
Black-headed Gull



Great Black-headed Gull - ''Larus ichthyaetus'' 'B rare'


Mediterranean Gull - ''Larus melanocephalus'' 'A'


Laughing Gull - ''Larus atricilla'' 'A rare'


Franklin's Gull - ''Larus pipixcan'' 'A rare'


Little Gull - ''Larus minutus'' 'A'


Sabine's Gull - ''Larus sabini'' 'A'


Bonaparte's Gull - ''Larus philadelphia'' 'A rare'


Black-headed Gull - ''Larus ridibundus'' 'A'


Slender-billed Gull - ''Larus genei'' 'A rare'


Audouin's Gull - ''Larus audouinii'' 'A rare'


Ring-billed Gull - ''Larus delawarensis'' 'A'


Common Gull - ''Larus canus'' 'A'


Lesser Black-backed Gull - ''Larus fuscus'' 'A'


Yellow-legged Gull - ''Larus michahellis'' 'A'


Herring Gull - ''Larus argentatus'' 'A'


Iceland Gull - ''Larus glaucoides'' 'A'


Glaucous Gull - ''Larus hyperboreus'' 'A'


Great Black-backed Gull - ''Larus marinus'' 'A'


Ross's Gull - ''Rhodostethia rosea'' 'A rare'


Black-legged Kittiwake - ''Rissa tridactyla'' 'A'


Ivory Gull - ''Pagophila eburnea'' 'A rare'

Sternidae: terns


Gull-billed Tern - ''Gelochelidon nilotica'' 'A rare'


Caspian Tern - ''Hydroprogne caspia'' 'A rare'


Royal Tern - ''Sterna maximus'' 'A rare'


Lesser Crested Tern - ''Sterna bengalensis'' 'A rare'


Sandwich Tern - ''Sterna sandvicensis'' 'A'


Roseate Tern - ''Sterna dougallii'' 'A'


Common Tern - ''Sterna hirundo'' 'A'


Arctic Tern - ''Sterna paradisaea'' 'A'


Forster's Tern - ''Sterna forsteri'' 'A rare'


Aleutian Tern - ''Onychoprion aleutica'' 'A rare'


Bridled Tern - ''Onychoprion anaethetus'' 'A rare'


Sooty Tern - ''Onychoprion fuscata'' 'A rare'


Little Tern - ''Sternula albifrons'' 'A'


Whiskered Tern - ''Chlidonias hybridus'' 'A rare'


Black Tern - ''Chlidonias niger'' 'A'


White-winged Tern - ''Chlidonias leucopterus'' 'A rare'

Suborder Alcae: auks



Alcidae: auks


Common Guillemot - ''Uria aalge'' 'A'


Brunnich's Guillemot - ''Uria lomvia'' 'A rare'


Razorbill - ''Alca torda'' 'A'


Great Auk - ''Pinguinus impennis'' 'B extinct'


Black Guillemot - ''Cepphus grylle'' 'A'


Long-billed Murrelet - ''Brachyramphus perdix'' 'A rare'


Ancient Murrelet - ''Synthliboramphus antiquus'' 'A rare'


Little Auk - ''Alle alle'' 'A'


Atlantic Puffin - ''Fratercula arctica'' 'A'
===Pterocliformes===

★ Pteroclidae: sandgrouse


Pallas's Sandgrouse - ''Syrrhaptes paradoxus'' 'A rare'
===Columbiformes===

Columbidae: pigeons and doves


Rock Pigeon or Feral Pigeon - ''Columba livia'' 'A & C'


Stock Pigeon - ''Columba oenas'' 'A'


Wood Pigeon - ''Columba palumbus'' 'A'


Collared Dove - ''Streptopelia decaocto'' 'A'


Turtle Dove - ''Streptopelia turtur'' 'A'


Oriental Turtle Dove - ''Streptopelia orientalis'' 'A rare'


Mourning Dove - ''Zenaida macroura' 'A rare'
===Psittaciformes===

Psittacidae: parrots


Ring-necked Parakeet - ''Psittacula krameri'' 'C'
===Cuculiformes===

Cuculidae: cuckoos


Great Spotted Cuckoo - ''Clamator glandarius'' 'A rare'


Common Cuckoo - ''Cuculus canorus'' 'A'


Black-billed Cuckoo - ''Coccyzus erythropthalmus'' 'A rare'


Yellow-billed Cuckoo - ''Coccyzus americanus'' 'A rare'
===Strigiformes===

Tytonidae: barn owls


Barn Owl - ''Tyto alba'' 'A'

Strigidae: owls


Scops Owl - ''Otus scops'' 'A rare'


Snowy Owl - ''Bubo scandiacus'' 'A rare'


Northern Hawk Owl - ''Surnia ulula'' 'A rare'


Little Owl - ''Athene noctua'' 'C'


Tawny Owl - ''Strix aluco'' 'A'


Long-eared Owl - ''Asio otus'' 'A'


Short-eared Owl - ''Asio flammeus'' 'A'


Tengmalm's Owl - ''Aegolius funereus'' 'A rare'
===Caprimulgiformes===

Caprimulgidae: nightjars


European Nightjar - ''Caprimulgus europaeus'' 'A'


Red-necked Nightjar - ''Caprimulgus ruficollis'' 'A rare'


Egyptian Nightjar - ''Caprimulgus aegyptius'' 'A rare'


Common Nighthawk - ''Chordeiles minor'' 'A rare'
===Apodiformes===

Apodidae: swifts


Chimney Swift - ''Chaetura pelagica'' 'A rare'


Needle-tailed Swift - ''Hirundapus caudacutus'' 'A rare'


Common Swift - ''Apus apus'' 'A'


Pallid Swift - ''Apus pallidus'' 'A rare'


Pacific Swift - ''Apus pacificus'' 'A rare'


Alpine Swift - ''Apus melba'' 'A rare'


Little Swift - ''Apus affinis'' 'A rare'
===Coraciiformes===

Alcedinidae: kingfishers
European Kingfisher



Common Kingfisher - ''Alcedo atthis'' 'A'


Belted Kingfisher - ''Ceryle alcyon'' 'A rare'

Meropidae: bee-eaters


Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - ''Merops persicus'' 'A rare'


European Bee-eater - ''Merops apiaster'' 'A'

Coraciidae: rollers


European Roller - ''Coracias garrulus'' 'A rare'

Upupidae: Hoopoes


Hoopoe - ''Upupa epops'' 'A'
===Piciformes===

Picidae: woodpeckers


Eurasian Wryneck - ''Jynx torquilla'' 'A'


Green Woodpecker - ''Picus viridis'' 'A'


Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - ''Sphyrapicus varius'' 'A rare'


Great Spotted Woodpecker - ''Dendrocopos major'' 'A'


Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - ''Dendrocopos minor'' 'A'
===Passeriformes===

Tyrannidae, Tyrant flycatchers


Eastern Phoebe, ''Sayornis phoebe'', very rare US vagrant

Alaudidae, larks


Calandra Lark, ''Melanocorypha calandra'', very rare vagrant


Bimaculated Lark, ''Melanocorypha bimaculata'', very rare vagrant


White-winged Lark, ''Melanocorypha leucoptera'', very rare vagrant


Black Lark, ''Melanocorypha yeltoniensis'', very rare vagrant


Greater Short-toed Lark, ''Calandrella brachydactyla'' vagrant


Lesser Short-toed Lark, ''Calandrella rufescens'', very rare vagrant


Crested Lark, ''Galerida cristata'' vagrant


Wood Lark, ''Lullula arborea''


Skylark, ''Alauda arvensis''


Shore Lark, ''Eremophila alpestris''

Hirundinidae, swallows and martins


Tree Swallow, ''Tachycineta bicolor'', very rare vagrant


Sand Martin, ''Riparia riparia''


Crag Martin, ''Ptyonoprogne rupestris'', very rare vagrant


Purple Martin, ''Progne subis'', very rare vagrant


Barn Swallow, ''Hirundo rustica''


Red-rumped Swallow, ''Hirundo daurica'', rare vagrant


Cliff Swallow, ''Hirundo pyrrhonota'', very rare vagrant


House Martin, ''Delichon urbicum''

Motacillidae, wagtails and pipits


Citrine Wagtail, '' Motacilla citreola'', rare


White Wagtail, '' Motacilla alba''. Two races



★ '' M. a. alba'' (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)



★ '' M. a. yarrelli'', Pied Wagtail (subspecies breeding in Britain)


Grey Wagtail, '' Motacilla cinerea''


Blue-headed Wagtail, ''Motacilla flava''



★ Blue-headed Wagtail ''M. f. flava'' (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)



★ Yellow Wagtail ''M. f. flavissima'' (subspecies breeding in Britain)


Richard's Pipit, ''Anthus richardi'', vagrant


Tawny Pipit, ''Anthus campestris'', rare vagrant


Blyth's Pipit, ''Anthus godlewskii'', very rare vagrant


Tree Pipit, ''Anthus trivialis''


Olive-backed Pipit, ''Anthus hodgsoni'', rare vagrant


Pechora Pipit, ''Anthus gustavi'', rare vagrant


Meadow Pipit, ''Anthus pratensis''


Red-throated Pipit, ''Anthus cervinus'', rare vagrant


Water Pipit, ''Anthus spinoletta''


Rock Pipit, ''Anthus petrosus''


Buff-bellied Pipit, ''Anthus rubescens'', very rare vagrant

Bombycillidae, waxwings


Bohemian Waxwing, ''Bombycilla garrulus''


Cedar Waxwing, ''Bombycilla cedrorum'', very rare vagrant

Cinclidae, dippers


European Dipper, ''Cinclus cinclus''

Troglodytidae, wrens
Wren at the nest.



Wren, ''Troglodytes troglodytes''

Mimidae, mockingbirds


Northern Mockingbird, ''Mimus polyglottos'', very rare vagrant


Brown Thrasher, ''Toxostoma rufum'', one record


Gray Catbird, ''Dumetella carolinensis'', one record

Prunellidae, accentors


Dunnock, ''Prunella modularis ''


Alpine Accentor, ''Prunella collaris'', rare vagrant

Turdidae thrushes and chats


Blackbird, ''Turdus merula''


Ring Ouzel, ''Turdus torquatus''


Eyebrowed Thrush, ''Turdus obscurus'', rare vagrant


Dark-throated Thrush, ''Turdus atrogularis''



★ Black-throated Thrush, ''T. a. atrogularis'', rare vagrant (nominate subspecies)



★ Red-throated Thrush, ''T.a. ruficollis'', very rare vagrant (subspecies)


Dusky Thrush, ''Turdus naumanni''



★ Naumann's Thrush, ''T. n. naumanni'', very rare vagrant (nominate subspecies)



★ Dusky Thrush, ''T. n. eunomus'', rare vagrant (subspecies)


Fieldfare, ''Turdus pilaris''


Redwing, ''Turdus iliacus''


Song Thrush, ''Turdus philomelos''


Mistle Thrush, ''Turdus viscivorus''


American Robin, ''Turdus migratorius'', very rare vagrant


Siberian Thrush, ''Zoothera sibirica'', very rare vagrant


White's Thrush or Scaly Thrush, ''Zoothera dauma'', rare vagrant


Varied Thrush, ''Zoothera naevia'', one record


Veery, ''Catharus fuscescens'', very rare vagrant


Gray-cheeked Thrush, ''Catharus minimus'', rare vagrant


Swainson's Thrush, ''Catharus ustulatus'', very rare vagrant


Hermit Thrush, ''Catharus guttatus'', very rare vagrant


Wood Thrush, ''Hylocichla mustelina'', very rare vagrant


Rock Thrush, ''Monticola saxatilis'', rare vagrant


Blue Rock-Thrush, ''Monticola solitarius'', very rare vagrant


Rufous Bush Robin, ''Cercotrichas galactotes'', very rare vagrant


Bluethroat, ''Luscinia svecica''vagrant, few resident in Norfolk


Siberian Rubythroat, ''Luscinia calliope'', very rare vagrant


Rufous-tailed Robin, ''Luscinia sibilans'', very rare vagrant


Thrush Nightingale, ''Luscinia luscinia'', rare vagrant


Nightingale, ''Luscinia megarhynchos''


Siberian Blue Robin, ''Luscinia cyanea'', very rare vagrant


Red-flanked Bluetail, ''Tarsiger cyanurus'', very rare vagrant


European Robin, ''Erithacus rubecula''


White-throated Robin, ''Irania gutturalis'', very rare vagrant


European Stonechat, ''Saxicola rubicola''


Siberian Stonechat, ''Saxicola maura'', rare vagrant


Whinchat, ''Saxicola rubetra''


Northern Wheatear, ''Oenanthe oenanthe''


Isabelline Wheatear, ''Oenanthe isabellina'', rare vagrant


Desert Wheatear, ''Oenanthe deserti'', rare vagrant


Black-eared Wheatear, ''Oenanthe hispanica'', rare vagrant


Pied Wheatear, ''Oenanthe pleschanka'', rare vagrant


White-crowned Wheatear, ''Oenanthe leucopyga'', very rare vagrant


Black Redstart, ''Phoenicurus ochruros''


Common Redstart, ''Phoenicurus phoenicurus''


Moussier's Redstart, ''Phoenicurus moussieri'', very rare vagrant

Corvidae crows, ravens, and allies


Carrion Crow, ''Corvus corone''


Common Raven, ''Corvus corax''


Hooded Crow, ''Corvus cornix''


Jackdaw, ''Corvus monedula''


Rook, ''Corvus frugilegus''


Eurasian Jay, ''Garrulus glandarius''


Chough, '' Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax ''


European Magpie, ''Pica pica''


Spotted Nutcracker, ''Nucifraga caryocatactes'', very rare vagrant

Sylviidae Old World warblers


Cetti's Warbler, ''Cettia cetti''


Lanceolated Warbler, ''Locustella lanceolata'', rare vagrant


Grasshopper Warbler, ''Locustella naevia''


Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, ''Locustella certhiola'', rare vagrant


River Warbler, ''Locustella fluviatilis'', rare vagrant


Savi's Warbler, ''Locustella luscinioides'', rare breeder


Aquatic Warbler, ''Acrocephalus paludicola'', rare vagrant


Sedge Warbler, ''Acrocephalus schoenobaenus''


Paddyfield Warbler, ''Acrocephalus agricola'', rare vagrant


Reed Warbler, ''Acrocephalus scirpaceus''


Blyth's Reed Warbler, ''Acrocephalus dumetorum'', rare vagrant


Marsh Warbler, ''Acrocephalus palustris'', rare breeder


Great Reed Warbler, ''Acrocephalus arundinaceus'', rare vagrant


Thick-billed Warbler, ''Acrocephalus aedon'', very rare vagrant


Booted Warbler, ''Hippolais caligata'', rare vagrant


Sykes' Warbler, ''Hippolais rama'',very rare vagrant


Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, ''Hippolais pallida'', very rare vagrant


Western Olivaceous Warbler, ''Hippolais opaca'', very rare vagrant


Melodious Warbler, ''Hippolais polyglotta'' vagrant


Icterine Warbler, ''Hippolais icterina'' vagrant


Willow Warbler, ''Phylloscopus trochilus''


Common Chiffchaff, ''Phylloscopus collybita''


Iberian Chiffchaff, ''Phylloscopus brehmii'', very rare vagrant


Western Bonelli's Warbler, ''Phylloscopus bonelli'', rare vagrant


Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, ''Phylloscopus orientalis'', rare vagrant


Wood Warbler, ''Phylloscopus sibilatrix''


Dusky Warbler, ''Phylloscopus fuscatus'', rare vagrant


Radde's Warbler, ''Phylloscopus schwarzi'', rare vagrant


Pallas's Warbler, ''Phylloscopus proregulus'', rare vagrant


Yellow-browed Warbler, ''Phylloscopus inornatus'' rare vagrant


Hume's Warbler, ''Phylloscopus humei'', rare vagrant


Arctic Warbler, ''Phylloscopus borealis'', rare vagrant


Greenish Warbler, ''Phylloscopus trochiloides'', rare vagrant


Blackcap, ''Sylvia atricapilla''


Garden Warbler, ''Sylvia borin''


Whitethroat, ''Sylvia communis''


Lesser Whitethroat, ''Sylvia curruca''


Asian Desert Warbler, ''Sylvia nana'' rare vagrant


Barred Warbler, ''Sylvia nisoria'' rare vagrant


Orphean Warbler, ''Sylvia hortensis'', very rare vagrant


Rüppell's Warbler, ''Sylvia rueppelli'' rare vagrant


Subalpine Warbler, ''Sylvia cantillans'', rare vagrant


Sardinian Warbler, ''Sylvia melanocephala'', rare vagrant


Spectacled Warbler, ''Sylvia conspicillata'', very rare vagrant


Dartford Warbler, ''Sylvia undata''


Marmora's Warbler ''Sylvia sarda'', very rare vagrant


Zitting Cisticola, ''Cisticola juncidis'', very rare vagrant

Regulidae kinglets


Goldcrest, ''Regulus regulus''


Firecrest, ''Regulus ignicapillus''

Muscicapidae Old World flycatchers


Spotted Flycatcher, ''Muscicapa striata''


Pied Flycatcher, ''Ficedula hypoleuca''


Collared Flycatcher, ''Ficedula albicollis'', rare vagrant


Red-breasted Flycatcher, ''Ficedula parva'' rare vagrant


Taiga Flycatcher, ''Ficedula albicilla'', very rare vagrant

Paradoxornithidae: parrotbills


Bearded Tit, ''Panurus biarmicus''

Aegithalidae long-tailed tits


Long-tailed Tit, ''Aegithalos longicaudus ''

Remizidae penduline tits


Penduline Tit, ''Remiz pendulinus'', rarity, has bred
Blue Tit


Paridae titmice


Marsh Tit, ''Parus palustris''


Willow Tit, ''Parus montana''


Coal Tit, ''Parus ater''


Crested Tit, ''Parus cristatus''


Great Tit, ''Parus major''


Blue Tit, ''Parus caeruleus''

Tichodromadidae Wallcreeper


Wallcreeper, ''Tichodroma muraria'', very rare vagrant

Sittidae nuthatches


Eurasian Nuthatch, ''Sitta europaea''


Red-breasted Nuthatch, ''Sitta canadensis'' very rare vagrant

Certhiidae treecreepers


Common Treecreeper, ''Certhia familiaris''


Short-toed Treecreeper, ''Certhia brachydactyla'', rare vagrant

Laniidae shrikes


Great Grey Shrike, ''Lanius excubitor''


Southern Grey Shrike, '' Lanius meridionalis'', rare vagrant


Lesser Grey Shrike, '' Lanius minor'', rare vagrant


Red-backed Shrike, '' Lanius collurio''


Isabelline Shrike, '' Lanius isabellinus'', rare vagrant


Woodchat Shrike, '' Lanius senator'', rare vagrant


Masked Shrike, '' Lanius nubicus'', very rare vagrant (one record)


Long-tailed Shrike, '' Lanius schach'', very rare vagrant


Brown Shrike, ''Lanius cristatus'', very rare vagrant

Emberizidae buntings and, as very rare vagrants, American sparrows


Yellowhammer, ''Emberiza citrinella''


Pine Bunting, ''Emberiza leucocephalos'', rare vagrant


Cirl Bunting, ''Emberiza cirlus''


Rock Bunting, ''Emberiza cia'', very rare vagrant


Ortolan Bunting, ''Emberiza hortulana''


Cretzschmar's Bunting, ''Emberiza caesia'', very rare vagrant


Chestnut-eared Bunting, ''Emberiza fucata'', very rare vagrant


Little Bunting, ''Emberiza pusilla'', rare vagrant


Yellow-browed Bunting, ''Emberiza chrysophrys'', very rare vagrant


Rustic Bunting, ''Emberiza rustica'', rare vagrant


Yellow-breasted Bunting, ''Emberiza aureola'' rare vagrant


Black-faced Bunting, ''Emberiza spodocephala'', very rare vagrant


Black-headed Bunting, ''Emberiza melanocephala'', rare vagrant


Pallas' Reed Bunting, ''Emberiza pallasi'', very rare vagrant


Reed Bunting, ''Emberiza schoeniclus''


Corn Bunting, ''Miliaria calandra''


Snow Bunting, ''Plectrophenax nivalis''


Lapland Bunting, ''Calcarius lapponicus'' rare breeder


Rufous-sided Towhee, ''Pipilo erythrophthalmus'', very rare vagrant


Lark Sparrow, ''Chondestes grammacus'', very rare vagrant


Song Sparrow, ''Melospiza melodia'', very rare vagrant


White-crowned Sparrow, ''Zonotrichia leucophrys'', very rare vagrant


White-throated Sparrow, ''Zonotrichia albicollis'', very rare vagrant


Dark-eyed Junco, ''Junco hyemalis'', very rare vagrant


Rose-breasted Grosbeak, ''Pheucticus ludovicianus'', very rare vagrant


Indigo Bunting, ''Passerina cyanea'', very rare vagrant


Savannah Sparrow, ''Passerculus sandwichensis'', very rare vagrant

Thraupidae tanagers very rare vagrant


Scarlet Tanager, ''Piranga olivacea'', very rare vagrant


Summer Tanager, ''Piranga rubra'', one record

Vireonidae vireos very rare vagrant


Yellow-throated Vireo, ''Vireo flavifrons'', very rare vagrant


Philadelphia Vireo, ''Vireo philadelphicus'', very rare vagrant


Red-eyed Vireo, ''Vireo olivaceus'', rare vagrant
Common Yellowthroat


Parulidae New World warblers very rare vagrants


Golden-winged Warbler, ''Vermivora chrysoptera'', very rare vagrant


Tennessee Warbler, ''Vermivora peregrina'', very rare vagrant


Northern Parula, ''Parula americana'', very rare vagrant


Yellow Warbler, ''Dendroica petechia'', very rare vagrant


Chestnut-sided Warbler, ''Dendroica pensylvanica'', very rare vagrant


Magnolia Warbler, ''Dendroica magnolia'', very rare vagrant


Cape May Warbler, ''Dendroica tigrina'', very rare vagrant


Yellow-rumped Warbler, ''Dendroica coronata'', rare vagrant


Blackburnian Warbler, ''Dendroica fusca'', very rare vagrant


Bay-breasted Warbler, ''Dendroica castanea'', very rare vagrant


Blackpoll Warbler, ''Dendroica striata'', rare vagrant


Black-and-white Warbler, ''Mniotilta varia'', very rare vagrant


American Redstart, ''Setophaga ruticilla'', very rare vagrant


Ovenbird, ''Seiurus aurocapillus'', very rare vagrant


Northern Waterthrush, ''Seiurus noveboracensis'', very rare vagrant


Common Yellowthroat, ''Geothlypis trichas'', very rare vagrant


Hooded Warbler, ''Wilsonia citrina'', very rare vagrant


Wilson's Warbler, ''Wilsonia pusilla'', very rare vagrant

Icteridae icterids very rare vagrant


Bobolink, ''Dolichonyx oryzivorus'', very rare vagrant


Brown-headed Cowbird, ''Molothrus ater'', very rare vagrant


Baltimore Oriole, ''Icterus galbula'', very rare vagrant

★ Fringillidae finches


Chaffinch, ''Fringilla coelebs''


Brambling, ''Fringilla montifringilla''


Pine Grosbeak, ''Pinicola enucleator'', very rare vagrant


Common Rosefinch, ''Carpodacus erythrinus'' rare vagrant


Parrot Crossbill, ''Loxia pytyopsittacus'', rare vagrant


Scottish Crossbill, ''Loxia scotica''


Common Crossbill, ''Loxia curvirostra''


Two-barred Crossbill, ''Loxia leucoptera'', rare vagrant


European Greenfinch, ''Carduelis chloris''


Common Redpoll, ''Carduelis flammea'' vagrant


Lesser Redpoll, ''Carduelis cabaret''


Arctic Redpoll, ''Carduelis hornemanni'' vagrant


Eurasian Siskin, ''Carduelis spinus''


European Goldfinch, ''Carduelis carduelis''


Twite, ''Carduelis flavirostris''


Eurasian Linnet, ''Carduelis cannabina''


European Serin, ''Serinus serinus'' vagrant


Eurasian Bullfinch, ''Pyrrhula pyrrhula''


Hawfinch, ''Coccothraustes coccothraustes''


Evening Grosbeak, ''Coccothraustes vespertinus'', very rare vagrant


Trumpeter Finch, ''Rhodopechys githaginea'', very rare vagrant

Ploceidae sparrows


House Sparrow, ''Passer domesticus''


Spanish Sparrow, ''Passer hispaniolensis'', very rare vagrant


Eurasian Tree Sparrow, ''Passer montanus''


Rock Sparrow, ''Petronia petronia'', very rare vagrant

Sturnidae starlings


Rosy Starling, ''Sturnus roseus'', rare vagrant but increasing


Common Starling, ''Sturnus vulgaris''

Oriolidae orioles


Golden Oriole, ''Oriolus oriolus'', rare breeder
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.

Pacific Diver - ''Gavia pacifica''

Glaucous-winged Gull - ''Larus glaucescens''

Elegant Tern - ''Sterna elegans''

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).

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

See also





List of birds of Wales

★ ''British Birds'' (a long- established ornithology journal).

Birdwatching

European birds

Ornithology

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