This list of birds of Great Britain comprises all bird species that have been recorded in a wild state in Great Britain. It follows the official British List, maintained by the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU).McInerny, Christopher J.; Musgrove, Andrew J.; Gilroy, James J.; Dudley, Steve P.; and the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee (2022). "The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (10th edition)". Ibis. 164 (3): 860–910. doi:10.1111/ibi.13065. Decisions relating to the British List are published by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) in its annual reports in the BOU's journal Ibis. 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 are adjudicated by the Manx Ornithological Society.
Bird species admitted to the British List are those in BOU categories A, B or C: A: species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950. B: species that 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 humans, either deliberately or accidentally, have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, which maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction. 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, and the white-tailed eagle is a native species that is also subject to an ongoing reintroduction project, so both species meet the criteria for categories A and C.
Categories D and E (not listed here) are used for record keeping only, and species in these categories are not included in the British List: 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 not believed to be self-sustaining. A further category (not listed here) is being compiled: F: species recorded before 1800, including fossil species.
As of 13 August 2024, there are 641 species of birds on the British List, the latest addition being western olivaceous warbler on 20-21 October 2023. Five species groups (birds that were not identified to species level) are included in an appendix to the December 2023 amendment – southern/northern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus/halli), Fea's/Desertas petrel (Pterodroma feae/desertas), black-bellied/white-bellied storm petrel (Fregetta tropica/grallaria), brown/south polar skua (Stercorarius antarctica/maccormickii), and Asian/Mediterranean/Turkestan short-toed lark (Alaudala cheleensis/rufescens/heinei). A number of additional species are awaiting consideration by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee.
Species listed on this page as "rare" 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.
In general the avifauna of Britain is similar to that of the rest of Europe. 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 on the island of Great Britain, but migrants elsewhere. 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, including the ring-billed gull, surf scoter and pectoral sandpiper. There is one endemic bird found in Great Britain, the Scottish crossbill, though its species status is uncertain and controversial; the red grouse is near-endemic, occurring in only Great Britain and neighbouring Ireland.
Ducks, geese, and swans Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Common and binomial names Image Status Conservation status Brent goose(Branta bernicla) A – winter visitor Red-breasted goose(Branta ruficollis) A – rare vagrant Canada goose(Branta canadensis) A & C – resident introduced population, some wild vagrants Barnacle goose(Branta leucopsis) A & C – winter visitor and resident introduced population Cackling goose(Branta hutchinsii) A – rare vagrant Ross's goose(Anser rossii) A – rare vagrant Snow goose(Anser caerulescens) A & C – some wild vagrants, also a very small feral introduced population Greylag goose(Anser anser) A & C – resident wild and feral populations, winter visitor Taiga bean goose(Anser fabalis) A – winter visitor Pink-footed goose(Anser brachyrhynchus) A – winter visitor Tundra bean goose(Anser serrirostris) A – winter visitor White-fronted goose(Anser albifrons) A – winter visitor Lesser white-fronted goose(Anser erythropus) A – rare vagrant Mute swan(Cygnus olor) A & C – resident breeding species Bewick's swan(Cygnus columbianus) A – winter visitor Whooper swan(Cygnus cygnus) A – winter visitor and occasional breeder Egyptian goose(Alopochen aegyptiaca) C – resident introduced population Common shelduck(Tadorna tadorna) A – resident breeder and winter visitor Ruddy shelduck(Tadorna ferruginea) B – numerous records since 1946 are presumed feral or escapes from captivity Mandarin duck(Aix galericulata) C – resident introduced population Baikal teal(Sibirionetta formosa) A – rare vagrant Garganey(Spatula querquedula) A – breeding summer visitor Blue-winged teal(Spatula discors) A – rare vagrant Northern shoveler(Spatula clypeata) A – resident breeder and winter visitor Gadwall(Mareca strepera) A & C – resident breeder and winter visitor Falcated duck(Mareca falcata) A – rare vagrant Eurasian wigeon(Mareca penelope) A – resident breeder and winter visitor American wigeon(Mareca americana) 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 Eurasian teal(Anas crecca) A – resident breeder and winter visitor Green-winged teal(Anas carolinensis) A – scarce migrant Red-crested pochard(Netta rufina) A & C – scarce migrant and introduced breeder Canvasback(Aythya valisineria) A – rare vagrant Redhead(Aythya americana) A – rare vagrant Common pochard(Aythya ferina) A – resident breeder and winter visitor Ferruginous duck(Aythya nyroca) A – scarce migrant Ring-necked duck(Aythya collaris) 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 Steller's eider(Polysticta stelleri) A – rare vagrant King eider(Somateria spectabilis) A – rare vagrant Common eider(Somateria mollissima) A – resident breeder and winter visitor Harlequin duck(Histrionicus histrionicus) A – rare vagrant Surf scoter(Melanitta perspicillata) A – scarce migrant Velvet scoter(Melanitta fusca) A – winter visitor White-winged scoter(Melanitta deglandi) A – rare vagrant Stejneger's scoter(Melanitta stejnegeri)A – rare vagrant, first recorded 2022 Common scoter(Melanitta nigra) A – passage and winter visitor, and rare breeder Black scoter(Melanitta americana) A – rare vagrant Long-tailed duck(Clangula hyemalis) A – winter visitor and occasional breeder Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola) A – rare vagrant Common goldeneye(Bucephala clangula) A – resident breeder and winter visitor Barrow's goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) A – rare vagrant Smew(Mergellus albellus) A – winter visitor Hooded merganser(Lophodytes cucullatus) A – rare vagrant Common merganser(Mergus merganser) A – resident breeder and winter visitor Red-breasted merganser(Mergus serrator) A – resident breeder and winter visitor Ruddy duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) C – introduced species currently subject to an eradication programme
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: 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. Four of these were introduced for hunting or ornamental purposes but two have now died out. Common and binomial names Image Status Conservation status Red grouse(Lagopus scotica) A – resident breeding species Rock ptarmigan(Lagopus muta) A – resident breeding species Western capercaillie(Tetrao urogallus) C – resident reintroduced population Black grouse(Lyrurus tetrix) A – resident breeding species Grey partridge(Perdix perdix) A & C – resident breeder and introduced gamebird Golden pheasant(Chrysolophus pictus) C – former introduced population, now died out Lady Amherst's pheasant(Chrysolophus amherstiae) C – former introduced population, now died out Ring-necked pheasant(Phasianus colchicus) C – resident introduced population Common quail(Coturnix coturnix) A – breeding summer visitor Red-legged partridge(Alectoris rufa) C – resident introduced population
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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. Common and binomial names Image StatusConservation status Common nighthawk(Chordeiles minor) A – rare vagrant Red-necked nightjar(Caprimulgus ruficollis) B – rare vagrant (one record, 1856) European nightjar(Caprimulgus europaeus) A – breeding summer visitor Egyptian nightjar(Caprimulgus aegyptius) A – rare vagrant
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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. Common and binomial names Image Status Conservation status White-throated needletail(Hirundapus caudacutus) A – rare vagrant Chimney swift(Chaetura pelagica) A – rare vagrant Alpine swift(Tachymarptis melba) A – scarce migrant Common swift(Apus apus) A – breeding summer visitor Pallid swift(Apus pallidus) A – rare vagrant Pacific swift(Apus pacificus) A – rare vagrant Little swift(Apus affinis) A – rare vagrant White-rumped swift(Apus caffer) A – rare vagrant
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Large, sturdy birds of open plains with long legs and necks and strong feet. They are all rarities. Common and binomial names Image Status Conservation status Great bustard(Otis tarda) A – rare vagrant and recently reintroduced breeding resident species MacQueen's bustard(Chlamydotis macqueenii) A – rare vagrant; only one record since 1950, in 1962 Little bustard(Tetrax tetrax) A – rare vagrant
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: 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.