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British Birds

Species 1 - 50 of 91 [ next ]

Aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola)
The aquatic warbler is a small, slim bird with sandy coloured plumage with variable fine black streaking. Further identifying... More	4 Images	1 Video

Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea)
The Arctic tern is a long-distance migrant, making a staggering annual round-trip from its Arctic or northern temperate breeding... More	20 Images	0 Videos

Barn owl (Tyto alba)
This ethereal, ghost-like owl has golden-grey coloured upperparts, and pure white underparts. The heart-shaped facial disc is pale... More	18 Images	9 Videos

Bewick’s swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii)
Bewick’s swan is the smallest swan to visit Britain. It is named after the illustrator Thomas Bewick who died in 1828 and produced... More	16 Images	0 Videos

Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)
The bittern is more likely to be heard than seen. The loud booming call, uttered by males during the breeding season, can be heard... More	10 Images	5 Videos

Black grouse (Tetrao tetrix)
The black grouse, also known as 'blackgame' is one of Britain's most striking gamebirds. The male has glossy blue-black plumage... More	8 Images	9 Videos

Black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus)
The common name of this species is inaccurate, as adult black-headed gulls have a chocolate-brown head in summer. In winter, this... More	22 Images	0 Videos

Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa)
The black-tailed godwit is a rare, large and elegant wading bird with a very long straight bill. In flight it displays a broad... More	15 Images	0 Videos

Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Adult male blackbirds are, as the name suggests, totally black; they have a bright golden-yellow bill and a neat yellow ring around... More	23 Images	9 Videos

Blue tit (Parus caeruleus)
This small tit has yellow underparts, with a narrow, dark central stripe on the belly, blue wings and a white face, which is... More	16 Images	9 Videos

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
This stocky finch has a stubby bill, a black face and cap, a white bar on the black wings, and a white rump. Males have blue-grey... More	13 Images	4 Videos

Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
The Canada goose was introduced to England around 300 years ago. It is now the most familiar goose in Britain. This large goose has... More	21 Images	7 Videos

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
The male capercaillie is a game bird, and the largest member of the grouse family resembling, to some people, a turkey. Males are... More	22 Images	5 Videos

Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
The carrion crow was, until recently, considered to be a race of the same species as the hooded crow (Corvus cornix), but it... More	13 Images	9 Videos

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
The chaffinch is one of the best-known and most common of all British birds. Both sexes can be easily identified in flight when... More	15 Images	0 Videos

Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
This member of the crow family is glossy black in colour, with a long curved red bill and red legs, unique in the family. Males and... More	12 Images	4 Videos

Cirl bunting (Emberiza cirlus)
The cirl bunting is slightly smaller than the more familiar yellowhammer, having a smaller bill and shorter, more rounded wings... More	8 Images	1 Video

Common crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
Although it is not a bird that many people see very often, the crossbill is quite common in the UK and has probably increased in... More	14 Images	2 Videos

Common gull (Larus canus)
The name ‘common gull’ is rather misleading, as this gull is not all that common. It is generally similar in appearance to the... More	12 Images	0 Videos

Common scoter (Melanitta nigra)
The name Melanitta comes derives from the Greek for 'black duck'. Males have glossy black plumage with a patch of orange on... More	5 Images	1 Video

Coot (Fulica atra)
The coot, Britain's largest rail species, is a plump water bird; it has a greyish body, a black head, and a white bill, above which... More	21 Images	6 Videos

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
This large water bird has a long neck, giving it something of a primitive, reptilian appearance. Adults are black with a bluish or... More	18 Images	5 Videos

Corn bunting (Miliaria calandra)
The prolonged song of the male corn bunting, resembling nothing so much as the jangling of a bunch of keys, was once a far more... More	12 Images	4 Videos

Corncrake (Crex crex)
Male and female corncrakes are very similar in appearance; both have light yellowish-brown plumage, and the face and upper parts of... More	15 Images	3 Videos

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
A well-known harbinger of spring, the arrival of the cuckoo in Britain is eagerly awaited each April. Adult males have bluish-grey... More	13 Images	5 Videos

Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
The dipper is a dumpy aquatic bird with a short tail. Adults have dark sooty-black plumage with a prominent bright white bib, and... More	22 Images	0 Videos

Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
The dunnock is a common bird of gardens, woods and parks, familiar to many people still under its old name of hedge sparrow. The... More	14 Images	0 Videos

European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
The European starling, a familiar bird in both urban and rural areas, may at first glance be confused with a blackbird due to its... More	28 Images	6 Videos

Gannet (Morus bassanus)
The gannet is a magnificent large seabird, with long narrow wings, a long neck, and instantly recognisable plumage. Adults are... More	21 Images	20 Videos

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Although the majestic golden eagle is not Britain’s largest raptor (the white-tailed eagle exceeds it in size) nor is it the rarest... More	30 Images	10 Videos

Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
The goldeneye is a well-known attractive diving duck. It has a compact shape, with a large rounded head. The upper part of the... More	11 Images	0 Videos

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
The goldfinch is a strikingly beautiful bird, with a bright red face, black and white head and a deep golden yellow bar on the... More	14 Images	0 Videos

Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
The great crested grebe is the largest grebe in Europe. It is a graceful bird, with its long neck, long bill and slender outline... More	18 Images	7 Videos

Great tit (Parus major)
The great tit is the largest of the British tits and is a familiar garden visitor. It is slightly smaller in size than a house... More	17 Images	0 Videos

Great-spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
The great spotted woodpecker is the most common and widespread of the British woodpeckers. It has black and white plumage, a... More	13 Images	5 Videos

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
The greenfinch is a well-known bird as it often visits gardens and drives other birds away from feeders. It is a relatively heavy... More	19 Images	0 Videos

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
The grey heron is the largest heron in Europe . It has a long neck, a strong, dagger-like bill and long yellow legs. In flight, the... More	17 Images	11 Videos

Grey partridge (Perdix perdix)
The grey partridge is native to Britain, and was once known simply as 'the partridge'. The introduced red-legged partridge became... More	12 Images	5 Videos

Greylag goose (Anser anser)
If you see a wild grey goose in the UK outside the winter months, it will almost certainly be a greylag. The only other ‘wild’... More	22 Images	0 Videos

Guillemot (Uria aalge)
The guillemot is the commonest member of the auk family in the British Isles. The head as well as the upperparts are dark brown in... More	25 Images	9 Videos

Herring gull (Larus argentatus argenteus)
This familiar gull can be distinguished from other gulls by its large size and grey upperparts, which earn it the alternative names... More	15 Images	10 Videos

Hooded crow (Corvus cornix)
The hooded crow, or 'hoodie' is now recognised as a different species to the carrion crow (Corvus corone). Both are around... More	12 Images	3 Videos

House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
The sparrow is one of Britain's most well-known and best-loved birds. Both sexes have a brown back streaked with black. Males and... More	14 Images	17 Videos

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
The jackdaw is a lively, diminutive member of the crow family. It appears to have totally dark plumage from a distance, but on... More	17 Images	9 Videos

Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
The shy jay is a strikingly coloured member of the crow family. It is generally pinkish-brown in colour, with a black tail, whitish... More	15 Images	9 Videos

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
The kestrel is our most common diurnal bird of prey, and is often seen hovering over farmland and at the sides of motorways. With... More	17 Images	11 Videos

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
The beautiful iridescent plumage of the kingfisher makes it one of our most colourful and instantly recognisable birds; despite... More	17 Images	6 Videos

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
The lapwing is a familiar wader of open farmland. It has a striking appearance, with its black and white plumage, iridescent green... More	21 Images	0 Videos

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
Slightly smaller than a sparrow, the linnet is an attractive finch, which was highly sought after as a cage bird in the 19th... More	15 Images	6 Videos

Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
The little grebe is also known as the dabchick and is the smallest member of the grebe family. It is a dumpy little bird with a... More	15 Images	0 Videos

Species 1 - 50 of 91 [ next ]

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