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British Birds

Species 1 - 50 of 91 [ next ]

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

Acrocephalus palustris (Marsh warbler)
This rare summer migrant is olive green-brown in colour with a white throat, a pale stripe in front of the eye and pale legs. The... More	7 Images	0 Videos

Alauda Arvensis (Skylark)
When the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote of the skylark 'Hail to thee, blithe spirit, bird thou never were't', he may well have had... More	12 Images	5 Videos

Alca torda (Razorbill)
This handsome bird has a characteristic deep, flattened, wedge-shaped bill, which is black in colour with a white line. The... More	18 Images	7 Videos

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

Anas clypeata (Shoveler)
The shoveler is named for its extraordinary oversized bill, which has a broad spatula-shaped tip. Both sexes have this feature, but... More	13 Images	0 Videos

Anas crecca (Teal)
The teal is one of the smallest wild ducks in the UK. The drake (male) in breeding plumage is also one of the most handsome... More	13 Images	0 Videos

Anas penelope (Wigeon)
The wigeon is a medium-sized duck with a well-known whistling call - wheeooo - familiar to all who have witnessed their huge winter... More	13 Images	0 Videos

Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard )
The familiar mallard is the most numerous duck in Britain, and is the ancestor of the domestic duck. Both male and female mallards... More	31 Images	0 Videos

Anser anser (Greylag goose)
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 goose... More	22 Images	0 Videos

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

Ardea cinerea (Grey heron)
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

Aythya fuligula (Tufted duck)
Tufted ducks are, indeed, tufted, although the drake has a more prominent crest than the female (duck). The specific scientific... More	15 Images	0 Videos

Botaurus stellaris (Bittern)
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

Branta canadensis (Canada goose)
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

Bucephala clangula (Goldeneye )
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

Burhinus oedicnemus (Stone curlew)
The specific name Oedicnemus derives from the Greek for 'swollen shinned', these birds are also known as 'thick knees' due to their... More	14 Images	10 Videos

Caprimulgus europaeus (Nightjar)
This crepuscular bird has finely patterned tree-bark like cryptic plumage that provides excellent camouflage in the daytime when... More	13 Images	5 Videos

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

Carduelis carduelis (Goldfinch)
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

Carduelis chloris (Greenfinch)
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

Cinclus cinclus (Dipper)
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	21 Images	0 Videos

Circus aeruginosus (Marsh harrier)
Marsh harriers are recognised as harriers by their long, narrow tails, long legs and wings held in a 'V' in flight. This species... More	14 Images	0 Videos

Circus pygargus (Montagu's harrier)
Named after the early nineteenth century ornithologist Col. George Montagu, the Montagu's harrier is the smallest... More	13 Images	2 Videos

Columba palumbus (Woodpigeon)
The woodpigeon is the largest and most common of Britain's doves and pigeons. It is grey in colour with a dusky pink breast and... More	20 Images	6 Videos

Corvus corax (Raven)
The raven is a magnificent bird; bigger than a buzzard, it is the largest passerine (perching) bird in Europe, and is deeply... More	17 Images	0 Videos

Corvus cornix (Hooded crow)
The hooded crow, or 'hoodie' is now recognised as a different species to the carrion crow (Corvus corone). Both are around the same... More	12 Images	0 Videos

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

Corvus frugilegus (Rook)
The rook is the same size as carrion and hooded crows (Corvus corone, and C. cornix respectively). It has black plumage with... More	18 Images	0 Videos

Corvus monedula (Jackdaw)
The jackdaw is a lively, diminutive member of the crow family. It appears to have totally dark plumage from a distance, but... More	17 Images	0 Videos

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

Cuculus canorus (Cuckoo)
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

Cygnus columbianus bewickii (Bewick's swan)
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

Cygnus cygnus (Whooper swan)
The whooper swan is a winter visitor to Britain. Its common name refers to the loud whooping calls that it produces. This large... More	24 Images	0 Videos

Cygnus olor (Mute swan)
The mute swan is Britain's largest bird, and one of the heaviest flying birds in the world; adults can weigh over 15 kg . The... More	36 Images	0 Videos

Dendrocopos major (Great-spotted woodpecker)
The great spotted woodpecker is the most common and widespread of the British woodpeckers. It has black and white plumage... More	12 Images	0 Videos

Emberiza cirlus (Cirl bunting)
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

Emberiza citrinella (Yellowhammer)
The yellowhammer is one of the brightest coloured of our native birds. It is a fairly large bunting, with a long tail, white outer... More	14 Images	7 Videos

Emberiza schoeniclus (Reed bunting)
The reed bunting is a sparrow-sized bird with a long notched tail. Both sexes have reddish-brown upperparts with dark streaks, and... More	9 Images	4 Videos

Erithacus rubecula (Robin)
The Robin is undoubtedly one of Britain's most dearly loved birds. It is instantly recognisable due to the rusty-red breast; indeed... More	18 Images	11 Videos

Falco tinnunculus (Kestrel)
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

Ficedula hypoleuca (Pied flycatcher)
The pied flycatcher is a summer visitor to the UK. They are not easily seen as they tend to keep to the upper branches of trees.... More	9 Images	0 Videos

Fratercula arctica (Puffin)
The puffin is one of our most well-loved and easily recognised birds. It has a comical appearance, with its parrot-like, large... More	21 Images	11 Videos

Fringilla coelebs (Chaffinch)
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

Fulica atra (Coot)
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	0 Videos

Garrulus glandarius (Jay)
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

Haematopus ostralegus (Oystercatcher)
The oystercatcher is well known as a coastal species, and is easily recognised by virtue of its large size and combination of black... More	22 Images	0 Videos

Jynx torquilla (Wryneck)
The wryneck is an unusual-looking bird, at times resembling both a large warbler and a small bird of prey. Both male and female... More	10 Images	3 Videos

Lagopus lagopus (Red grouse)
The red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus is the British race of the willow grouse (Lagopus l. lagopus), although it was once... More	21 Images	0 Videos

Lagopus mutus (Ptarmigan)
The Scottish race of the ptarmigan is found only in Scotland, and is the only bird in Britain to turn white during winter. This... More	16 Images	0 Videos

Species 1 - 50 of 91 [ next ]

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