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British Birds

 		Species 51 - 91 of 91 [ previous ]
Thumbnail for Pica pica (Magpie)
Magpie (Pica pica)
The common magpie is an unmistakable species with its black and white plumage, and iridescent green or blue glossy sheen. The tail... More 12 Images 10 Videos
Thumbnail for Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
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 13 Videos
Thumbnail for Circus aeruginosus (Marsh harrier)
Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Marsh harriers are recognised as harriers by their long, narrow tails, long legs and wings held in a 'V' in flight. This species is... More 14 Images 7 Videos
Thumbnail for Acrocephalus palustris (Marsh warbler)
Marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
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
Thumbnail for Circus pygargus (Montagu's harrier)
Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus)
Named after the early nineteenth century ornithologist Col. George Montagu, the Montagu's harrier is the smallest of Britain's 3... More 13 Images 2 Videos
Thumbnail for Cygnus olor (Mute swan)
Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
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 9 Videos
Thumbnail for Caprimulgus europaeus (Nightjar)
Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)
This crepuscular bird has finely patterned tree-bark like cryptic plumage that provides excellent camouflage in the daytime when it... More 13 Images 5 Videos
Thumbnail for Haematopus ostralegus (Oystercatcher)
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
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 8 Videos
Thumbnail for Phasianus colchicus (Pheasant)
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
The pheasant was introduced to Britain by the Romans and Normans; further introductions of various races (or 'subspecies') have... More 19 Images 5 Videos
Thumbnail for Ficedula hypoleuca (Pied flycatcher)
Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
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 8 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Motacilla alba (Pied wagtail)
Pied wagtail (Motacilla alba)
The pied wagtail is instantly recognisable thanks to its distinctive black and white plumage, loud tsli-vitt call, and... More 14 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Lagopus mutus (Ptarmigan)
Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)
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
Thumbnail for Fratercula arctica (Puffin)
Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
The puffin is one of our most well-loved and easily recognised birds. It has a comical appearance, with its parrot-like, large... More 23 Images 11 Videos
Thumbnail for Corvus corax (Raven)
Raven (Corvus corax)
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 12 Videos
Thumbnail for Alca torda (Razorbill)
Razorbill (Alca torda)
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
Thumbnail for Lagopus lagopus (Red grouse)
Red grouse (Lagopus lagopus)
The red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus is the British race of the willow grouse (Lagopus l. lagopus), although it... More 21 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Milvus milvus (Red kite)
Red kite (Milvus milvus)
The red kite has been described as 'the most beautiful bird of prey in Britain'. The plumage is a wonderful mixture of black... More 18 Images 9 Videos
Thumbnail for Lanius collurio (Red-backed shrike)
Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio)
Measuring 17 cm in length, the red-backed shrike is slightly larger than a house sparrow. Males are easily recognisable by their... More 14 Images 3 Videos
Thumbnail for Phalaropus lobatus (Red-necked phalarope)
Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Phalaropes are waders, and unusual amongst birds in that the female is more brightly coloured than the male. This is chiefly... More 17 Images 6 Videos
Thumbnail for Emberiza schoeniclus (Reed bunting)
Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
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
Thumbnail for Erithacus rubecula (Robin)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
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
Thumbnail for Corvus frugilegus (Rook)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
The rook is the same size as carrion and hooded crows (Corvus corone, and C. cornix respectively). It has black... More 18 Images 7 Videos
Thumbnail for Sterna dougallii (Roseate tern)
Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii)
The roseate tern was first identified in 1812 by Dr MacDougall of Glasgow, hence the specific name dougallii. Males and... More 8 Images 6 Videos
Thumbnail for Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Shag)
Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
This bird is very similar in general appearance to the cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), but is smaller and slightly slimmer... More 17 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Anas clypeata (Shoveler)
Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
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
Thumbnail for Alauda Arvensis (Skylark)
Skylark (Alauda Arvensis)
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
Thumbnail for Plectrophenax nivalis (Snow bunting)
Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
Snow buntings are known locally as 'snowflakes', and the specific part of the scientific name nivalis means 'snowy'. They... More 16 Images 6 Videos
Thumbnail for Turdus philomelos (Song thrush)
Song thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Slightly smaller than the blackbird, the familiar song thrush has brown upperparts and creamy underparts with obvious dark brown... More 17 Images 7 Videos
Thumbnail for Muscicapa striata (Spotted flycatcher)
Spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
Adult spotted flycatchers are ashy-brown with a softly streaked dullish white breast; the forehead is also streaked. Younger birds... More 11 Images 7 Videos
Thumbnail for Burhinus oedicnemus (Stone curlew)
Stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
The specific name Oedicnemus derives from the Greek for 'swollen shinned', these birds are also known as 'thick knees' due... More 14 Images 10 Videos
Thumbnail for Strix aluco (Tawny owl)
Tawny owl (Strix aluco)
The tawny owl is the most common and widespread British owl. It is most often heard than seen; it produces a variety of... More 12 Images 6 Videos
Thumbnail for Anas crecca (Teal)
Teal (Anas crecca)
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 of... More 13 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Passer montanus (Tree sparrow)
Tree sparrow (Passer montanus)
Similar to the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), the tree sparrow was not recognised as a separate species until 1713. Both... More 10 Images 1 Video
Thumbnail for Aythya fuligula (Tufted duck)
Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)
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
Thumbnail for Streptopelia turtur (Turtle dove)
Turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur)
This small, delicate dove is slightly larger than a blackbird. It has dark black and chestnut upper parts with a white belly and... More 11 Images 2 Videos
Thumbnail for Cygnus cygnus (Whooper swan)
Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)
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
Thumbnail for Anas penelope (Wigeon)
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
The wigeon is a medium-sized duck with a well-known whistling call - ‘wheeooo’ - familiar to all who have witnessed their... More 13 Images 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Lullula arborea (Woodlark)
Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
The woodlark is brown in colour, with a whitish eye stripe and an overall streaky appearance. The underparts are dull white and the... More 5 Images 2 Videos
Thumbnail for Columba palumbus (Woodpigeon)
Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
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 a... More 20 Images 6 Videos
Thumbnail for Jynx torquilla (Wryneck)
Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
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
Thumbnail for Emberiza citrinella (Yellowhammer)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
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
Species 51 - 91 of 91 [ previous ]