A mixed seabird colony, where Herring Gulls are an ever-present threat to the eggs and chicks of Guillemots and other species.
The coast is a great place for birds, and there is more avian diversity on the sea, and on coastal land, than in any other closely allied collection of British habitats. It’s little wonder then that birdwatchers also flock to the coast on a regular basis, where they are guaranteed a good day out.
COASTAL HABITATS FOR BIRDS
The coast offers different things to different bird species, and the way its resources are exploited often vary throughout the year. But in essence, coastal habitats provide places for birds to nest and to feed.
A mixed seabird colony, where Herring Gulls are an ever-present threat to the eggs and chicks of Guillemots and other species.
These days, disturbance by man is an important factor affecting the success or otherwise of coastal breeding birds. Cliffs have the great advantage of being virtually inaccessible. Depending on the geology, some offer an array of alternative nesting places and hence support mixed seabird colonies. Auks perhaps show the greatest range of adaptations to cliff living: Puffins dig burrow nests on the top slopes; Guillemots nest on bare ledges on sheer rock faces; and Razorbills breed among boulders lower down. Various gull species, Shags and, in a few locations, Gannets add to the diversity.
Although rocky shores are by far the best places to explore for marine invertebrates and fish, they are impoverished in terms of birdlife. A few specialist feeders live here – Oystercatchers, Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers, for example – but few other species can make a living. Well above the high-tide line, and in remote and undisturbed locations, birds such as Eiders, terns and Oystercatchers sometimes attempt to nest.
In locations where human disturbance is controlled or prevented, nesting colonies of terns and gulls are sometimes able to thrive. Working on the principle of safety in numbers, they typically breed at high densities. In the south, Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns are the typical species, while Common Gulls and Arctic Terns often predominate in the north.
A feeding Bar-tailed Godwit that has just caught a juicy Lugworm.
This flock of gulls and Gannets has discovered a shoal of small fish at the surface.
These are the most important habitats for feeding birds, and come into their own outside the breeding season. Among the waders found here, a range of different bill lengths and shapes allows the various species to exploit alternative foods. Wildfowl are also well represented, most having a vegetarian diet. Cormorants, grebes and fish-eating duck species patrol the creeks and inlets, while gulls are ever-present scavengers.
These are feeding grounds for specialist birds, especially those that catch fish and invertebrates. Grebes, divers and true marine duck species are well represented.
The open sea is the domain of the true seabirds, many of which spend their entire non-breeding lives beyond sight of land. Petrels, shearwaters, auks and skuas are arguably the quintessential seabirds.
COASTAL TERRESTRIAL HABITATS
Many terrestrial bird species congregate near coasts in the winter months, simply because the weather is milder and feeding easier. So, flocks of widespread passerines such as pipits, Skylarks and Linnets are a familiar sight in suitable habitats at this time. A few specialists, such as Twite, Snow Bunting and Lapland Bunting, are seldom seen away from the shoreline in winter. With all this potential food available for predators, birds such as Short-eared Owl and Merlin are also relatively easy to see near coasts in winter.
ADAPTATIONS FOR THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
The marine environment is a challenging place and the bird species that live here have to be well adapted to its unforgiving nature. Whether they feed on an estuary or catch fish in the open sea, they must tolerate salt in their diet; indeed, many species have special ways of removing excess salt from their bodies. Another obvious requirement is that their feathers should provide waterproofing and a considerable degree of insulation.
Strong winds are a feature of the coast and on occasion seabirds have to cope with severe conditions. All true seabirds are seemingly indifferent to anything short of storm conditions, and petrels, shearwaters and Gannets have even evolved to use the wind to their advantage. Particularly severe gales blow in seabird species not usually seen in the region, and force migrating birds to pass closer to shore than would normally be the case.
On the seashore, and particularly on estuaries and mudflats, feeding birds sometimes find their food by sight, but many waders also have sensitive bills that can detect prey deep in the mud. Finding and catching food on the open ocean is a real challenge. Many species spot food using their eyes, but shearwaters and petrels can actually smell their food. Reaching the prey is a different matter; the Gannet is the master plunge-diver, while others submerge at the surface. Webbed feet are obviously a great aid to swimming both at the surface and when submerged, but shearwaters and auks also use their wings – in effect, ‘flying’ underwater.
A plunge-diving Gannet.
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica Length 60–70cm
Black-throated Diver, 1st winter
Swims buoyantly with bill held level. Dives frequently. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a blue-grey nape and head, and a black throat; sides of neck have black and white lines. Back is dark with white spots; underparts are white. Winter adult has mainly grey-black upperparts and whitish underparts; note white patch on flanks at water level in swimming birds. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but with more obvious pale margins to back feathers. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Scarce; typically seen on coasts in winter, in winter plumage. Rare breeding species on large Scottish lochs.
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata Length 55–65cm
Red-throated Diver, summer
Red-throated Diver, winter adult
Swims low in water, head and dagger-like bill tilted upwards. Dives frequently. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has blue-grey on face and sides of neck, a red throat, and black and white lines on back and lower sides of neck. Upperparts are otherwise brownish grey and underparts are whitish. Winter adult has grey upperparts spangled with small white spots; underparts are white. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but grubby-looking. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Locally common on coasts in winter, in winter plumage. Scarce breeding species in Scotland; nests beside freshwater pools but feeds in shallow coastal seas.
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Length 75–85cm
Great Northern Diver, summer
Great Northern Diver, juvenile
Buoyant waterbird. Large bill is held level or very slightly elevated. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a black neck with 2 rows of white stripes. Upperparts are blackish with white patches on mantle and spots elsewhere. Underparts are gleaming white. Bill is dark. Winter adult has dark grey upperparts and whitish underparts with a dark half-collar on neck. Bill is greyish. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but pale margins to back feathers are obvious. VOICE Silent in our region. STATUS Winter visitor to coastal seas; occasionally, birds in breeding plumage are seen.
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Length 25–29cm
Little Grebe, summer adult
Little Grebe, winter
Dumpy, buoyant waterbird with a powderpuff of feathers at rear end. Dives frequently. Wings are rounded and uniform grey-brown. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer is mainly brownish but neck and cheeks are chestnut. Pale-tipped dark bill has a lime-green spot at base. Winter adult has mainly brown upperparts and buffish underparts. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but with a pale throat and black stripes on face. VOICE Whinnying trill. STATUS Local winter visitor to coasts (lagoons, estuaries and sheltered seas). Breeds on freshwater ponds and rivers inland.
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Length 46–51cm
Great Crested Grebe, winter
Great Crested Grebe, summer
Graceful waterbird with a slender neck and dagger-like bill. White wing panels are revealed in flight. Dives frequently. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has grey-brown upperparts and mainly whitish underparts; head has a black cap and crest, and an orange-buff ruff bordering paler cheeks. Bill is pink and eye is red. In winter, has drab grey-brown and white plumage. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but has dark stripes on cheeks. VOICE Utters wails and croaks in breeding season. STATUS Locally common on coasts in winter, although more usually seen on freshwater lakes, where it also breeds.
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Length 40–45cm
Red-necked Grebe, winter
Red-necked Grebe, summer
Smaller and stockier than the Great Crested Grebe, with striking breeding plumage. Note diagnostic yellow-based bill. White wing panels are seen in flight. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a red neck and upper breast; head has white-bordered pale grey cheeks and a black cap. Upperparts are otherwise grey-brown and underparts whitish with grey streaks on flanks. Winter adult loses neck colours but often retains hint of a reddish collar. Cheek pattern is less well defined and ear coverts are grubby. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but with more extensive red on neck. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Scarce winter visitor to sheltered inshore seas and estuaries.
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus Length 31–38cm
Slavonian Grebe, summer
Slavonian Grebe, winter
Buoyant little waterbird with a beady red eye. Flattish crown and white-tipped, even-shaped bill (both mandibles are curved) allow separation from Black-necked Grebe. White patches on both leading and trailing edges of wings are seen in flight. Sexes are similar. ADULT has a reddish-orange neck and flanks. Back is black and black head has golden-yellow plumes. Winter adult has black upperparts and white underparts, with a clear demarcation between black cap and white cheeks. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Local winter visitor to sheltered coastal waters. Rare breeding bird in Scotland, on shallow lochs.
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Length 28–34cm
Black-necked Grebe, summer
Black-necked Grebe, winter
Buoyant waterbird with an uptilted bill, steep forehead and beady red eye. White patch on trailing edge of wing is seen in flight. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a blackish head, neck and back, with golden-yellow tufts on face. Flanks are chestnut. Winter adult has mainly blackish upperparts and white underparts; told from similar Slavonian Grebe by head shape and greater extent of black on cheeks. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but grubby-looking. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Known mainly as a scarce winter visitor to sheltered coasts. A few pairs nest on shallow, well-vegetated lakes.
Gannet Morus bassanus Wingspan 165–180cm
Gannet, immature
Our largest seabird. Has deep, powerful wingbeats and glides on stiffly held wings. Bill is large and dagger-like. Dives from a height to catch fish. Sexes are similar. ADULT has mainly white plumage with black wingtips; head has a buffish wash. JUVENILE has dark brown plumage speckled with white dots in 1st year; adult plumage acquired over next 4 years. VOICE Usually silent, but feeding groups are vocal at sea; nesting birds utter grating calls. STATUS Very locally common. Nests colonially and 75% of world population breeds here; visit Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire or Bass Rock in Scotland for spectacular views. Otherwise, strictly marine and best seen from headlands and boat crossings.
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Length 80–100cm
Cormorant, winter
Cormorant, summer
Dark waterbird with a heavy, hook-tipped bill. Swims low in water, propelled by large webbed feet. Wings often held outstretched when perched. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer is mainly dark with an oily sheen and black-bordered brownish feathers on wings, and white on thigh and head. Eye is green; skin at base of bill is yellowish. In winter, white feathering is absent. JUVENILE has brown upperparts and whitish underparts. VOICE Silent except at nest. STATUS Common, favouring sheltered seas and estuaries.
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis Length 65–80cm
Shag, winter
Shag, juvenile
Shag, summer
Smaller than Cormorant, with a more slender bill. Leaps in order to submerge. Often perches with wings held outstretched. Sexes are similar. ADULT is all-dark but with an oily green sheen. Has a yellow patch at base of bill and a distinct crest. In winter, loses crest; colours at base of bill are subdued. JUVENILE has dark brown upperparts, buffish underparts and a pale throat. Crown peaks on forehead (peaks on rear of crown in juvenile Cormorant). VOICE Silent except at nest. STATUS Locally common on rocky coasts. Nests colonially on sea cliffs.
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Wingspan 105–110cm
Gull-like but recognised by tube nostrils, and by stiffly held wings and effortless gliding flight. Swims buoyantly; gathers in groups where feeding is good. Sexes are similar. ADULT typically has blue-grey upperwings and back. Head, underparts and tail are white. Has a dark smudge around eye. Dark-phase (from Arctic) is blue-grey and seen occasionally. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Gurgling cackles and grunts. STATUS Locally common. Nests colonially on sea-cliff ledges. Otherwise, seen gliding over sea.
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus Length 14–16cm
Our smallest seabird. Flutters low over water with dangling feet when feeding. Note square-ended tail. Feet do not project beyond tail in flight. Sexes are similar. ADULT is dark sooty brown except for white rump and white bar on underwing. JUVENILE is similar but with a subtle, pale wingbar on upperwing. VOICE Silent at sea; gurgling, purring calls uttered when breeding. STATUS Very locally common breeder. Nests in burrows on remote islands that are visited after dark. Otherwise, comes close to land in daylight only in severe gales. Easy to see from pelagic boat trips from SW England in summer, and from ferry crossings to N Scottish islands.
Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus Length 16–18cm
Small seabird, marginally larger and broader-winged than European Storm-petrel. Best distinguished by differences in structure, markings and flight pattern. Capable of fast direct flight, but also sustained glides and a hovering feeding action, when feet are pattered on the water. Sexes are similar. ADULT is dark sooty brown with a distinct pale panel on inner upperwings, and uniformly dark underwings. Has a broad white rump and square-ended tail. Legs project beyond tail in direct flight. Webs of feet are yellow. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Silent at sea. STATUS Rare summer visitor from breeding grounds in the southern hemisphere. Keenly sought by pelagic boat tours from Isles of Scilly and elsewhere in the SW. Double figures are usually seen each year. Hardly ever seen from land.
Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa Length 16–18cm
More robust and longer-winged than European Storm-petrel; flight is ever-changing, with powerful wingbeats and glides. Sexes are similar. ADULT is dark sooty grey except for a pale panel on upperwing coverts. Fork in tail and grey central line on rump can be hard to see. Underwings are all dark. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Silent at sea; weird gurgling rattles are heard when nesting. STATUS Truly oceanic. Very locally common but hard to see. Willingly comes close to land only after dark, at breeding colonies. Otherwise, seen from land only during severe gales.
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Wingspan 70–85cm
Manx Shearwater, at nest burrow entrance
Skims low over sea on stiffly held wings. Contrasting dark upperparts and mainly white underparts are seen as bird banks and glides. Gregarious when feeding is good. Sexes are similar. ADULT has blackish upperparts and mainly white underparts with dark wing margins. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Silent at sea; strangled coughing calls are uttered after dark by nesting birds. STATUS Fairly common summer visitor. Seen mostly at sea; visits land only to breed, after dark. Nests in burrows on remote islands. Visit Skomer or Bardsey in Wales for close-up views. (See also photograph on following page.)
Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus Wingspan 80–88cm
Structurally rather similar to Manx Shearwater but marginally bulkier and more pot-bellied, and with subtly different plumage. Feet project slightly beyond tip of tail in flight. Sexes are similar. ADULT has sooty-brown upperparts. Underparts are overall grubby white but with a brownish suffusion on face and chest, and brown undertail coverts (white in Manx). Underwings have a broader dark margin than in Manx. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Silent at sea. STATUS Breeds on Balearic Islands in early spring and moves N in summer. Reaches seas off SW Britain in summer, where it is generally rather scarce. Seen from headlands and on pelagic boat trips, probably most easily from Dorset to Cornwall.
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Wingspan 95–110cm
Consummate seabird, capable of a seemingly effortless, gliding flight. Wings are relatively long and narrow, and held straight in gliding flight, but slightly angled when banking in strong winds. Sexes are similar. ADULT can look almost uniformly black in harsh light. Good views reveal mostly a dark sooty-brown plumage, relieved only by a striking silvery panel on underwings. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Silent at sea. STATUS Common summer visitor to the N Atlantic from breeding grounds in the southern hemisphere. Fairly common in British waters (Jul–Oct), seen from headlands and on pelagic boat trips.
Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis Wingspan 105–120cm
Great Shearwater, ‘flying’ underwater in pursuit of fish
Impressive shearwater with distinctive markings. Flight is powerful, often involving a seemingly effortless gliding action. Sexes are similar. ADULT has mostly dark brown upperparts with pale margins to feathers on back and innerwing; note dark cap and white collar, and white rump and dark tail. Underparts are mostly white with a dark shoulder patch, innerwing markings and wing margins. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Silent at sea. STATUS Common summer visitor to the N Atlantic from breeding grounds in the southern hemisphere. Fairly common in British waters (Jul–Oct), seen from headlands and on pelagic boat trips.
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea Wingspan 115–125cm
Similar to Great Shearwater but marginally larger and more thickset, and with more uniform upperparts. Flight is powerful; capable of sustained gliding in strong winds. Sexes are similar. ADULT has mostly brown upperparts, with no noticeable contrast between body and head, and only minimal white on rump. Underparts are mostly white except for dark margin to wings. At close range, note the dark-tipped, pale bill. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Silent at sea. STATUS Breeds on islands of the E Atlantic and Mediterranean, visiting British waters in summer (mainly Jul–Oct). Favours offshore waters and is seen on pelagic boat trips; also observed from headlands in the SW during periods of onshore winds.
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Length 35–38cm
Black-headed Gull, summer
Black-headed Gull, 1st winter
Black-headed Gull, summer
Black-headed Gull, winter
Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage varies with age and season, but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a grey back and upperwings, white underparts and a chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above and behind eye. JUVENILE has an orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. First-winter bird retains some juvenile characters but loses orange-brown flush. Adult plumage is acquired through successive moults over next 2 years. VOICE Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. STATUS Widespread and numerous. Nests colonially and seen in flocks outside the breeding season.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Length 36–38cm
Mediterranean Gull, summer
Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter
Mediterranean Gull, winter
Mediterranean Gull, summer
Similar to Black-headed Gull but has a stouter bill and uniformly pale wings in adult. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with a yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has a menacing look created by dark smudges. JUVENILE has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has a dark terminal band. Adult plumage is acquired by successive moults over next 2 years. VOICE Cow-cow-cow call. STATUS Very locally common, usually among Black-headed Gull flocks. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside the breeding season.
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus Length 25–28cm
Little Gull, summer
Little Gull, 1st winter
Little Gull, 1st winter
Our smallest gull. Has a buoyant, tern-like flight. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has pale grey upperwings with white wingtips, a dark hood, dark bill and short reddish legs. In flight, upperwings have a white trailing edge and rounded white wingtips; underwings are dark with a white trailing edge. In winter, similar but loses dark hood; otherwise white head has dark smudges on crown and ear coverts. JUVENILE has a striking black bar (forming letter ‘W’) on upperwings and back. Note dark markings on mantle, nape and ear coverts, and dark tail band; plumage is otherwise white. Adult plumage is acquired over next 2 years. VOICE Sharp kyeck call. STATUS Regular but scarce passage migrant and winter visitor; mainly coastal.
Common Gull Larus canus Length 40–42cm
Common Gull, summer
Common Gull, 1st winter
Medium-sized gull. Slimmer-bodied and smaller-billed than larger Herring Gull. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a grey back and upperwings with a white trailing margin; black wingtips have white spots. Plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellowish and legs are yellowish green. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and neck; bill is duller with a dark sub-terminal band. JUVENILE has pale-margined brown back feathers and upperwings. Head and underparts are pale with dark streaks, while neck and breast look grubby. Adult plumage is acquired over 2 years. First winter is similar to juvenile but has a grey back; bill is pink with a dark tip. Second winter is similar to adult but with more black on outerwing and broader band on bill. VOICE Mewing keeow. STATUS Locally common. Nests close to water, often inland. Outside the breeding season is common on coasts, least so in the S.
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Length 38–42cm
Kittiwake, summer
A true seagull: its non-breeding life is spent entirely at sea. Sexes are similar. ADULT has a blue-grey back and upperwings with black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow; eye and legs are dark. In flight, wingtips look dipped in black ink. In winter, similar but head has grubby patches behind eye. JUVENILE has black ‘V’ markings on upperwing; back and upperwing coverts are grey, and note triangle of white on flight feathers, dark tip to tail, black half-collar and dark markings on head; bill is dark. First winter is similar to juvenile but gradually loses dark half-collar and black tail tip. VOICE Diagnostic kittee-wake when nesting. STATUS Nests colonially on coastal cliff ledges but also on dockside factories etc. Non-breeding period is spent far out to sea.
Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini Length 30–35cm
Distinctive seabird. Can be confused with a juvenile Kittiwake, but upperwing patterns are separable with care. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a blue-grey back and upperwings, a dark hood, dark wingtips with white spots and a dark bill with a yellow tip. In flight, upperwing pattern is diagnostic: triangular patches of black, white and grey. Tail is forked. In winter, similar but dark smudges on nape replace dark hood. JUVENILE upperwing pattern is similar to adult but triangle of grey is replaced by scaly grey-brown. Forked tail is dark-tipped. VOICE Silent. STATUS Nests in high Arctic and winters at sea in S oceans. Seen here mainly as a southbound offshore passage migrant: pelagic boat trips from Cornwall often encounter adults in late summer; in autumn, mostly juveniles are seen during W gales from W coast headlands.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Length 53–56cm
Lesser Black-backed Gull, winter
Lesser Black-backed Gull, summer
Recalls Herring and Yellow-legged gulls, but adult’s combination of a dark grey back and upperwings and bright yellow legs aids identification. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a dark grey back and upperwings. Black wingtips are darker than rest of upperwing except for white trailing edge; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow with an orange spot. Iris is yellow and orbital ring is red. In winter, similar but with streaks on head and neck, and duller leg and bill colours. JUVENILE and 1st winter have streaked and mottled grey-brown plumage, palest on head. Upperwings are dark brown and whitish tail is dark-tipped. Eye and bill are dark. Adult plumage is acquired over 3 years. VOICE Distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. STATUS Locally common in summer, nesting colonially on sea cliffs and islands. Most migrate S to Mediterranean outside the breeding season; small numbers remain.
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Length 64–79cm
Great Black-backed Gull, 2nd winter
Great Black-backed Gull, summer
Our largest gull species. Bulkier than Lesser Black-backed, and adult has a darker back, massive bill and pink legs. Sexes are similar. ADULT has almost uniformly dark back and upperwings; wingtips are only marginally darker than rest of wings. Note white patch at tip of wings and broad white trailing edge. Plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow with an orange spot. JUVENILE and 1st winter are mottled and streaked grey-brown. In flight, brown upperwings have pale panels and inner primaries. Bill is dark, legs are dull pink and whitish tail is dark-tipped. Adult plumage is acquired over 3 years. VOICE Deep kaa-ga-ga call. STATUS Local and coastal in the breeding season. Often nests in vicinity of mixed seabird colonies and pairs are territorial. Outside the breeding season, is more widespread and numbers are boosted by migrants from N Europe.
Herring Gull Larus argentatus Length 56–62cm
Herring Gull, 1st winter
Herring Gull, winter
Herring Gull, summer
Familiar noisy bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a blue-grey back and upperwings, with white-spotted black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with an orange spot, and eye is yellow with an orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. JUVENILE and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark, and spotted, pale tail has a dark tip. Adult plumage is acquired over 3 years. VOICE Distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. STATUS Common, nesting on sea cliffs and in seaside towns; widespread on coasts in winter.
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Length 52–60cm
Yellow-legged Gull, summer
Similar plumage to Herring Gull but adult has yellow legs. Associates with other large gull species. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a grey back and upperwings (darker than Herring Gull), with more black and less white in wingtips. In winter, similar but sometimes with small, dark streaks on head. JUVENILE and 1st winter have a grey-brown back and wing coverts, and otherwise dark wings. Head, neck and underparts are streaked, and are paler than similar-age Herring Gull. Adult plumage is acquired over 3 years. VOICE Similar to that of Herring Gull. STATUS S European counterpart of Herring; scarce non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland, most frequent in winter.
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Length 62–68cm
Glaucous Gull, 1st winter
Glaucous Gull, winter
Glaucous Gull, summer
Bulky, pale-looking gull. Similar in size to Great Black-backed but closer to Herring in plumage terms. Note adult’s white wingtips; bill is massive and legs are pinkish at all times. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter has a pale grey back and upperwings with white wingtips and trailing margin. Plumage is otherwise mainly white with variable dark streaking on head and neck. Eye has a pale iris and orbital ring is yellow. In breeding plumage (sometimes seen in late winter), is similar but without dark streaks. JUVENILE and 1st winter are mainly pale buffish grey but with very pale primaries. Pink bill is dark-tipped. Adult plumage is acquired over 3 years. Sub-adult plumages are very pale. VOICE Kyaoo call and anxious ga-ka-ka. STATUS Scarce non-breeding visitor, commonest on N coasts in late winter.
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides Length 52–60cm
Iceland Gull, 1st winter
Iceland Gull, 2nd winter
Iceland Gull, winter
Similar to Glaucous Gull but smaller, less bulky and longer-winged. Has a rounded head and rather small bill. Legs are pink at all times. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter has a pale grey back and upperwings with white primaries and a white trailing edge to wings. Plumage is otherwise mainly white with dark streaks on head and neck. Bill is yellowish with an orange spot. Eye is yellowish with red orbital ring. In summer, similar but without streaks. JUVENILE and 1st winter are pale grey-buff with white primaries. Bill is dark with a dull pink base. Adult plumage is acquired over 3 years. Sub-adult plumages are very pale. VOICE Kyaoo call and anxious ga-ka-ka. STATUS Very scarce non-breeding visitor, mainly to coasts in late winter; W Ireland is a hotspot.
Great Skua Stercorarius skua Length 48–52cm
Great Skua, adults
Bulky seabird. Gull-like but note dark plumage, large head, and dark legs and dark bill. In flight, shows a striking white wing patch. Part scavenger, part predator and food parasite of Gannet. Sexes are similar. ADULT is brown with buff and golden-brown streaks. JUVENILE is uniformly dark brown and rufous. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Locally common summer visitor and passage migrant. Nests near seabird colonies in Scotland; Orkney and Shetland are strongholds. Passage birds are invariably seen at sea.
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Length 46cm
Arctic Skua, pale phase
Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Sexes are similar but adults occur in 2 morphs. ADULT has a wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Pale morph has a white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Dark morph is uniformly dark grey-brown. JUVENILE is dark rufous brown. VOICE Nasal calls near nest. STATUS Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus Length 42–50cm
Shares some plumage features with Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adult. Sexes are similar. Two adult morphs occur. ADULT dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen. Pale morph is more regular, with white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. JUVENILE is variably barred dark grey-brown. VOICE Silent in our region. STATUS Scarce passage migrant; Outer Hebrides, NW Ireland and N Norfolk are hotspots.
Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus Length 36–42cm
Recalls Arctic Skua but is slimmer and with much longer tail streamers in adult; long, pointed wings lack Arctic’s white patch. Sexes are similar. ADULT has mainly grey-brown upperparts, a dark cap, and a whitish neck and underparts; note faint yellow flush on cheeks. JUVENILE is variably barred grey-brown, palest on nape and chest. VOICE Silent in our region. STATUS Scarce passage migrant; hotspots are Outer Hebrides in spring, and Cornish and N Norfolk coasts in autumn.
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Length 41cm
Sandwich Tern courtship
Striking seabird with a buoyant flight and distinctive call. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a pale grey back and upperwings; note the dark, crested cap and otherwise white plumage. Legs are black, and long black bill is yellow-tipped. Looks very white in flight. Non-breeding plumage (seen from late summer onwards) is similar but forehead is white. JUVENILE is similar to non-breeding adult but back is barred and scaly. VOICE Harsh chee-urrick call. STATUS Locally common summer visitor and an early-returning migrant (often here by late Mar). Almost entirely coastal, nesting on shingle beaches and islands.
Little Tern Sternula albifrons Length 24cm
Tiny, pale tern that hovers before plunge-diving after fish and shrimps. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a grey back and upperwings, a mainly black cap and otherwise white plumage. Note black-tipped yellow bill and yellow-orange legs. In flight, wingtips are dark. Non-breeding plumage (acquired from late summer onwards) is similar, but forehead becomes white and leg and bill colours darken. JUVENILE is similar to non-breeding adult but back looks scaly. VOICE Raucous cree-ick call. STATUS Local summer visitor, with scattered coastal colonies on shingle and sandy islands and beaches. Easy to see on coasts of the Solent and N Norfolk in late spring.
Black Tern Chlidonias niger Length 24cm
Rather small but distinctive tern with a buoyant flight. Catches insects in flight and picks insects and small fish from surface waters. Sexes are similar. ADULT in breeding plumage (May–Jun) is mainly grey and black, with a white undertail. From Jul onwards, plumage appears increasingly mottled as mainly grey and white non-breeding plumage is acquired. JUVENILE is similar to a winter adult but back is brownish grey and scaly. VOICE Silent in our region. STATUS Has bred here on occasions but is really a scarce passage migrant, sometimes seen on coasts and coastal pools.
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Length 35cm
Graceful seabird with buoyant flight. Plunge-dives for fish. Sexes are similar. ADULT in breeding plumage (the only one seen in our region) has grey upperparts, a black cap and pale underparts, palest on cheeks, darkest on belly. Has a uniformly red bill, short red legs and long tail streamers. In flight from below, flight feathers look translucent, with a narrow, dark trailing edge to primaries. JUVENILE has white underparts, an incomplete dark cap and scaly grey upperparts. In flight from above, has a dark leading edge and white trailing edge to innerwing. Legs and bill are dull. VOICE Harsh krt-krt-krt call near nest. STATUS Locally common summer visitor and passage migrant. Colonial nester, always near coasts; commonest in the N.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo Length 35cm
Similar to Arctic Tern but separable with care. Sexes are similar. ADULT in breeding plumage has grey upperparts, a black cap and whitish underparts. Compared to Arctic, note black-tipped orange-red bill, longer red legs and paler underparts. In flight from below, only inner primaries look translucent and wings have a diffuse dark tip. Non-breeding plumage (sometimes seen in late summer) is similar but has white on forehead and a dark shoulder bar; bill and legs are dark. JUVENILE has white underparts, an incomplete dark cap and scaly grey upperparts; in flight from above, leading and trailing edges of innerwing are dark. VOICE Harsh kreeear call. STATUS Widespread summer visitor, commonest on coasts; also a widespread coastal passage migrant.
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii Length 38cm
Our rarest breeding tern. Separable from Common and Arctic terns with care. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer is pale grey above, with a dark cap and whitish underparts faintly flushed pink. Has a red-based dark bill, red legs and long tail streamers. In flight, looks very pale. In non-breeding plumage (sometimes seen in late summer), has white on forehead and loses tail streamers. JUVENILE has white underparts, a partial dark cap and scaly upperparts; upperwings are uniform except for dark leading edge to innerwing. VOICE Disyllabic chew-vik call. STATUS Rare summer visitor; most pairs nest near Irish coasts. Scarce coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Length 90–98cm
Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. ADULT has a whitish-grey head, neck and underparts, with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. JUVENILE is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. VOICE Harsh krrarnk in flight. STATUS Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also common on coasts, especially estuaries, where it is most numerous in winter.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Length 55–65cm
Unmistakable pure white heron-like bird. Its long black legs have bright yellow toes. Feeds actively in water, often chasing small fish. Has a hunched posture when resting. In flight, neck is held in an ‘S’ shape and legs are trailing. Sexes are similar. ADULT has pure white plumage. Note yellow eye. Nape plumes are seen in breeding plumage. JUVENILE is similar to adult. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Relatively recent British colonist, now locally common on coasts, particularly in the S. Commonest on S England estuaries.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor Length 150–160cm
Mute Swan, male
Mute Swan, male
Distinctive large waterbird that is a familiar sight. Swimming birds hold their long neck in an elegant curve. Typically tolerant of people. In flight, shallow, powerful wingbeats produce a characteristic throbbing whine. Sexes are similar but basal knob of bill is largest in males. ADULT has white plumage, although crown may have an orange-buff suffusion. Bill is orange-red with a black base. JUVENILE has grubby grey-brown plumage and a dull pinkish-grey bill. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Typically nests beside freshwater habitats, including coastal lagoons. In winter, widespread on sheltered coasts and, particularly, on estuaries.
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Length 55–65cm
Shelduck, juvenile
Shelduck, male
Goose-sized duck with bold markings. In flight, note contrast between white wing coverts and black flight feathers. Sifts mud for small invertebrates. Nests in burrows. Sexes are separable with care. ADULT male is mainly white but with a dark green head and upper neck (looks black in poor light), chestnut breast band, black belly stripe and flush of orange-buff under tail. Legs are pink and bill is bright red with a knob at base. Adult female is similar but basal knob of bill is much smaller. JUVENILE has mainly buffish-grey upperparts and white underparts. VOICE Courting male whistles; female’s call is a cackling gagaga… STATUS Common on most estuaries and mudflats. Migrates to favoured sites like Bridgwater Bay in Somerset for summer moult.
Brent Goose Branta bernicla Length 56–61cm
Dark-bellied Brent
Pale-bellied Brent
Dark-bellied Brent
Our smallest goose and a similar size to Shelduck. Subtle plumage patterns allow separation of 2 subspecies that winter here: Pale-bellied Brent B. b. hrota (breeds on Svalbard and Greenland) and Dark-bellied Brent B. b. bernicla (breeds in Russia). Seen in sizeable and noisy flocks. In flight, looks dark except for white rear end. All birds have a black bill and black legs. Sexes are similar. ADULT Pale-bellied has a blackish head, neck and breast; side of neck has a narrow band of white feathers. Note neat division between dark breast and pale grey-buff belly. Back is uniform dark brownish grey. Adult dark-bellied is similar but belly is darker and flanks are paler. JUVENILES are similar to respective adults but note pale feather margins on back and absence of white markings on side of neck; white on neck is acquired in mid-winter. VOICE Very vocal, uttering a nasal krrrut. STATUS Winter visitor to coasts. Pale-bellied Brents occur mainly in Northern Ireland and NE England; dark-bellied Brents occur mainly in S England.
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Length 58–69cm
Small, well-marked goose seen in large, noisy flocks. All birds have black legs and bill. Looks strikingly black and white in flight. Sexes are similar. ADULT has a mainly white face with a black line from bill to eye; black crown and nape merge with black neck and breast. Belly is whitish grey with faint dark barring on flanks; back is grey with well-defined black and white barring. Stern is white while tail is black. JUVENILE is similar to adult but white elements of plumage are often tinged yellow and barring on back is less well defined. VOICE Loud, barking calls. STATUS Winter visitor to coastal farmland and saltmarshes. Populations on Solway Firth and Islay are impressive.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Length 50–65cm
Mallard, male
Mallard, female
Mallard, male
Our most familiar duck. In flight, both sexes show a white-bordered blue speculum. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has a yellow bill and shiny green head and upper neck, separated from chestnut breast by a striking white collar. Underparts are grey-brown except for black stern and white tail. Back is grey-brown, grading to reddish brown. Legs and feet are orange. In eclipse, male resembles adult female, but note yellow bill and well-defined reddish-brown breast. Adult female has an orange-brown bill and mottled brown plumage. Legs and feet are dull orange-yellow. JUVENILE is similar to adult female. VOICE Male utters whistles and nasal calls; female utters familiar quack. STATUS Widespread, commonest on lowland lakes but also found on estuaries and sheltered coasts, mainly in winter.
Wigeon Anas penelope Length 45–47cm
Wigeon, males and females
Wigeon, female
Wigeon, male
Attractive duck. Forms flocks in winter. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has mainly orange-red head with yellow forehead. Breast is pinkish; plumage otherwise finely marked grey except for white belly and black and white stern. In flight, has white patch on wing. Bill is grey, dark-tipped. In eclipse, recalls female but with white wing patch. Adult female is reddish brown, darkest on head and back, with white belly and stern. In flight, lacks male’s white wing patch. Bill grey and dark-tipped. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Male utters wheeeoo whistle. STATUS Locally common winter visitor to estuaries.
Teal Anas crecca Length 34–38cm
Teal, male
Teal, female
Teal, male
Small duck. Forms flocks in winter. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. ADULT male has a chestnut-orange head with a yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey. In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey, flushed yellow at base. JUVENILE is similar to adult female but warmer buff. VOICE Male utters a ringing whistle; female makes a soft quack. STATUS Locally common winter visitor to estuaries and mudflats.
Garganey Anas querquedula Length 37–41cm
Garganey, male
Garganey, female
Garganey, male
Teal-sized summer visitor. Favours emergent wetland vegetation. In flight, male shows a pale blue-grey forewing and white-bordered greenish speculum; female’s speculum is brown. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has a reddish-brown head and broad white stripe above and behind eye. Breast is brown but otherwise plumage is greyish, except for mottled brown stern. In eclipse, resembles adult female but retains wing patterns. Adult female has mottled brown plumage; similar to a female Teal but bill is uniform grey with a pale spot at base. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Male utters a diagnostic rattle. STATUS Seen mainly on migration, mostly on coastal pools.
Shoveler Anas clypeata Length 44–52cm
Shoveler, males
Shoveler, female
Shoveler, male
Unmistakable bill shape. Usually unobtrusive. In flight, male shows a blue forewing panel and white-bordered green speculum; in the female, the blue is replaced by grey. Sexes are dissimilar overall. ADULT male has a shiny green head, white breast, and chestnut on flanks and belly. Stern is black and white, and back is mainly dark. Has a yellow eye and dark bill. In eclipse, resembles adult female although body is more rufous and head greyer. Adult female has mottled buffish-brown plumage and yellowish bill. JUVENILE is similar to adult female. VOICE Male utters a sharp tuk-tuk; female makes a soft quack. STATUS Widespread on coasts in winter but seldom numerous.
Pintail Anas acuta Length 51–66cm
Pintail, male
Pintail, female
Pintail, male
Recognised by its elongated appearance; male is unmistakable. In flight, male’s grey wings and green speculum are striking; female’s white trailing edge on innerwing is obvious. Sexes are dissimilar in other regards. ADULT male has a chocolate-brown head and nape, with white breast extending as stripe up side of head. Plumage is otherwise grey and finely marked, but note cream and black stern, and long, pointed tail, often held at an angle. In eclipse, resembles adult female but retains wing pattern. Adult female has mottled buffish-brown plumage. JUVENILE is similar to adult female. VOICE Male utters a whistle; female’s call is grating. STATUS Fairly common in winter, often on estuaries.
Greater Scaup Aythya marila Length 42–51cm
Greater Scaup, female
Greater Scaup, male
Bulky diving duck. Gregarious outside the breeding season. In flight, has a striking white wingbar. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has a green-glossed head and dark breast (look black in poor light). Belly and flanks are white, back is grey and stern is black. Has a yellow eye and dark-tipped grey bill. In eclipse, dark elements of plumage are buffish brown. Adult female has mainly brown plumage, palest and greyest on flanks and back; has a white patch at base of bill. JUVENILE is similar to adult female but white on face is duller. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Local winter visitor to sheltered coasts.
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Length 44–54cm
Common Scoter, female
Common Scoter, male
Male is our only all-black duck. Rather long tail is sometimes raised when swimming. Gregarious outside the breeding season. In flight, looks mainly dark but paler flight feathers can sometimes be seen. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has uniformly black plumage. Head sheen is visible only at close range. Bill is mostly dark but with a yellow ridge; base is bulbous. First-winter male has browner plumage and an all-dark bill. Adult female has mainly dark brown plumage with pale buff cheeks. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Locally fairly common in winter, found on coasts with sandy and mixed seabeds.
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca Length 51–58cm
Velvet Scoter, female
Velvet Scoter, male
Bulky diving duck. Larger than Common Scoter, with which it associates. All birds have white inner flight feathers, most obvious in flight. Head markings are useful in identification. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has mainly black plumage, with a striking white patch below pale eye; white on closed wings is sometimes visible when swimming. Bill is 2-toned: yellow and blackish. First-winter male lacks white under eye. Adult female is mainly dark sooty brown, with a pale cheek patch and pale patch at base of bill; bill is dark. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Scarce winter visitor to coasts and sandy and mixed seabeds. Commonest in the N.
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Length 42–50cm
Goldeneye, male
Goldeneye, male
Goldeneye, female
Well-marked diving duck. In flight, all birds show white on innerwings (extent greatest in males). Sexes are dissimilar in other respects. ADULT male is mainly black and white. Rounded, peaked, green-glossed head has a yellow eye and striking white patch at base of bill. In eclipse, resembles an adult female but retains his more striking white wing pattern. Adult female has a mainly grey-brown body, pale neck, dark brown head and yellow eye. JUVENILE is similar to adult female but with dark eye. VOICE Displaying male utters squeaks and rattles. STATUS Locally common in winter, mostly on estuaries.
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Length 40–47cm
Long-tailed Duck, winter female
Long-tailed Duck, winter male
Long-tailed Duck, winter female
Elegant diving duck, at home in the roughest of seas. Dives for bottom-dwelling invertebrates. In flight, has dark wings and mainly white underparts. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male in winter and spring looks mainly black, grey and white, with a buffish patch around eye and pink band on bill. In summer and eclipse (both seldom seen here), has mainly brown and black plumage, with white on belly and flanks and pale buff eye patch; bill is dark. Adult female in winter is mainly brown and white; face is white except for dark cheek patch and crown. In summer, similar but face is mainly brown, with pale eye patch. JUVENILE is similar to adult female in summer. VOICE Male utters a nasal ow-owlee. STATUS Local winter visitor, commonest in the N. Favours shallow coastal seas.
Eider Somateria mollissima Length 50–70cm
Eider, male
Eider, female
Bulky seaduck with a distinctive profile: wedge-shaped bill forms a continuous line with slope of forehead. Usually gregarious. In summer, female flocks supervise a ‘crèche’ of youngsters. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has mainly black underparts and white upperparts, except for a black cap, lime-green nape and pinkish flush on breast. In eclipse, plumage is brown and black, with scattered white feathers. Adult female is brown with darker barring. JUVENILE is similar to adult female but with a pale stripe above eye. VOICE Male utters an endearing, cooing ah-whooo. STATUS Nests close to seashore and feeds in inshore waters, diving for prey such as mussels.
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Length 52–58cm
Red-breasted Merganser, male
Red-breasted Merganser, male
Red-breasted Merganser, female
Slim duck with a shaggy crest. Dives frequently after fish. In flight, all birds show white on upper surface of innerwing; extent is greatest in male. Sexes are dissimilar in other regards. ADULT male has a narrow red bill, green head, white neck and orange-red breast. Flanks are grey and back is black. In eclipse, similar to adult female but retains extensive white on wing. Adult female has a red bill, dirty orange head and nape, and paler throat; body is otherwise greyish buff. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Common on estuaries and sheltered coasts in winter.
Razorbill Alca torda Length 41cm
Razorbill, adult and egg
Razorbill, summer
Bulky seabird with a distinctive bill and essentially black and white plumage. Swims well and flies on whirring wingbeats. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a black head, neck and upperparts, and white underparts; note white wingbar. Bill is large and flattened, with vertical ridges and white lines. In winter, similar but throat and cheeks are white and bill is smaller. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult, but smaller and with a proportionately smaller bill. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Locally common in seabird colonies on rocky coasts in the W and N. Nests under boulders and in crevices on cliff ledges. Pelagic outside the breeding season; healthy birds are seldom seen close to land. Vulnerable to oil spills.
Guillemot Uria aalge Length 42cm
Guillemot, adult and egg
Guillemot, summer
Familiar seabird that nests in densely packed breeding colonies. Swims well and flies on whirring wingbeats. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a chocolate-brown head and upperparts (darkest in N birds), and white underparts. Bill is dark and dagger-like. So-called ‘Bridled Guillemot’ has a white ‘spectacle’ around eye. In winter, has white on cheeks and throat, but a black line running back from eye. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult, but smaller and with a proportionately smaller bill. VOICE Growling calls at breeding colonies. STATUS Locally numerous at seabird colonies with precipitous cliff ledges. Moves offshore outside the breeding season. Suffers badly in oil spills.
Puffin Fratercula arctica Length 30cm
Puffin, adult at burrow
Puffin, summer
Endearing seabird. Flies on narrow wings with whirring wingbeats. Swims well and dives frequently for fish. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has mainly dark upperparts with a dusky face; underparts are white. Legs are orange-red and bill is huge, flattened and marked with red, blue and yellow. In winter, similar but with a dark grey face and smaller, duller bill. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but with a small, dark, dull bill. VOICE Groaning calls at nest. STATUS Locally common. Comes ashore only in breeding season. Colonial nester, excavating burrows in grassy cliffs. Only storm-driven, sick or oiled birds are seen near land in winter.
Little Auk Alle alle Length 20cm
Little Auk, winter adults
Little Auk, winter
Tiny, dumpy auk with a short neck and tiny, stubby bill. Flies on whirring wingbeats and can look almost Starling-like in flight. Swims well and dives frequently. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter has a black cap, nape and back, and white underparts; at close range, note white lines on wings and tiny white crescent above eye. Not seen in breeding plumage in our region. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult. VOICE Silent at sea. STATUS Winter visitor from Arctic breeding grounds, where it is locally abundant. Numerous in N North Sea in winter, but seldom comes close to land.
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle Length 34cm
Black Guillemot, winter
Black Guillemot, summer
Black Guillemot, summer
Charming coastal auk. Dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for a striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and an orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. First-winter bird is similar to winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult. VOICE High-pitched whistling calls. STATUS Resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Length 16–17cm
Kingfisher, female
Dazzling bird with a dagger-like bill. Perches near water and plunge-dives after small fish. Flies low over water on whirring wings. Sexes are separable. ADULT male has orange-red underparts and mainly blue upperparts with an electric-blue back. Legs and feet are red, and bill is all dark. Adult female is similar but base of lower mandible is flushed red. JUVENILE is similar to adult but bill tip is pale. VOICE High-pitched call in flight. STATUS Usually favours fresh waters but moves to coasts in winter, especially in cold weather.
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Wingspan 95–110cm
Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. ADULT and JUVENILE have buffish-brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. VOICE Silent away from breeding grounds. STATUS Local winter visitor to coastal grasslands.
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Wingspan 100–120cm
Hen Harrier, male
Hen Harrier, female
Graceful broad-winged, long-tailed raptor. Typically seen in gliding flight, hunting low over ground. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has mainly pale grey plumage except for dark wingtips, white rump, and white belly and flanks. Adult female is mostly brown, barred underneath and with a white rump. JUVENILE is similar to adult female. VOICE Silent outside breeding season. STATUS Local winter visitor to coastal grasslands.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus Wingspan 145–160cm
Fish-eating raptor. Feeds by hovering, then plunges talons first into water. Sexes are similar. ADULT has mainly brown upperparts, except for pale crown; underparts are mainly whitish with a darker chest band. In flight from below, looks pale overall with dark carpal patches. JUVENILE is similar to adult but darker markings are less distinct. VOICE Various whistling calls. STATUS Breeds mainly in N Britain. Passage migrants sometimes linger for a few days on S coast estuaries.
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Wingspan 190–240cm
White-tailed Eagle, juvenile
Immense raptor with parallel-sided wings and a wedge-shaped tail. Catches fish and waterbirds while hunting low over water. Sexes are similar. ADULT is mainly brown, palest on head and neck. At rest, tail is often obscured by wings. Bill and legs are yellow. JUVENILE is similar to adult but tail is dark. Adult plumage is acquired over successive moults. VOICE Whistling calls. STATUS Reintroduced to a few Hebridean islands; easy to see on Mull. Usually spotted near coasts.
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Wingspan 65–80cm
Kestrel, male
Kestrel, female
Small falcon that hovers where perches are not available. Feeds on small mammals, ground-dwelling birds and insects. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has a spotted orange-brown back, blue-grey head, and blue-grey tail with black terminal band. Underparts are creamy buff with bold black spots. Adult female has barred brown upperparts and pale creamy-buff underparts with dark spots. JUVENILE resembles adult female but upperparts are more reddish brown. VOICE Shrill kee-kee-kee … STATUS Common in most coastal districts.
Peregrine Falco peregrinus Wingspan 95–115cm
Peregrine, adult attacking Lapwing
Impressive raptor. Soars on bowed wings but stoops on prey (flying birds) at great speed with wings swept back. Sexes are similar but male is smaller than female. ADULT has dark blue-grey upperparts and pale, barred underparts. Note dark mask on face and powerful yellow legs and feet. JUVENILE is similar to adult but upperparts are brownish while paler underparts are suffused with buffish orange. VOICE Loud kek-kek-kek … in alarm. STATUS Widespread resident on coasts of N and W Britain and Ireland; increasing elsewhere.
Merlin Falco columbarius Wingspan 60–65cm
Merlin, female
Merlin, male
Our smallest raptor. Flies fast and low after prey such as Meadow Pipit. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has blue-grey upperparts and streaked and spotted buffish underparts. Adult female has brown upperparts and pale underparts with large brown spots. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Breeds on moors in the N. Seen near coasts in winter.
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Length 43cm
Oystercatcher, summer
Oystercatcher, winter
Distinctive black and white wader with a loud alarm call. Powerful bill is used to hammer molluscs off rocks. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has black upperparts and white underparts with a clear demarcation between the two. Note red bill, pinkish legs and beady red eye. In winter, similar but has a white half-collar. JUVENILE is similar to summer adult but black elements of plumage are brownish and bill and leg colours are subdued. VOICE Loud, piping peep call. STATUS Breeds commonly on coasts where not disturbed. Mainly coastal in winter, favouring estuaries and mudflats.
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Length 43cm
Elegant wader with distinctive black and white plumage. Feeds by sweeping its diagnostic upcurved bill from side to side through water. Gregarious outside the breeding season. Sexes are similar. ADULT has mainly white plumage with black on crown, nape and wings. Legs are blue and bill is black. JUVENILE is similar but black elements of plumage are dark brown. VOICE Ringing klueet-klueet … call. STATUS Favours shallow, brackish coastal lagoons in the breeding season. In winter, found on estuaries, mainly in SW England.
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Length 28cm
Golden Plover, juvenile
Golden Plover, summer
Golden Plover, juvenile
Beautifully marked wader with an evocative call. Gregarious outside the breeding season; often associates with Lapwings. In flight, note white underwings. Sexes are sometimes separable in summer. ADULT in summer has spangled golden upperparts bordered by a white band. In most males, belly is black, grading to grey on neck and face. Most females have less distinct dark underparts and face is often whitish. Breeders from N Europe (seen on migration) have darker underparts than British birds. In winter, underparts are pale, and head, neck and back are streaked golden. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult. VOICE Peeoo flight call and plaintive pu-peeoo in summer. STATUS Breeds on N upland moors. Widespread on lowland grassland in winter, particularly near coasts.
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Length 28cm
Grey Plover, summer
Grey Plover, winter
Grey Plover, winter
Plump-bodied coastal wader. Best known in winter plumage but breeding plumage is sometimes seen in newly arrived, or soon to depart, migrants. In flight, note black ‘armpits’ on otherwise white underwings. Typically solitary except at roost. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter is greyish overall, spangled above with black and white, and underparts are whitish. Legs and bill are dark. In summer plumage, has striking black underparts separated from spangled grey upperparts by a broad white band. JUVENILE resembles winter adult but has a buff wash to plumage. VOICE Diagnostic trisyllabic pee-oo-ee call, like a human wolf-whistle. STATUS Nests in the high Arctic; non-breeding visitor to British and Irish coasts.
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Length 17–19cm
Ringed Plover, summer male
Ringed Plover, juvenile
Small, dumpy coastal wader. Runs at speed before pausing and picking food items from the ground. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are separable. ADULT male in summer has sandy-brown upperparts and white underparts with a black breast band and collar. Has black and white markings on face, and white throat and nape. Legs are orange-yellow and bill is orange with a dark tip. Adult female in summer is similar but black elements of plumage are duller. Winter adult is similar to summer adult but most black elements of plumage are sandy brown, and has a pale supercilium. Leg and bill colours are dull. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but breast band is often incomplete. VOICE Soft tuu-eep call. STATUS Locally common. Nests mainly on sandy or shingle beaches. Coastal outside the breeding season; numbers are boosted by migrants from Europe.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Length 15–17cm
Little Ringed Plover, juvenile
Similar to Ringed Plover but lacks the white wingbar. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has sandy-brown upperparts and white underparts, with a black collar and breast band, and black and white markings on head. Has a black bill, yellow legs and yellow eye-ring. Female has duller black elements of head plumage than male. JUVENILE has black elements of plumage replaced by sandy brown. Breast band is usually incomplete, leg and eye-ring colours are dull, and head lacks pale supercilium seen in juvenile Ringed Plover. VOICE Pee-oo call. STATUS Nests beside flooded gravel pits but migrants turn up on coasts.
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Length 15–17cm
Kentish Plover, male
Dumpy, pale-looking coastal plover. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male in summer has sandy-brown upperparts and white underparts. Sandy crown has black at front and rufous at back. Has black through eye and dark patch on side of breast. Legs and bill are black. Summer adult female and winter adult are similar, but black elements of plumage are pale sandy brown (same colour as upperparts) and legs are dull brown. JUVENILE Resembles summer adult female. VOICE Soft bruip call. STATUS Scarce passage migrant, found on sandy estuaries.
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Length 30cm
Pied-looking wader with a spiky crest. Has rounded black and white wings in flight. Sexes are separable in summer. ADULT male in summer has green- and purple-sheened dark upperparts; underparts are white except for orange vent, black foreneck, and black and white markings on throat. Adult female in summer has less distinct black neck markings and a shorter crest. Winter adult is similar to summer female but throat and foreneck are white, and back feathers have buffish fringes. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but crest is short and back looks scaly. VOICE Choked pee-wit call. STATUS Nests on grassland; flocks gather near coasts in winter.
Dunlin Calidris alpina Length 17–21cm
Dunlin, winter flock
Dunlin, winter
Dunlin, summer
Our commonest small wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer (seen on coasts in spring and autumn) has a reddish-brown back and cap, and whitish underparts with a bold black belly. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. JUVENILE has reddish-brown and black feathers on back; pale feather margins align to form ‘V’ patterns. Underparts are whitish but with streak-like black spots on flanks and breast. VOICE Preeit call. STATUS Local breeding species in N Britain. Locally abundant on estuaries and muddy shores outside the breeding season thanks to migrants from the Arctic.
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Length 19–21cm
Curlew Sandpiper, juvenile
Curlew Sandpiper, summer
Similar to Dunlin but has a long, downcurved bill and white rump. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has a spangled reddish-brown, black and white back, and (briefly) brick-red on face, neck and underparts (looks mottled in moulting migrants). Winter adult (seldom seen here) has greyish upperparts and white underparts. JUVENILE (commonest plumage encountered here) has a scaly-looking back, white belly and buffish breast; note pale supercilium. VOICE Soft prrrp call. STATUS Breeds in the high Arctic and seen here as a scarce passage migrant, usually on estuaries and coastal pools, and often with Dunlins.
Little Stint Calidris minuta Length 13–14cm
Little Stint, juvenile
Little Stint, summer
Tiny wader that feeds in a frantic manner. Legs and bill are dark in all birds. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has white underparts, reddish brown on back, and a variable suffusion of rufous on head and neck. Note yellow ‘V’ on mantle, and pale supercilium. Winter adult has grey upperparts and white underparts. JUVENILE has white underparts. Reddish-brown and black feathers on back and wings have pale fringes that align to form white ‘V’ markings. Note pale, forked supercilium and pale forecrown. VOICE Shrill stip call. STATUS Regular passage migrant, most numerous in autumn.
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Length 14–15cm
Tiny, slim-bodied wader with a deliberate feeding action. Differs from Little Stint in having short yellow legs, and a longer tail and wings. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has grey-brown upperparts, and a streaked grey head, neck and breast; many back feathers have dark centres. Adult winter (not seen here) has uniform grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. JUVENILE has white underparts and brownish upperparts with a scaly-looking back. VOICE Trilling call. STATUS Scarce passage migrant, usually seen on margins of coastal lagoons.
Knot Calidris canutus Length 25cm
Knot, summer
Knot, winter
Knot, juvenile
Dumpy wader with a white wingbar. Forms large flocks in winter. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. Adult in summer plumage (seen in spring or autumn) has an orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. JUVENILE resembles winter adult but has a scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. VOICE Sharp kwet call. STATUS Non-breeding visitor. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
Sanderling Calidris alba Length 20cm
Sanderling, winter
Sanderling, winter
Sanderling, summer
Small wader. Runs at speed beside breaking waves. Has a white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in spring or autumn), head and neck are flushed red and back has dark-centred feathers; underparts are white. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. VOICE Sharp plit call. STATUS Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Length 19–21cm
Elegantly proportioned wader. Legs are yellowish and relatively long. In flight, note white rump and barred tail. Sexes are similar. ADULT has spangled brownish upperparts. Head and neck are streaked, and otherwise pale underparts have faint streaks and spots. JUVENILE is similar but upperparts are browner and marked with pale buff spots. VOICE Chiff-chiff-chiff flight call. STATUS Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, usually seen on coastal freshwater pools.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Length 21–23cm
Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Has a white rump and tail marked with a few broad, dark bands. Sexes are similar. ADULT has dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked. Underparts are white. Legs are greenish yellow. JUVENILE is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. VOICE Trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. STATUS Widespread passage migrant that winters in small numbers. Found on coastal pools but commoner inland.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Length 18–20cm
Active wader with a bobbing gait and elongated tail end. Flies low over water on bowed, fluttering wings. Has a white wingbar and dark rump. Sexes are similar. ADULT has warm brown upperparts with faint dark centres and barring on feathers of back and wings. Head and neck are grey-brown. Underparts are white, colour extending up sides of breast. JUVENILE is similar but wing coverts are barred. VOICE Whistling tswee-wee-wee call. STATUS Widespread and fairly common passage migrant to coasts. Breeds beside upland streams.
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Length 21cm
Purple Sandpiper, winter
Plump-bodied wader. Unobtrusive and confiding. Legs are yellow in all birds and bill has a yellowish base. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter is uniform blue-grey on head, breast and upperparts, darkest on back; belly is white and flanks are streaked. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring), has reddish-brown and black feathers on back, and dark ear coverts on otherwise streaked grey-brown face. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but feathers on back have pale margins, creating a scaly look. VOICE Sharp kwit call in flight. STATUS Local non-breeding visitor to rocky shores and headlands. A few pairs nest in Scotland.
Redshank Tringa totanus Length 28cm
Redshank, winter
Redshank, winter
Medium-sized wader with a shrill alarm call. In flight, note white trailing edge to wings, white back and rump, and red legs. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer is mainly grey-brown above and pale below, but back is marked with dark spots and neck, breast and flanks are streaked. Has a pale supercilium and eye-ring; base of bill is reddish. In winter, has uniform grey-brown upperparts, head, neck and breast, with paler, mottled underparts. Bill and leg colours are dull. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but plumage is browner overall, back feathers have pale marginal spots, and legs and base of bill are dull yellow. VOICE Yelping tiu-uu alarm call. STATUS Common on coasts in winter. Some breed near coasts.
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Length 30cm
Spotted Redshank, summer
Spotted Redshank, winter
Has longer legs and bill than Redshank, and in flight wings lack white trailing edge. Flight call is distinctive. Sexes are similar. ADULT in breeding plumage (seen in late spring and summer) is mainly black with a white eye-ring and dotted white fringes to back feathers; incomplete breeding plumage is more usually observed. In winter, has pale grey upperparts and clean whitish underparts. Legs are reddish, and note pale supercilium. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but plumage is darker overall and underparts are barred; legs are orange-yellow. VOICE Diagnostic tchewit call. STATUS Scarce passage migrant and winter resident on estuaries, mainly in the S.
Greenshank Tringa nebularia Length 30–31cm
Greenshank, winter
Greenshank, juvenile
Elegant wader. Beautifully patterned but looks very white at a distance. Has yellowish-green legs and a slightly upturned, grey-based bill. Sexes are similar. ADULT in summer has grey-brown upperparts with black centres to many back feathers. Head, neck and breast are streaked but underparts are white. In winter, upperparts are pale grey above and underparts are white. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but upperparts are darker and browner. VOICE Distinctive tchu-tchu-tchu call. STATUS Scarce breeding species but fairly common passage migrant and winter resident on estuaries.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Length 40–45cm
Smaller cousin to Curlew, with a shorter bill, diagnostic head markings and a distinctive call. Sexes are similar. ADULT has grey-brown to buffish-brown plumage with fine, dark streaking on neck and breast. Head pattern comprises 2 broad, dark lateral stripes on an otherwise pale crown, and a pale supercilium. JUVENILE is similar but plumage is warmer buff overall. VOICE Distinctive bubbling call comprises 7 notes that descend slightly in pitch from start to finish. STATUS Fairly common passage migrant, seen on estuaries; overwinters in the S in very small numbers. Rare breeding species on N moors.
Curlew Numenius arquata Length 53–58cm
Large wader with a long, downcurved bill. Call is evocative of coasts in winter. Sexes are similar, although male has a shorter bill than female. ADULT has mainly grey-brown plumage, streaked and spotted on neck and underparts; belly is rather pale. JUVENILE is similar but more buffish brown overall, with fine streaks on neck and breast, and an appreciably shorter bill. VOICE Characteristic curlew call. STATUS Widespread and common on estuaries and mudflats in winter. Locally common breeding species on N and upland habitats.
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Length 38–42cm
Black-tailed Godwit, juvenile
Black-tailed Godwit, breeding male
Black-tailed Godwit, winter
Long-legged wader with a long, straight bill. In flight, has a black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. ADULT male in summer has a reddish-orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in summer is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but has an orange suffusion on neck and breast, and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. VOICE Kwe-we-we call in flight. STATUS Locally common non-breeding visitor to muddy estuaries. Small British breeding population is boosted by migrants from Iceland.
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Length 35–40cm
Bar-tailed Godwit, summer
Bar-tailed Godwit, winter
Large wader with a long, slightly upturned bill. Looks shorter-legged than Black-tailed. In flight, note absence of wingbar on upperwing; white rump extends to lower back and tail is barred. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. ADULT male in summer has a reddish-orange head, neck and underparts. Back is spangled grey, black and pale buff. Adult female in summer has a buffish-orange wash on head, neck and breast, pale belly and greyish back. Winter adult has grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but has a buffish wash to head, neck and upperparts. VOICE Sharp kve-wee call in flight. STATUS Locally common non-breeding visitor to estuaries and sand flats. Breeds in the Arctic.
Turnstone Arenaria interpres Length 23cm
Turnstones, summer
Turnstone, winter
Turnstone, summer
Pugnacious wader. Turns stones and seaweed in search of food. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter has grey and brown upperparts. Breast is marked with a blackish band; underparts are white. In summer, has chestnut on back and more distinct head markings. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult but paler. VOICE Tuk-ut-ut call in flight. STATUS Common non-breeding visitor.
Ruff Philomachus pugnax Length 23–29cm
Ruff, juvenile
Ruff, female
Ruff, summer female
Ruff, male
Variable wader with a small head and orange-yellow legs. Male is larger than female, but size is variable so not particularly useful for separating the sexes. ADULT male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. Variably coloured ruff and crest feathers are seen only on breeding grounds. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but has a buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Fairly common passage migrant on coastal pools; scarce in winter. Rare breeding species in Britain.
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius Length 20–21cm
Grey Phalarope, winter
Grey Phalarope, summer female
Habitually swims. Spends its non-breeding life at sea. Bill has a yellow base. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. ADULT in winter has grey upperparts, white underparts, a dark cap and nape, and a black mark through eye. Adult female in summer (seen rarely) has an orange-red neck and underparts, dark crown, white face patch, and buff-fringed dark back feathers. Adult male in summer is similar but duller. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but has a buff tinge and back feathers have buff fringes. VOICE Sharp pit flight call. STATUS Scarce passage migrant. Seen near land during gales; sometimes on coastal lagoons.
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Length 18cm
Red-necked Phalarope, summer female
Red-necked Phalarope, juvenile
Habitually swims. Non-breeding life is spent at sea. Bill is needle-like. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. ADULT female in summer has brown and buff upperparts, white throat, dark cap and orange-red neck; grey breast and mottled flanks grade to white underparts. Adult male in summer is similar but duller. Winter adult has grey upperparts, nape and hindcrown, black eye patch and white underparts. JUVENILE recalls winter adult but grey elements of plumage are mainly brownish. VOICE Sharp kip call. STATUS Scarce passage migrant, seen mostly in severe gales. Breeds mainly in the Arctic; a few pairs nest in N Britain.
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Length 25–28cm
Long-billed wader. Sexes and ages are similar. ADULT and JUVENILE have beautifully marked brown, buff and black upperparts; underparts are pale with scaly markings on breast and flanks. Note striking head pattern and yellow legs. VOICE Utters a sneeze-like kreech as it takes off. STATUS Common on coastal marshes in winter.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Length 14–15cm
Nondescript bird. Forms flocks in winter. Sexes are similar. ADULT has streaked brown upperparts and pale underparts with dark streaks; buffish flush to flanks is most noticeable in autumn. Legs are pinkish and outer-tail feathers are white. JUVENILE is similar but with subdued streaking. VOICE Pseet-pseet-pseet call. STATUS Common and widespread resident. Favours rough grassy habitats; common near coasts in winter.
Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus Length 16–17cm
Rock Pipit, summer
Rock Pipit, winter
Bulky coastal pipit. Sexes and ages are similar. ADULT and JUVENILE have streaked dark grey-brown upperparts and grubby yellowish underparts, streaked on breast and flanks. Legs and bill are dark and outer-tail feathers are grey. VOICE Single pseet call. Song, delivered in flight, starts and ends on a rocky outcrop. STATUS Locally common in the N and W. Found on rocky coasts and cliffs in summer; also on beaches in winter.
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Length 16–17cm
Water Pipit, summer
Water Pipit, winter
Similar to Rock Pipit but with subtle plumage differences. Sexes are similar. ADULT in winter has streaked dark buffish-brown upperparts and pale underparts, streaked and flushed buffish brown on breast and flanks; throat is white and pale supercilium contrasts with dark eye-stripe. Adult in summer (seen here in early spring) has unmarked underparts, flushed pinkish on breast, brown back, and grey head and neck. JUVENILE is similar to winter adult. VOICE Single pseet call. STATUS. Scarce winter visitor to coastal wetlands and beaches.
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii Length 18cm
Pied Wagtail, juvenile
Pied Wagtail, summer male
White Wagtail, summer male
Distinctive bird that pumps its long tail up and down. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male in summer has white underparts, with a black throat, breast and upperparts. In winter, similar but throat is white and black on breast is reduced. Adult female recalls adult male in each season but back is dark grey. JUVENILE recalls winter adult female but with greyish upperparts and a yellow wash to face. VOICE Loud chissick call. STATUS Common near coasts, especially in winter. NOTE White Wagtail M. a. alba (length 18cm) is the European counterpart of Pied Wagtail. All birds have a grey, not black, rump. Adult male has a grey (not black) back. Other aspects of plumage and behaviour are identical to Pied. Fairly common passage migrant on coasts.
Skylark Alauda arvensis Length 18cm
Renowned for its incessant song, delivered in flight. Sexes are similar. ADULT has streaked sandy-brown upperparts and paler underparts. In flight, wings show a pale trailing edge; outer-tail feathers are white. JUVENILE is similar but with a scaly-looking back. VOICE Rapid song includes trills, whistles and mimicry. Call is a rolling chrrrp. STATUS Favours grassy habitats. Commonest near coasts in winter and seen in flocks.
Shorelark Eremophila alpestris Length 16–17cm
Shorelark, winter
Unobtrusive bird. Female is duller than male but otherwise similar. ADULT in spring has sandy upperparts. Underparts are whitish with a black breast band and buff flank streaks. Head is yellow with a black mask; black forecrown extends to 2 ‘horns’. Winter adult and 1st winter are duller and lack ‘horns’. VOICE Thin see-seer call. STATUS Scarce non-breeding visitor to saltmarshes.
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Length 9–10cm
Tiny bird that cocks its tail upright. Sexes and ages are similar. ADULT and JUVENILE have reddish-brown upperparts with barring on wings and tail. Underparts are greyish white with a buff wash to flanks; has a pale supercilium. Bill is needle-like and legs are reddish. VOICE Loud, rattling alarm call; warbling song ends in a trill. STATUS Widespread resident of coastal scrub.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Length 14cm
Black Redstart, juvenile
Black Redstart, male
All birds quiver striking red tail when perched. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has slate-grey body plumage, darkest on face and breast. Adult female has grey-brown body plumage. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Song includes crackling, static-like phrases. STATUS Fairly common passage migrant and scarce winter visitor, mainly to S coasts.
Stonechat Saxicola torquata Length 12–13cm
Stonechat, female
Stonechat, male
Flicks its short, dark tail when perched. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has a dark head, white sides to neck, and dark back. Breast is orange-red, grading into pale underparts. In autumn, head feathers have pale fringes. Adult female is similar but colours are muted. JUVENILE and 1st winter are similar to adult female but with more buffish-orange underparts. VOICE Harsh tchak call. Song is a rapid warble. STATUS Locally common on gorse-covered slopes. More widespread in winter.
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Length 14–16cm
Wheatear, male
Wheatear, male
Wheatear, juvenile
All birds have a white rump and black and white tail. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. ADULT male has a blue-grey crown and back, black mask and wings, and pale underparts flushed orange-buff on breast. Adult female has grey-brown upperparts, darkest on wings; face, throat and breast are orange-buff, and underparts are otherwise whitish. First-winter birds are buffish, darker above than below. JUVENILE recalls adult female but plumage appears scaly. VOICE Chak alarm call. Song is fast and warbling. STATUS Locally common summer visitor. Nests on coastal cliffs and islands; commonest as a passage migrant.
Whitethroat Sylvia communis Length 13–15cm
Whitethroat, male
Whitethroat, juvenile
Males perch openly. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male has a blue-grey hood, grey-brown back and rufous wing panel; has a white throat and pale underparts, suffused pinkish buff on breast. Adult female is similar but hood is brownish. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Harsh tcheck alarm call. Song is a scratchy warble. STATUS Common summer visitor to coastal scrub.
Carrion Crow Corvus corone Length 43–50cm
Familiar all-dark corvid. Very wary of man. Sexes and ages are similar. ADULT and JUVENILE have glossy black plumage, and black legs and bill. VOICE Harsh creeaa-creeaa-creeaa call. STATUS Common on coasts of England and Wales; in Scotland it is largely confined to S and E of the Clyde–Dornoch line.
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Length 43–50cm
N and W counterpart of Carrion Crow. Sexes and ages are similar. ADULT and JUVENILE have grubby grey body plumage with black wings and tail, and a black head, throat and upper breast. VOICE Harsh creeaa-creeaa-creeaa call. STATUS In Scotland, found N and W of the Clyde–Dornoch line; occurs throughout Ireland and on the Isle of Man.
Rook Corvus frugilegus Length 43–48cm
Familiar farmland bird. Feeds in flocks (mainly on soil invertebrates). Sexes are similar. ADULT has black plumage with a reddish-purple sheen. Bill is long, narrow and rather pointed; note bare patch of whitish skin at base. JUVENILE is similar but skin at base of bill is feathered. VOICE Grating craah-craah-craah … call. STATUS Locally common, mainly on farmland in breeding season and in coastal grassland in winter.
Raven Corvus corax Length 55–65cm
Our largest passerine. Appreciably bigger than Carrion Crow, with a massive bill and shaggy throat. In aerobatic flight, note thick neck and wedge-shaped tail. Sexes and ages are similar. ADULT and JUVENILE have black plumage with an oily sheen. VOICE Loud, deep cronk call. STATUS Fairly common resident of rugged coasts. Commonest in W and N Britain.
Jackdaw Corvus monedula Length 31–34cm
Familiar small corvid. Has a swaggering walk and aerobatic flight. Often seen in flocks. Sexes are similar. ADULT has smoky-grey plumage, darkest on wings and crown, pale blue-grey eye and grey nape. JUVENILE is similar but plumage is tinged brownish and eye is duller. VOICE Harsh chack call. STATUS Widespread and common on cliffs and coastal grassland.
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Length 38–40cm
Jackdaw-sized corvid with a downcurved red bill, used to probe ground for invertebrates. Forms sociable, noisy flocks. Superb aeronaut with broad, ‘fingered’ wingtips. Sexes are similar. ADULT has glossy black plumage and reddish-pink legs. JUVENILE has duller legs and a dull yellow bill. VOICE Distinctive chyah call. STATUS Local resident of coastal sea cliffs. S and W Ireland, W Wales, Isle of Man and Islay are strongholds. Has recently recolonised the Lizard in Cornwall.
Starling Sturnus vulgaris Length 20–22cm
Starling, winter
Has a swaggering walk. Sexes are separable in summer. ADULTS in summer have dark plumage with an oily sheen; female has a few pale spots on underparts. Legs are reddish and bill is yellow, but male has blue base to lower mandible. Winter adult and 1st winter have numerous white spots adorning dark plumage, and dark bill. JUVENILE is grey-brown, palest on throat; bill is dark. VOICE Repertoire of clicks, whistles and mimicry. STATUS Widespread; large flocks form in winter.
Linnet Carduelis cannabina Length 13–14cm
Linnet, juvenile
Linnet, male
Breeding male is striking. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male in summer has a grey head, rosy forecrown and chestnut back. Pale underparts have a rosy-pink flush on breast. Note pale panel on wings and streaked throat. In winter, rosy elements of plumage are dull or absent. Adult female has a brown back, grey-brown head and streaked, pale underparts. Note pale panel on wings. JUVENILE is similar to adult female but more streaked. VOICE Tetter-tett call. Song is a twittering warble. STATUS Common in coastal scrub in summer, and on coastal fields in winter.
Twite Carduelis flavirostris Length 13–14cm
Twite, juvenile
Twite, summer male
Upland counterpart of Linnet. Bill is grey in spring and summer, and yellow at other times (always grey in Linnet). Throat is unstreaked (streaked in Linnet). Sexes are similar. ADULT has streaked brown upperparts, and white margins to flight and tail feathers. Pale underparts are heavily streaked. Rump is pinkish in male, brown in female. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Sharp tveeht call. Song is a series of trills. STATUS Local breeder in the N. In winter, favours saltmarshes and fields, mainly on the E coast.
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Length 16–17cm
Snow Bunting, 1st winter
Snow Bunting, winter male
Confiding bunting with white on innerwing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT male in summer is mostly white with a blackish back, wings, bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but black elements of plumage are brownish and has buff streaking. Winter adult has mainly streaked brown upperparts and white underparts; male shows most white. Bill is yellowish. VOICE Tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. STATUS Mainly a non-breeding visitor to beaches and saltmarshes; commonest on the E coast.
Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Length 14–16cm
Lapland Bunting, winter
Unobtrusive bird. Seldom seen here in summer plumage. Sexes are dissimilar. ADULT in winter and summer adult female have a brown face with a dark line around ear coverts; note dark crown, streaked brown back, reddish wing panel and pale wingbars. Pale underparts have streaks on flanks. Adult male in summer has a bold black, white and chestnut head pattern. JUVENILE resembles winter adult. VOICE Rattling flight call. STATUS Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor, mainly to E coast fields and saltmarshes.
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos Length 19–22cm
Deep-bodied wader. JUVENILE (plumage seen here) is brown, grey and black on back, the feathers with pale margins. Has a strongly streaked breast, clearly demarcated from otherwise white underparts. Bill is black, legs are yellow. VOICE Mostly silent. STATUS Regular autumn visitor from North America to coastal pools.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis Length 18–20cm
Recalls a juvenile Ruff. JUVENILE (plumage seen here) is buffish overall with a scaly-looking back and yellow legs. VOICE Usually silent. STATUS Rare but annual visitor from North America; usually on short coastal grassland.
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis Length 42–48cm
Regular North American visitor to Britain. ADULT Recalls Common Gull but is larger, with yellow legs and a yellow bill with a black subterminal band. IMMATURES are similar to Common Gull counterparts but larger, and with a stouter bill. VOICE Mewing calls. STATUS Around 50 recorded each year, mostly in winter.
Wryneck Jynx torquilla Length 16–17cm
Well-marked bird. Feeds mainly on ants. ADULT has intricate brown, grey and black markings on upperparts, and barred underparts. JUVENILE is similar but has faint crown stripe. VOICE Migrants are silent. STATUS Scarce on S and E coasts.
Swift Apus apus Length 16–17cm
Recognised by anchor-shaped outline in flight. Catches insects on the wing. ADULT is blackish brown with a pale throat. JUVENILE is darker but with a paler throat and forehead. VOICE Migrants are silent. STATUS Migrants feed over coastal pools and grassland.
Swallow Hirundo rustica Length 19cm
Swallow, male
Has long tail streamers. ADULT has blue-black upperparts and white underparts, with a dark chest band and red throat and forecrown. JUVENILE has shorter tail streamers. VOICE Sharp vit call. STATUS Common; migrants linger on coasts.
House Martin Delichon urbica Length 12–13cm
Distinctive insect-eating migrant. ADULT has blue-black upperparts with a white rump; underparts are white. JUVENILE is similar but plumage is duller. VOICE Prrrt call in flight. STATUS Common; migrants often linger near coasts.
Sand Martin Riparia riparia Length 12cm
Hunts insects over water. ADULT has sandy-brown upperparts and white underparts with a brown breast band. Short tail is forked. JUVENILE has pale margins on back feathers. VOICE Rasping twitters. STATUS Common; migrants linger on coasts.
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Length 14–15cm
Blackcap, male
Blackcap, female
Distinctive warbler. ADULT male is grey above, pale grey below, palest on throat, and with black cap. Adult female is similar but with a chestnut cap. JUVENILE resembles adult female. VOICE Tchek alarm call. Song is a musical warble. STATUS Common.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Length 12–13cm
Well-marked warbler. ADULT has streaked sandy upperparts and pale underparts, flushed buff on breast and flanks. Note dark-streaked crown and eye-stripe, and pale supercilium. JUVENILE has faint streaking on breast. VOICE Chek alarm call. Song comprises rasping phrases, trills and whistles. STATUS Common.
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Length 11cm
Tiny warbler. ADULT and JUVENILE have grey-brown upperparts, and pale underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is thin and legs are black. VOICE Soft hueet call. Song is a repeated chiff-chaff. STATUS Common.
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Length 11cm
Has brighter plumage than Chiffchaff, longer primaries and pink legs. ADULT has greenish upperparts, a yellow throat and pale underparts. JUVENILE is yellower. VOICE Hueet call. Song is tinkling and descending. STATUS Common. SIMILAR SPECIES Wood Warbler P. sibilatrix is brighter overall with yellow on wings and face, and clean-looking underparts. Song is a warble followed by a silvery trill. Fairly common on migration.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Length 9–10cm
Active, well-marked warbler. ADULT and JUVENILE have bright olive-green upperparts and whitish underparts. Note narrow, dark eye-stripe, yellow supercilium, and 2 pale yellow wingbars. Legs are pinkish. VOICE Disyllabic tsu-eet call. STATUS Scarce in autumn.
Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Length 9–10cm
Energetic warbler. FIRST WINTER (plumage seen in Britain) has olive-green upperparts and pale underparts. On head, note dark eye-stripe, yellowish supercilium and pale median stripe. Has 2 pale wingbars and a pale rump. VOICE Soft tchuee call. STATUS Rare but regular in autumn.
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus Length 9–10cm
Firecrest, male
Tiny bird. ADULT has green upperparts with 2 pale wingbars. Underparts are buffish white, flushed golden on sides of neck. Has striking head markings; crown stripe is orange in male, yellow in female. JUVENILE lacks crown stripe. VOICE Thin tsuu-tsee-tsee call. STATUS Scarce, in coastal scrub.
Goldcrest Regulus regulus Length 9cm
Goldcrest, male
Our smallest bird. ADULT has greenish upperparts with 2 pale wingbars, and yellow-buff underparts. Has black-bordered crown stripe. JUVENILE lacks crown stripe. VOICE Thin, high-pitched tsee-tsee-tsee. STATUS Common in coastal scrub.
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Length 14cm
Perches upright and catches insects in flight. ADULT is grey-brown above, streaked on crown, and pale below, streaked on breast. JUVENILE has pale spots on back and dark spots on throat and breast. VOICE Thin tsee call. STATUS Fairly common.
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva Length 11–12cm
White sides to black tail are seen in all birds. ADULT male has a brown back, blue-grey face, orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts. Adult female has a white throat and breast. FIRST WINTER has a buff throat and breast, and a pale wingbar. VOICE Rattling call. STATUS Mainly autumn; scarce.