The Daily Tweet

Species Gallery

Browse 77 bird profiles from across the United Kingdom. Search by name, filter by status, or find birds that live in a particular habitat.

Showing 77 of 77 species

European Robin

Erithacus rubecula

The beloved garden companion of the United Kingdom, instantly recognised by its bright orange-red breast and melodic song. Robins are fiercely territorial and often appear at garden feeders.

GardensWoodland
Family: Old World flycatchers
Size: 12-14 cm

Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

A flash of electric blue and orange along a riverbank is the signature of this tiny fishing specialist. Kingfishers hunt small fish from a perch, diving with remarkable precision.

RiversStreams
Family: Kingfishers
Size: 16-17 cm

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

The UK's largest waterbird, famed for its graceful glide and curved neck. Despite the name, mute swans can be vocal and are powerful fliers.

LakesRivers
Family: Ducks, geese and swans
Size: 140-160 cm wingspan

Tawny Owl

Strix aluco

The classic owl of UK woods, responsible for the familiar 'twit-twoo' call. Tawny owls are strictly nocturnal and superbly camouflaged against tree bark.

Deciduous woodlandParks
Family: Typical owls
Size: 37-39 cm

Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

A tiny, acrobatic bundle of blue and yellow. Blue tits are regular garden visitors, famously able to feed upside down on peanut feeders.

GardensWoodland
Family: Tits
Size: 10-12 cm

Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

Introduced centuries ago, the male pheasant is now a familiar splash of colour across the UK countryside with its iridescent plumage and long tail.

FarmlandWoodland edges
Family: Pheasants and partridges
Size: 53-90 cm

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

A pale ghostly hunter that drifts over meadows at dusk. Barn owls have exceptional low-light hearing and heart-shaped faces.

FarmlandGrassland
Family: Barn owls
Size: 33-39 cm

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

The most common woodpecker in the United Kingdom, often betrayed by its loud drumming on tree trunks in spring. It visits peanut feeders in colder months.

WoodlandParks
Family: Woodpeckers
Size: 22-23 cm

Common Blackbird

Turdus merula

The male's jet-black plumage and bright yellow bill make this one of the easiest garden birds to identify. Its rich, fluty song is a soundtrack to UK evenings.

GardensWoodland
Family: Thrushes
Size: 24-25 cm

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Once ubiquitous, the cheeky house sparrow is still a familiar sight around UK homes. Males wear a grey cap and black bib, while females are streaky brown.

UrbanSuburban gardens
Family: Sparrows
Size: 14-16 cm

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

A social, tinkling finch with a dramatic red face and flashes of yellow on the wings. Goldfinches love thistle and teasel seeds.

GardensScrubland
Family: Finches
Size: 12-13 cm

Common Cuckoo

Cuculus canorus

Famous for its two-note call and its habit of laying eggs in other birds' nests. Cuckoos arrive in the United Kingdom from Africa in spring.

WoodlandMoorland
Family: Cuckoos
Size: 32-34 cm

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

A herald of spring, the swallow's forked tail and acrobatic flight make it unmistakable. They build mud nests under eaves and barn beams.

FarmlandOpen country
Family: Swallows and martins
Size: 17-19 cm

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

A winter thrush from Scandinavia, arriving in the United Kingdom in autumn to feast on berry-laden hedgerows. Fieldfares are social and often seen with redwings.

FarmlandOrchards
Family: Thrushes
Size: 22-27 cm

Redwing

Turdus iliacus

A small winter thrush with a striking reddish flank patch and a pale eyebrow stripe. Redwings fly in at night, their 'seep' calls heard overhead.

WoodlandOrchards
Family: Thrushes
Size: 20-22 cm

Eurasian Skylark

Alauda arvensis

A bird of open farmland famous for its towering song flight. Skylarks sing continuously while hovering high above the fields, then parachute down to a hidden nest.

FarmlandGrassland
Family: Larks
Size: 18-19 cm

Eurasian Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes

One of Britain's smallest birds, the wren is tiny and brown with a short cocked tail and an astonishingly loud, complex song for its size.

GardensWoodland
Family: Wrens
Size: 9-10 cm

Great Tit

Parus major

A larger, bolder cousin of the blue tit, with a distinctive black head and white cheeks. Its varied song includes a two-note 'teacher-teacher' call.

GardensWoodland
Family: Tits
Size: 12-14 cm

Common Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

The male chaffinch is a colourful, pinkish finch with a blue-grey cap and a cheerful, descending song. It is one of the most widespread finches in the United Kingdom.

WoodlandGardens
Family: Finches
Size: 14-16 cm

Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos

A beloved songbird with a habit of repeating each phrase two or three times. Song thrushes are smaller and more upright than the similar mistle thrush.

GardensWoodland
Family: Thrushes
Size: 20-22 cm

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Often overlooked, starlings are glossy purple-green in summer and speckled in winter. They are gifted mimics and form spectacular aerial murmurations.

GardensUrban
Family: Starlings
Size: 20-22 cm

Eurasian Magpie

Pica pica

A striking black-and-white crow with a long iridescent tail. Magpies are highly intelligent, bold and often seen in suburban gardens.

GardensWoodland
Family: Corvids
Size: 44-46 cm

Common Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

The UK's most common bird of prey, often seen hovering beside motorways. Kestrels have a distinctive pointed wing profile and rufous back.

FarmlandGrassland
Family: Falcons
Size: 32-35 cm

Common Buzzard

Buteo buteo

The most common and widespread soaring raptor in the United Kingdom, now found in every county. Buzzards have broad, rounded wings and a mewing call.

WoodlandFarmland
Family: Buzzards and hawks
Size: 51-57 cm

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

A tall, elegant predator of wetlands, instantly recognisable by its long neck and dagger-like bill. Grey herons are patient hunters and nest in noisy heronries.

LakesRivers
Family: Herons
Size: 90-100 cm

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

The familiar wild duck of UK ponds and rivers. The male is glossy green-headed, while the female is mottled brown for camouflage.

LakesRivers
Family: Ducks, geese and swans
Size: 50-65 cm

Dunnock

Prunella modularis

A quiet, streaky brown bird often seen hopping beneath hedgerows and garden shrubs. Dunnocks have a surprisingly complex social life and a sweet, warbling song.

GardensHedgerows
Family: Accentors
Size: 13-14 cm

European Greenfinch

Chloris chloris

A chunky, olive-green finch with a thick conical bill and a wheezing, nasal call. Greenfinches are enthusiastic visitors to garden seed feeders.

GardensParks
Family: Finches
Size: 14-16 cm

Coal Tit

Periparus ater

A small, agile tit with a glossy black cap and white nape patch. Coal tits are woodland specialists but increasingly visit gardens in winter.

WoodlandGardens
Family: Tits
Size: 10-11 cm

Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus

An unmistakable ball of fluff with a long black-and-white tail. Long-tailed tits travel in noisy family groups and are a delight in hedgerows and gardens.

WoodlandHedgerows
Family: Long-tailed tits
Size: 13-15 cm

Eurasian Nuthatch

Sitta europaea

The only British bird that can climb down a tree trunk headfirst. Nuthatches are blue-grey above, buff below, and have a loud, ringing call.

WoodlandParks
Family: Nuthatches
Size: 12-14 cm

Eurasian Treecreeper

Certhia familiaris

A slim, streaky brown bird that spirals up tree trunks in search of insects. Treecreepers are quiet and easy to miss despite being widespread.

WoodlandParks
Family: Treecreepers
Size: 12-13 cm

Goldcrest

Regulus regulus

Britain's smallest bird, a tiny sprite with a bright yellow-orange stripe on its head. Goldcrests are constantly on the move, picking insects from foliage.

WoodlandParks
Family: Kinglets
Size: 8-9 cm

Eurasian Jay

Garrulus glandarius

A shy but striking woodland bird with a pinkish body, black moustache and bright blue wing patches. Jays are important acorn dispersers for oak trees.

WoodlandParks
Family: Jays
Size: 32-35 cm

Carrion Crow

Corvus corone

A large, all-black crow with a heavy bill and a confident, watchful nature. Carrion crows are highly intelligent and adaptable across the UK landscape.

FarmlandUrban
Family: Crows
Size: 45-47 cm

Common Woodpigeon

Columba palumbus

The UK's largest and commonest pigeon, with a grey body, white neck patch and loud clapping wings. Woodpigeons have increased dramatically in towns and gardens.

WoodlandFarmland
Family: Pigeons and doves
Size: 40-42 cm

European Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis

A shy, yaffling woodpecker with a bright green back, pale underside and crimson crown. Most often detected by its loud, laughing call as it forages on grassy banks.

WoodlandParks
Family: Woodpeckers
Size: 30-36 cm

Common Swift

Apus apus

A master of the air that spends almost its entire life on the wing, sleeping and mating in flight. Sleek blackish-brown with a pale throat patch and scythe-shaped wings.

UrbanOpen country
Family: Swifts
Size: 16-17 cm

Pied Wagtail

Motacilla alba

A dapper black-and-white bird with a long tail that constantly wags up and down. Common in towns, car parks and beside water where it walks with a jerky gait.

UrbanRivers
Family: Wagtails and pipits
Size: 18-19 cm

Yellowhammer

Emberiza citrinella

A bright yellow seed-eater of hedgerows and farmland. The male's head and underparts glow golden in spring, and his song is famously said to sound like 'a little bit of bread and no cheese'.

FarmlandHedgerows
Family: Buntings
Size: 16-16.5 cm

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

A slim bunting of wetlands and reedbeds. In spring the male shows a striking black head with a white collar; females are streaky brown with a pale eyestripe.

WetlandsReedbeds
Family: Buntings
Size: 13-14.5 cm

Eurasian Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

A plump, pinkish finch with a neat black cap and a stubby bill. Often seen in pairs, bullfinches have a soft, mournful call and are surprisingly shy.

WoodlandHedgerows
Family: Finches
Size: 14-16 cm

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

A pale, pinkish-grey dove with a narrow black collar on the back of the neck. Its colonisation of the UK from the 1950s is one of the most dramatic bird range expansions on record.

GardensParks
Family: Pigeons and doves
Size: 32 cm

Western Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

A small, sociable crow with a silvery-grey nape and striking pale eyes. Jackdaws are inquisitive and nest in chimneys, church towers and tree hollows.

FarmlandUrban
Family: Crows
Size: 34-39 cm

Common Raven

Corvus corax

The UK's largest corvid, with a massive bill, shaggy throat feathers and a deep, croaking voice. Ravens are highly intelligent, playful and increasingly seen in towns.

CoastalUplands
Family: Crows
Size: 54-67 cm

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

A tiny, restless warbler that announces spring with its repetitive two-note song. Olive-brown and plain, it is often heard before it is seen as it flits through the canopy.

WoodlandParks
Family: Warblers
Size: 10-12 cm

Little Owl

Athene noctua

A compact, flat-headed owl with bright yellow eyes and a fierce expression. Introduced to the UK in the 19th century, it is now a familiar bird of farmland and parkland.

FarmlandWoodland
Family: Typical owls
Size: 21-23 cm

Red Kite

Milvus milvus

A magnificent raptor with reddish-brown plumage, long forked tail and graceful soaring flight. Saved from extinction in the UK by reintroduction programmes, it is now a common sight over the Chilterns and elsewhere.

WoodlandFarmland
Family: Kites
Size: 60-66 cm

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

A striking black-and-white wader with a long, bright orange-red bill and matching legs. Oystercatchers are noisy, sociable birds of rocky and sandy shores, and increasingly inland waterways.

CoastalLakes
Family: Waders
Size: 40-45 cm

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

The UK's largest wader, famous for its long, downcurved bill and haunting, bubbling song. Curlews are birds of moorland, wet grassland and coastal mudflats, and their decline is a conservation concern.

CoastalWetlands
Family: Waders
Size: 48-57 cm

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Despite the name, this small gull has a dark chocolate-brown head in summer, not black. It is the most common inland gull in the UK and often seen far from the sea.

CoastalLakes
Family: Gulls
Size: 34-37 cm

Eurasian Teal

Anas crecca

The UK's smallest duck, with a chestnut head, green eye-stripe and a bright yellow undertail. Teal are fast, agile fliers that often twist and turn in tight flocks.

LakesRivers
Family: Ducks, geese and swans
Size: 34-38 cm

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

An elegant waterbird with a long neck, ornate chestnut cheeks and a black double crest in summer. Great crested grebes perform an elaborate courtship dance on the water.

LakesReservoirs
Family: Grebes
Size: 46-51 cm

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

A handsome warbler with a distinctive black cap on males and a rich chestnut cap on females. Its loud, fluty song has earned it the nickname 'northern nightingale'.

WoodlandHedgerows
Family: Warblers
Size: 13 cm

Willow Warbler

Phylloscopus trochilus

A small, greenish-brown warbler that is very similar to the chiffchaff but with a sweeter, descending song. Willow warblers are one of the most widespread summer visitors to the UK.

WoodlandHedgerows
Family: Warblers
Size: 11-12 cm

Common House Martin

Delichon urbicum

A compact aerial specialist with glossy blue-black upperparts, clean white underparts and a short forked tail. House martins build mud nests under the eaves of houses and barns.

UrbanOpen country
Family: Swallows and martins
Size: 12-13 cm

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

A beloved seabird of the UK's northern coasts, instantly recognisable by its colourful triangular bill, tuxedo-like black-and-white plumage and bright orange legs. Puffins nest in burrows on grassy cliffs and islands, returning to land each spring to breed.

CoastalCliffs
Family: Auks
Size: 25-29 cm

Eurasian Coot

Fulica atra

A distinctive black waterbird with a brilliant white bill and frontal shield, and lobed feet that propel it through freshwater. Coots are noisy and territorial, often seen chasing rivals across the water.

LakesRivers
Family: Rails, crakes and coots
Size: 36-38 cm

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

A dark, secretive waterbird with a red and yellow bill, white undertail flashes, and long green legs. Moorhens skulk in reedbeds and swim with a jerky motion.

LakesPonds
Family: Rails, crakes and coots
Size: 30-35 cm

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

A small, compact diving duck with a distinctive crest, black-and-white plumage and bright yellow eyes. Tufted ducks often disappear beneath the surface to feed.

LakesReservoirs
Family: Ducks, geese and swans
Size: 40-47 cm

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

A large, dark waterbird with a long neck, hooked bill and emerald eyes. Cormorants are often seen perched with wings spread to dry after diving.

CoastalLakes
Family: Cormorants and shags
Size: 80-100 cm

Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

A slender, elegant bird of running water with grey upperparts, a bright yellow belly and a constantly wagging long tail. Grey wagtails often bob on rocks in fast streams.

RiversStreams
Family: Wagtails and pipits
Size: 18-19 cm

Mistle Thrush

Turdus viscivorus

The largest UK thrush, with a stocky build, spotted breast and upright, watchful posture. Mistle thrushes are fierce defenders of berry-laden trees in winter.

WoodlandParks
Family: Thrushes
Size: 26-29 cm

Sedge Warbler

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

A small, streaked brown warbler with a pale stripe above the eye and a remarkably loud, rattling song. Sedge warblers are a classic sound of reedbeds in summer.

WetlandsReedbeds
Family: Reed warblers and allies
Size: 12-13 cm

Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

A plain olive-brown warbler with a pale underside and a long, musical song. Reed warblers weave intricate nests between reed stems over the water.

ReedbedsWetlands
Family: Reed warblers and allies
Size: 12-13 cm

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinago

A cryptically patterned wader with a long, straight bill and an extraordinary 'drumming' display flight in spring. Snipes are shy and flush with a zig-zagging escape.

WetlandsMarshes
Family: Sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes
Size: 25-27 cm

Common Redshank

Tringa totanus

A medium-sized wader with bright red legs and a straight, dark bill, often seen darting over estuarine mud. Redshanks are among the most vocal of waders.

CoastalEstuaries
Family: Sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes
Size: 27-29 cm

Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

Introduced from North America, the Canada Goose is now a familiar sight in parks, lakes and reservoirs across the UK. It is recognised by its large size, brown body, black head and white chinstrap.

LakesParks
Family: Ducks, geese and swans
Size: 76-110 cm

Greylag Goose

Anser anser

The ancestor of most domestic geese, the Greylag is a bulky, grey-brown goose with pinkish-orange legs and a thick orange bill. It is the only native breeding goose in much of lowland areas of the United Kingdom.

LakesWetlands
Family: Ducks, geese and swans
Size: 74-84 cm

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

A striking black, white and grey goose that winters on coastal grasslands and islands. Barnacle geese have a creamy face, black neck and breast, and a high-pitched yapping call.

CoastalEstuaries
Family: Ducks, geese and swans
Size: 55-70 cm

Stock Dove

Columba oenas

A shy, plump dove of woodland and parkland, smaller than a woodpigeon and without its white neck patch. Stock doves have a subtle green iridescence on the neck and a grey body.

WoodlandParks
Family: Pigeons and doves
Size: 32-34 cm

Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur

A beautiful, slender summer visitor with a gentle purring song, pinkish-brown plumage and distinctive black-and-white neck stripes. Turtle doves have declined dramatically across the UK.

Woodland edgesFarmland
Family: Pigeons and doves
Size: 26-28 cm

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

A small, elegant white heron with black legs, bright yellow feet and a long black bill. Once rare, Little Egrets are now widespread in southern and eastern areas of the United Kingdom.

WetlandsRivers
Family: Herons and egrets
Size: 55-65 cm

Water Rail

Rallus aquaticus

A secretive, long-billed bird of dense reedbeds, more often heard than seen. Water Rails have a distinctive pig-like squeal and a striking pattern of brown stripes and grey underparts.

ReedbedsWetlands
Family: Rails, crakes and coots
Size: 23-28 cm

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

A small, round waterbird with a chestnut neck, black crown and fluffy rear end. Little Grebes dive frequently and are often seen disappearing beneath the surface of ponds and lakes.

LakesPonds
Family: Grebes
Size: 23-29 cm

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

A graceful seabird with a black cap, red bill and long pointed wings. Common Terns hover over water before diving headfirst to catch small fish, and nest on shingle islands and rafts.

CoastalEstuaries
Family: Terns
Size: 31-35 cm

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

A large, familiar gull of coastal towns and seaside resorts, with grey wings, a white body and a powerful yellow bill. Despite being a common sight, Herring Gulls have declined in many areas.

CoastalEstuaries
Family: Gulls
Size: 54-60 cm