List of birds of Great Britain

This list of birds of Great Britain comprises all bird species that have been recorded in a wild state in Great Britain. It follows the official British List, maintained by the British Ornithologists' Union. Decisions relating to the British List are published by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee in its annual reports in the BOU's journal Ibis. These reports were formerly geographically based and included the whole of the British Isles, but records for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are now published by their own ornithological associations. Records from the Isle of Man are adjudicated by the Manx Ornithological Society.
Bird species admitted to the British List are those in BOU categories A, B or C:

A: species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.
B: species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.
C: species that, although originally introduced by humans, either deliberately or accidentally, have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, which maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.

Birds can be listed in more than one category: for example, the Canada goose has a large introduced population but there have also been a few naturally occurring vagrants, and the white-tailed eagle is a native species that is also subject to an ongoing reintroduction project, so both species meet the criteria for categories A and C.
Categories D and E are used for record keeping only, and species in these categories are not included in the British List:

D: species that would otherwise appear in categories A or B except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state.
E: species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees, or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations are not believed to be self-sustaining.

A further category is being compiled:

F: species recorded before 1800, including fossil species.

As of 13 August 2024, there are 641 species of birds on the British List, the latest addition being western olivaceous warbler on 20-21 October 2023. Five species groups are included in an appendix to the December 2023 amendment – southern/northern giant petrel, Fea's/Desertas petrel, black-bellied/white-bellied storm petrel, brown/south polar skua, and Asian/Mediterranean/Turkestan short-toed lark. A number of additional species are awaiting consideration by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee.
Species listed on this page as "rare" are those for which a full description is required for acceptance of the record by the British Birds Rarities Committee. Other species have an indication of their breeding and wintering status in Great Britain.
In general the avifauna of Britain is similar to that of the rest of Europe. Because of its mild winters, Great Britain has a considerable population of wintering species, particularly ducks, geese and swans. There are also a number of species, such as the oystercatcher, that are resident on the island of Great Britain, but migrants elsewhere. Britain receives a number of vagrants from Asia and North America. Some American gulls, ducks and waders are regular enough not to be considered rare, including the ring-billed gull, surf scoter and pectoral sandpiper. There is one endemic bird species found in Great Britain: the Scottish crossbill.

Ducks, geese, and swans

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The swans, ducks and geese are medium to large birds that are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet and bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent. In many ducks the male is colourful while the female is dull brown. The diet consists of a variety of animals and plants. The family is well represented in Britain, especially in winter when large numbers visit from Greenland, Scandinavia and Russia.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Brent goose		A – winter visitor
Red-breasted goose		A – rare vagrant
Canada goose		A & C – resident introduced population, some wild vagrants
Barnacle goose		A & C – winter visitor and resident introduced population
Cackling goose		A – rare vagrant
Ross's goose		A – rare vagrant
Snow goose		A & C – some wild vagrants, also a very small feral introduced population
Greylag goose		A & C – resident wild and feral populations, winter visitor
Taiga bean goose		A – winter visitor
Pink-footed goose		A – winter visitor
Tundra bean goose		A – winter visitor
White-fronted goose		A – winter visitor
Lesser white-fronted goose		A – rare vagrant
Mute swan		A & C – resident breeding species
Bewick's swan		A – winter visitor
Whooper swan		A – winter visitor and occasional breeder
Egyptian goose		C – resident introduced population
Shelduck		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Ruddy shelduck		B – numerous records since 1946 are presumed feral or escapes from captivity
Mandarin duck		C – resident introduced population
Baikal teal		A – rare vagrant
Garganey		A – breeding summer visitor
Blue-winged teal		A – rare vagrant
Shoveler		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Gadwall		A & C – resident breeder and winter visitor
Falcated duck		A – rare vagrant
Wigeon		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
American wigeon		A – scarce migrant
Mallard		A & C – resident breeder, winter visitor and naturalised releases
Black duck		A – rare vagrant
Pintail		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Teal		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Green-winged teal		A – scarce migrant
Red-crested pochard		A & C – scarce migrant and introduced breeder
Canvasback		A – rare vagrant
Redhead		A – rare vagrant
Pochard		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Ferruginous duck		A – scarce migrant
Ring-necked duck		A – scarce migrant
Tufted duck		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Scaup		A – winter visitor and occasional breeder
Lesser scaup		A – rare vagrant
Steller's eider		A – rare vagrant
King eider		A – rare vagrant
Eider		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Harlequin duck		A – rare vagrant
Surf scoter		A – scarce migrant
Velvet scoter		A – winter visitor
White-winged scoter		A – rare vagrant
Stejneger's scoter		A – rare vagrant, first recorded 2022
Common scoter		A – passage and winter visitor, and rare breeder
Black scoter		A – rare vagrant
Long-tailed duck		A – winter visitor and occasional breeder
Bufflehead		A – rare vagrant
Goldeneye		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Barrow's goldeneye		A – rare vagrant
Smew		A – winter visitor
Hooded merganser		A – rare vagrant
Goosander		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Red-breasted merganser		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Ruddy duck		C – introduced species currently subject to an eradication programme

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
These are terrestrial species, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings. Four of these were introduced for hunting or ornamental purposes but two have now died out.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Red grouse		A – resident breeding species
Ptarmigan		A – resident breeding species
Capercaillie		C – resident reintroduced population
Black grouse		A – resident breeding species
Grey partridge		A & C – resident breeder and introduced gamebird
Golden pheasant		C – former introduced population, now died out
Lady Amherst's pheasant		C – former introduced population, now died out
Pheasant		C – resident introduced population
Quail		A – breeding summer visitor
Red-legged partridge		C – resident introduced population

Nightjars and allies

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Common nighthawk		A – rare vagrant
Red-necked nightjar		B – rare vagrant
Nightjar		A – breeding summer visitor
Egyptian nightjar		A – rare vagrant

Swifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
White-throated needletail		A – rare vagrant
Chimney swift		A – rare vagrant
Alpine swift		A – scarce migrant
Swift		A – breeding summer visitor
Pallid swift		A – rare vagrant
Pacific swift		A – rare vagrant
Little swift		A – rare vagrant
White-rumped swift		A – rare vagrant

Bustards

Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Large, sturdy birds of open plains with long legs and necks and strong feet. They are all rarities.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Great bustard		A – rare vagrant and recently reintroduced breeding resident species
MacQueen's bustard		A – rare vagrant; only one record since 1950, in 1962
Little bustard		A – rare vagrant

Cuckoos

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
Birds of variable size with slender bodies and long tails. Some species are known for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Great spotted cuckoo		A – rare vagrant
Yellow-billed cuckoo		A – rare vagrant
Black-billed cuckoo		A – rare vagrant
Cuckoo		A – breeding summer visitor

Sandgrouse

Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sturdy, medium-sized birds with a small head and long, pointed wings.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Pallas's sandgrouse		A – rare vagrant; has bred

Pigeons and doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 344 species worldwide, seven in Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Rock dove or feral pigeon		A & C – resident; most birds are of feral origin; wild birds in far N & W Scotland
Stock dove		A – resident breeding species
Woodpigeon		A – resident breeding species
Turtle dove		A – breeding summer visitor
Oriental turtle dove		A – rare vagrant
Collared dove		A – resident breeding species
Mourning dove		A – rare vagrant

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
These birds mainly occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, marshes or rivers. Many are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Water rail		A – resident breeding species and winter visitor
Corncrake		A – breeding summer visitor, formerly abundant, now scarce
Sora rail		A – rare vagrant
Spotted crake		A – scarce breeding summer visitor
Moorhen		A – resident breeding species
Coot		A – resident breeding species and winter visitor
American coot		A – rare vagrant
Allen's gallinule		A – rare vagrant
American purple gallinule		A – rare vagrant
Western swamphen		A – rare vagrant; first record 2016
Baillon's crake		A – rare vagrant, has bred
Little crake		A – rare vagrant

Cranes

Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Sandhill crane		A – rare vagrant
Crane		A – scarce resident breeding species and passage migrant

Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large diving birds with lobed toes and pointed bills. They are seen mainly on lowland waters and coasts. They feed on aquatic animals and nest on a floating platform of vegetation.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Little grebe		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Pied-billed grebe		A – rare vagrant; has hybridised with Little grebe once
Red-necked grebe		A – winter visitor; has bred
Great crested grebe		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Slavonian grebe		A – scarce resident breeder and winter visitor
Black-necked grebe		A – scarce resident breeder and winter visitor

Stone-curlews

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
A small family of medium to large waders with strong black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Stone-curlew		A – scarce breeding summer visitor

Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy wading birds with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are eleven species worldwide with one in Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Oystercatcher		A – resident breeding species, passage migrant, and winter visitor

Stilts and avocets

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
A family of fairly large wading birds. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are ten species worldwide with two in Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Black-winged stilt		A – scarce migrant and occasional breeder
Avocet		A – resident breeding species

Plovers and lapwings

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
Small to medium-sized wading birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Grey plover		A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Golden plover		A – breeding resident, passage migrant, and winter visitor
Pacific golden plover		A – rare vagrant
American golden plover		A – scarce migrant
Dotterel		A – passage migrant and breeding summer visitor
Killdeer		A – rare vagrant
Ringed plover		A – resident breeding species and passage and winter visitor
Semipalmated plover		A – rare vagrant
Little ringed plover		A – breeding summer visitor
Lapwing		A – resident breeding species, passage migrant, and winter visitor
Grey-headed lapwing		A – rare vagrant; first recorded May 2023
Sociable lapwing		A – rare vagrant
White-tailed lapwing		A – rare vagrant
Caspian plover		A – rare vagrant
Tibetan sand plover		A – rare vagrant
Siberian sand plover		A – rare vagrant
Greater sand plover		A – rare vagrant
Kentish plover		A – former breeder, now rare vagrant

Sandpipers and allies

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
A large, diverse family of wading birds. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Upland sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Whimbrel		A – passage migrant and scarce breeding summer visitor in far north
Hudsonian whimbrel		A – rare vagrant
Little whimbrel		A – rare vagrant
Eskimo curlew		B – extinct
Curlew		A – resident breeding species
Bar-tailed godwit		A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Black-tailed godwit		A – winter visitor, passage migrant and scarce summer breeding species
Hudsonian godwit		A – rare vagrant
Turnstone		A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Great knot		A – rare vagrant
Knot		A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Ruff		A – passage migrant and winter visitor, also a former scarce breeding resident
Broad-billed sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Sharp-tailed sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Stilt sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Curlew sandpiper		A – passage migrant, rarely also wintering
Temminck's stint		A – scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder
Long-toed stint		A – rare vagrant
Red-necked stint		A – rare vagrant
Sanderling		A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Dunlin		A – winter visitor and passage migrant, scarce breeder
Purple sandpiper		A – winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Baird's sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Little stint		A – passage migrant, rarely also wintering
Least sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
White-rumped sandpiper		A – scarce passage migrant
Buff-breasted sandpiper		A – scarce passage migrant
Pectoral sandpiper		A – scarce passage migrant
Semipalmated sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Western sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Long-billed dowitcher		A – rare vagrant
Short-billed dowitcher		A – rare vagrant
Woodcock		A – resident breeding species
Jack snipe		A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Great snipe		A – rare vagrant
Snipe		A – resident breeding species and winter visitor
Wilson's snipe		A – rare vagrant
Terek sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Wilson's phalarope		A – rare vagrant
Red-necked phalarope		A – winter visitor: scarce and localised summer breeding in far North
Grey phalarope		A – scarce winter visitor
Common sandpiper		A – resident breeding species and passage migrant
Spotted sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Green sandpiper		A – winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Solitary sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Grey-tailed tattler		A – rare vagrant
Lesser yellowlegs		A – scarce migrant, formerly a rare vagrant
Redshank		A – resident breeding species
Marsh sandpiper		A – rare vagrant
Wood sandpiper		A – passage migrant and rare localised breeder in far North
Spotted redshank		A – winter visitor and passage migrant
Greenshank		A – resident breeding species and passage migrant
Greater yellowlegs		A – rare vagrant

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
A family of slender, long-winged wading birds.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Cream-coloured courser		A – rare vagrant
Collared pratincole		A – rare vagrant
Oriental pratincole		A – rare vagrant
Black-winged pratincole		A – rare vagrant

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Medium to large seabirds with grey, white and black plumage, webbed feet and strong bills. Many are opportunistic and adaptable feeders.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Kittiwake		A – breeding summer visitor and resident species
Ivory gull		A – rare vagrant
Sabine's gull		A – scarce winter visitor
Slender-billed gull		A – rare vagrant
Bonaparte's gull		A – rare vagrant
Black-headed gull		A – resident breeding species
Little gull		A – winter visitor, occasional breeder
Ross's gull		A – rare vagrant
Laughing gull		A – rare vagrant
Franklin's gull		A – rare vagrant
Audouin's gull		A – rare vagrant
Mediterranean gull		A – breeding summer visitor, and resident in south.
Great black-headed gull		B – rare vagrant
Common gull		A – resident breeding species, winter visitor and passage migrant
Ring-billed gull		A – scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Great black-backed gull		A – resident breeding species and passage migrant
Kelp gull		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2022
Glaucous-winged gull		A – rare vagrant
Glaucous gull		A – winter visitor; has bred
Iceland gull		A – scarce winter visitor
European herring gull		A – resident breeding species
American herring gull		A – rare vagrant
Caspian gull		A – scarce migrant
Yellow-legged gull		A – scarce visitor and passage migrant; has bred
Slaty-backed gull		A – rare vagrant
Lesser black-backed gull		A – resident breeding species and passage migrant
Gull-billed tern		A – rare vagrant; has bred
Caspian tern		A – rare vagrant
Royal tern		A – rare vagrant
Lesser crested tern		A – rare vagrant
Sandwich tern		A – breeding summer visitor
Cabot's tern		A – rare vagrant
Elegant tern		A – rare vagrant
Little tern		A – breeding summer visitor
Least tern		A – rare vagrant
Aleutian tern		A – rare vagrant
Bridled tern		A – rare vagrant
Sooty tern		A – rare vagrant
Roseate tern		A – scarce breeding summer visitor
Common tern		A – breeding summer visitor
Arctic tern		A – breeding summer visitor
Forster's tern		A – rare vagrant
Whiskered tern		A – rare vagrant
White-winged black tern		A – scarce migrant
Black tern		A – passage migrant, occasional breeder

Skuas

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Medium to large seabirds with mainly grey or brown plumage, sharp claws and a hooked tip to the bill. They chase other seabirds to force them to drop their catches.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
South polar skua		A – rare vagrant
Great skua		A – passage migrant and localised summer breeder
Pomarine skua		A – passage migrant
Arctic skua		A – passage migrant and localised summer breeder
Long-tailed skua		A – passage migrant

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
A family of seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins, with their black-and-white colours, upright posture and some of their habits, but which are able to fly.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Little auk		A – rare winter visitor
Brünnich's guillemot		A – rare vagrant
Common guillemot		A – breeding summer visitor and resident species
Razorbill		A – breeding summer visitor and resident species
Great auk		B – extinct
Black guillemot		A – resident localised breeding species
Long-billed murrelet		A – rare vagrant
Ancient murrelet		A – rare vagrant
Puffin		A – breeding summer visitor
Tufted puffin		A – rare vagrant

Tropicbirds

Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Red-billed tropicbird		A – rare vagrant

Divers

Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Divers are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. They swim well and fly adequately but are almost helpless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body. They feed on fish and other aquatic animals.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Red-throated diver		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Black-throated diver		A – resident breeder and winter visitor
Pacific diver		A – rare vagrant
Great northern diver		A – winter visitor; has bred
White-billed diver		A – rare vagrant

Southern storm petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The southern storm petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on plankton and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. They nest in colonies on the ground, most often in burrows.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Wilson's storm petrel		A – rare vagrant, more regularly seen well offshore
White-faced storm petrel		A – rare vagrant

Albatrosses

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are among the largest flying birds, with long, narrow wings for gliding. The majority are found in the Southern Hemisphere with only vagrants occurring in the North Atlantic.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Black-browed albatross		A – rare vagrant
Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross		A – rare vagrant

Northern storm petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
The northern storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on plankton and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. They nest in colonies on the ground, most often in burrows.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Storm petrel		A – breeding summer visitor
Swinhoe's petrel		A – rare vagrant
Leach's petrel		A – breeding summer visitor
Madeiran petrel		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2021, with a geotagged bird from a Tenerife breeding colony entering UK waters about 285 km southwest of Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
These are highly pelagic birds with long, narrow wings and tube-shaped nostrils. They feed at sea on fish, squid and other marine life. They come to land to breed in colonies, nesting in burrows or on cliffs.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Fulmar		A – resident and migrant breeder, passage migrant
Soft-plumaged petrel		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2021
Zino's petrel		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2020
Black-capped petrel		B – rare vagrant
White-chinned petrel		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2020
Scopoli's shearwater		A – rare vagrant
Cory's shearwater		A – scarce migrant
Sooty shearwater		A – passage migrant
Great shearwater		A – passage migrant
Manx shearwater		A – breeding summer visitor
Yelkouan shearwater		A – rare vagrant
Balearic shearwater		A – passage migrant
Barolo shearwater		A – rare vagrant

Storks

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They fly with the neck extended.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Black stork		A – rare vagrant
White stork		A – scarce migrant, formerly bred. Birds from a reintroduced population bred at Knepp Wildland in 2020.

Frigatebirds

Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white, or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have red inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Ascension frigatebird		A – rare vagrant
Magnificent frigatebird		A – rare vagrant

Boobies and gannets

Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
Gannets are large seabirds that plunge-dive for fish and nest in large colonies. They have a torpedo-shaped body, long, narrow, pointed wings and a fairly long tail. There are ten species worldwide with three in Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Gannet		A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Red-footed booby		A – rare vagrant
Brown booby		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2019

Cormorants and shag

Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium to large aquatic birds with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin and sharply hooked for catching fish and aquatic invertebrates. They nest in colonies by water, usually by the sea or on the banks of rivers.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Cormorant		A – resident breeding species
Shag		A – resident breeding species
Double-crested cormorant		A – rare vagrant

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
A family of long-legged, long-necked wading birds. Ibises have long, curved bills. Spoonbills have a flattened bill, wider at the tip.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Glossy ibis		A – scarce migrant, formerly a rare vagrant; has bred
Spoonbill		A – scarce migrant, recently bred

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive. They all fly with their necks retracted. The sharp bill is used to catch fish, amphibians and other animals. Many species nest in colonies, often in trees. There are 64 species worldwide and 15 in Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Bittern		A – resident breeding species and winter migrant
American bittern		A – rare vagrant
Least bittern		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2022
Little bittern		A – scarce migrant, recently bred
Night-heron		A – scarce migrant, has bred
Green heron		A – rare vagrant
Squacco heron		A – rare vagrant
Chinese pond heron		A – rare vagrant
Cattle egret		A – scarce but increasing breeding resident
Grey heron		A – resident breeding species and winter migrant
Great blue heron		A – rare vagrant
Purple heron		A – scarce migrant, recently bred
Great white egret		A – resident breeding species, first bred 2012
Snowy egret		A – rare vagrant
Little egret		A – resident breeding species and passage migrant

Pelicans

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Dalmatian pelican		A – very rare migrant

Osprey

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
A large fish-eating bird of prey belonging to a family of its own. It is mainly brown above and white below with long, angled wings.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Osprey		A – breeding summer visitor

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
A family of birds of prey which includes hawks, buzzards, eagles, kites and harriers. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Black-winged Kite		A – rare vagrant; first recorded April 2023
Egyptian vulture		B – rare vagrant; last record 1868
Honey-buzzard		A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Short-toed eagle		A – rare vagrant
Spotted eagle		B – rare vagrant; last record 1915
Golden eagle		A – resident breeding species
Sparrowhawk		A – resident breeder and passage migrant
Goshawk		A & C – resident breeder and naturalised escapes
Marsh harrier		A – resident breeder and passage migrant
Hen harrier		A – resident breeder, winter visitor and passage migrant
Northern harrier		A – rare vagrant
Pallid harrier		A – rare vagrant
Montagu's harrier		A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Red kite		A & C – resident breeder and widespread introductions
Black kite		A – scarce migrant
White-tailed eagle		A & C – resident breeder; reintroduction projects underway and ongoing
Rough-legged buzzard		A – winter visitor
Buzzard		A – resident breeder and passage migrant

Barn owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Western barn owl		A – resident breeding species

Owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disc.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Tengmalm's owl		A – rare vagrant
Little owl		C – resident introduced population
Hawk owl		A – rare vagrant
Scops owl		A – rare vagrant
Long-eared owl		A – scarce resident breeding species
Short-eared owl		A – resident breeding species or winter visitor
Snowy owl		A – rare vagrant; has bred Shetland Islands
Tawny owl		A – resident breeding species

Hoopoe

Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae
A small family with a long curved bills, crests and black-and-white striped wings and tails.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Eurasian hoopoe		A – scarce summer visitor, occasional breeder

Rollers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae
A small family of colourful, medium-sized birds with a crow-like shape that feed mainly on insects.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
European roller		A – rare vagrant

Kingfishers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Kingfisher		A – resident breeding species
Belted kingfisher		A – rare vagrant

Bee-eaters

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Meropidae
A group of near-passerine birds characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail-feathers.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Blue-cheeked bee-eater		A – rare vagrant
Bee-eater		A – scarce summer visitor; occasional breeder

Woodpeckers

Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Wryneck		A – rare passage migrant; occasional breeder
Yellow-bellied sapsucker		A – rare vagrant
Lesser spotted woodpecker		A – resident breeding species
Great spotted woodpecker		A – resident breeding species
Green woodpecker		A – resident breeding species

Falcons and caracaras

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
A family of small to medium-sized, diurnal birds of prey with pointed wings. They do not build their own nests and mainly catch prey in the air.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Lesser kestrel		A – rare vagrant
Kestrel		A – resident breeding species
American kestrel		A – rare vagrant
Red-footed falcon		A – scarce migrant
Amur falcon		A – rare vagrant
Eleonora's falcon		A – rare vagrant
Merlin		A – resident breeding species
Hobby		A – breeding summer visitor
Gyr falcon		A – rare vagrant
Peregrine		A – resident breeding species

Parrots

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae
Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. They are found mainly in areas with warm climates.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Ring-necked parakeet		C – resident introduced population

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae
A large family from the Americas.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Eastern phoebe		A – rare vagrant
Yellow-bellied flycatcher		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2020
Acadian flycatcher		A – rare vagrant
Alder flycatcher		A – rare vagrant
Eastern kingbird		A – rare vagrant

Shrikes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Brown shrike		A – rare vagrant
Red-backed shrike		A – scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder
Daurian shrike		A – rare vagrant
Turkestan shrike		A – rare vagrant
Long-tailed shrike		A – rare vagrant
Lesser grey shrike		A – rare vagrant
Great grey shrike		A – scarce winter visitor
Woodchat shrike		A – scarce migrant
Masked shrike		A – rare vagrant

Vireos

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae
The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Yellow-throated vireo		A – rare vagrant
Philadelphia vireo		A – rare vagrant
Red-eyed vireo		A – rare vagrant

Old World orioles

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae
The orioles are medium-sized passerines, mostly with bright and showy plumage, the females often have duller plumage than the males The beak is long, slightly curved and hooked. Orioles are arboreal and tend to feed in the canopy. There are 36 species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in Great Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Golden oriole		A – scarce breeding summer visitor

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The crows and their relatives are fairly large birds with strong bills and are usually intelligent and adaptable.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Jay		A – resident breeding species
Magpie		A – resident breeding species
Nutcracker		A – rare vagrant
Chough		A – resident breeding species
Jackdaw		A – resident breeding species
Rook		A – resident breeding species
Carrion crow		A – resident breeding species
Hooded crow		A – resident breeding species
Raven		A – resident breeding species

Waxwings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterised by soft, silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Waxwing		A – winter visitor in highly variable numbers
Cedar waxwing		A – rare vagrant

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
Tits are mainly small, stocky, woodland species with short stout bills. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Coal tit		A – resident breeding species
Crested tit		A – resident breeding species
Marsh tit		A – resident breeding species
Willow tit		A – resident breeding species
Blue tit		A – resident breeding species
Great tit		A – resident breeding species

Penduline tits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae
Small birds with finely pointed bills that build purse-like nests hanging from a branch.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Penduline tit		A – rare vagrant

Bearded tit

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Panuridae
A single species formerly placed in the family Sylviidae.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Bearded tit		A – resident breeding species

Larks

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Woodlark		A – scarce resident breeding species and summer migrant
White-winged lark		A – rare vagrant
Skylark		A – resident breeding species
Crested lark		A – rare vagrant
Shore lark		A – scarce winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Short-toed lark		A – scarce migrant
Bimaculated lark		A – rare vagrant
Calandra lark		A – rare vagrant
Black lark		A – rare vagrant

Swallows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Sand martin		A – breeding summer visitor
Tree swallow		A – rare vagrant
Purple martin		A – rare vagrant
Crag martin		A – rare vagrant
Swallow		A – breeding summer visitor
House martin		A – breeding summer visitor
Red-rumped swallow		A – scarce migrant
American cliff swallow		A – rare vagrant

Bush warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cettiidae
A recently split family formerly placed in the Sylviidae family. There are 32 species worldwide, with one found in Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Cetti's warbler		A – recently colonised resident breeding species

Long-tailed tits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithalidae
Small, long-tailed birds that typically live in flocks for much of the year. There are 13 species worldwide with one in Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Long-tailed tit		A – resident breeding species

Leaf warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae
A recently split family of small insectivorous birds, formerly included within the Sylviidae. There are 81 species, with 16 in Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Wood warbler		A – breeding summer visitor
Western Bonelli's warbler		A – rare vagrant
Eastern Bonelli's warbler		A – rare vagrant
Hume's warbler		A – rare vagrant
Yellow-browed warbler		A – scarce migrant
Pallas's warbler		A – scarce migrant
Radde's warbler		A – scarce migrant
Sulphur-bellied warbler		A – rare vagrant; first reported 2021
Dusky warbler		A – scarce migrant
Willow warbler		A – breeding summer visitor
Chiffchaff		A – breeding summer visitor and passage and winter visitor
Iberian chiffchaff		A – rare vagrant, occasional breeder
Eastern crowned warbler		A – rare vagrant
Green warbler		A – rare vagrant
Two-barred greenish warbler		A – rare vagrant
Greenish warbler		A – scarce migrant
Pale-legged leaf warbler		A – rare vagrant
Arctic warbler		A – scarce migrant

Reed warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acrocephalidae
A small, insectivorous and vocal group of species, formerly included within the family Sylviidae.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Great reed warbler		A – rare vagrant; has bred
Aquatic warbler		A – formerly a scarce migrant, now a rare vagrant
Sedge warbler		A – breeding summer visitor
Paddyfield warbler		A – rare vagrant
Blyth's reed warbler		A – formerly a rare vagrant, now a scarce migrant
Reed warbler		A – breeding summer visitor
Marsh warbler		A – breeding summer visitor
Thick-billed warbler		A – rare vagrant
Booted warbler		A – rare vagrant
Sykes's warbler		A – rare vagrant
Eastern olivaceous warbler		A – rare vagrant
Western olivaceous warbler		A – rare vagrant; first recorded in October 2023
Olive-tree warbler		A – rare vagrant
Melodious warbler		A – scarce migrant
Icterine warbler		A – scarce migrant, occasional breeder

Grassbirds and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae
A recently split family, previously part of the family Sylviidae.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Pallas's grasshopper warbler		A – rare vagrant
Lanceolated warbler		A – rare vagrant
River warbler		A – rare vagrant
Savi's warbler		A – rare breeding summer visitor
Grasshopper warbler		A – breeding summer visitor

Cisticolas and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cisticolidae
A group of insectivorous species, previously included within the family Sylviidae.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Fan-tailed warbler		A – rare vagrant

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sylviidae
A group of small insectivorous birds.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Blackcap		A – resident breeding species and summer visitor
Garden warbler		A – breeding summer visitor
Barred warbler		A – passage migrant
Lesser whitethroat		A – breeding summer visitor
Western Orphean warbler		A – rare vagrant
Eastern Orphean warbler		A – rare vagrant
Asian desert warbler		A – rare vagrant
Rüppell's warbler		A – rare vagrant
Sardinian warbler		A – rare vagrant
Western subalpine warbler		A – rare vagrant
Moltoni's subalpine warbler		A – rare vagrant
Eastern subalpine warbler		A – rare vagrant
Whitethroat		A – breeding summer visitor
Spectacled warbler		A – rare vagrant
Marmora's warbler		A – rare vagrant
Dartford warbler		A – resident breeding species

Kinglets

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
A family of very small birds.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Ruby-crowned kinglet		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2020
Goldcrest		A – resident breeding species
Firecrest		A – scarce resident breeding species and passage migrant

Wrens

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Wren		A – resident breeding species

Nuthatches

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds with the unusual ability to climb down trees head-first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Red-breasted nuthatch		A – rare vagrant
Nuthatch		A – resident breeding species

Wallcreeper

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tichodromadidae
One species, in its own family, a rare visitor to Britain.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Wallcreeper		A – rare vagrant

Treecreepers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin, pointed, down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Treecreeper		A – resident breeding species
Short-toed treecreeper		A – rare vagrant

Mockingbirds and thrashers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Mimidae
Medium-sized passerine birds with long tails. Some are notable for their ability to mimic sounds such as other birds' songs.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Grey catbird		A – rare vagrant
Northern mockingbird		A – rare vagrant
Brown thrasher		A – rare vagrant

Starlings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Rose-coloured starling		A – rare vagrant
Starling		A – resident breeding species and winter visitor

Thrushes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Varied thrush		A – very rare vagrant
Wood thrush		A – rare vagrant
Swainson's thrush		A – rare vagrant
Hermit thrush		A – rare vagrant
Grey-cheeked thrush		A – rare vagrant
Veery		A – rare vagrant
White's thrush		A – rare vagrant
Siberian thrush		A – rare vagrant
Song thrush		A – resident breeding species
Mistle thrush		A – resident breeding species
Redwing		A – winter visitor, rare breeder; two subspecies:Turdus iliacus iliacus Turdus iliacus coburni
Blackbird		A – resident breeding species
Eyebrowed thrush		A – rare vagrant
Fieldfare		A – winter visitor, rare breeder
Ring ouzel		A – breeding summer visitor
Black-throated thrush		A – rare vagrant
Red-throated thrush		A – rare vagrant
Dusky thrush		A – rare vagrant
Naumann's thrush		A – rare vagrant
American robin		A – rare vagrant

Old World flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae. Subfamily: Muscicapinae
The flycatchers and chats are small, mainly insectivorous birds. The flycatchers fly out from a perch to catch insects in the air.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Rufous-tailed scrub robin		A – rare vagrant
Spotted flycatcher		A – breeding summer visitor
Asian brown flycatcher		A – rare vagrant
Robin		A – resident breeding species
Siberian blue robin		A – rare vagrant
Rufous-tailed robin		A – rare vagrant
Bluethroat		A – scarce migrant, occasional breeder; two subspecies: Red-spotted bluethroat Luscinia svecica svecica White-spotteed bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula
Thrush nightingale		A – rare vagrant
Nightingale		A – breeding summer visitor
White-throated robin		A – rare vagrant
Siberian rubythroat		A – rare vagrant
Red-flanked bluetail		A – scarce migrant, formerly a rare vagrant
Taiga flycatcher		A – rare vagrant
Red-breasted flycatcher		A – scarce migrant
Pied flycatcher		A – breeding summer visitor
Collared flycatcher		A – rare vagrant
Black redstart		A – scarce breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor
Redstart		A – breeding summer visitor
Moussier's redstart		A – rare vagrant
Rock thrush		A – rare vagrant
Blue rock thrush		A – rare vagrant
Whinchat		A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Stonechat		A – resident breeding species
Siberian stonechat		A – rare vagrant
Stejneger's stonechat		A – rare vagrant
Wheatear		A – breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Isabelline wheatear		A – rare vagrant
Desert wheatear		A – rare vagrant
Western black-eared wheatear		A – rare vagrant
Eastern black-eared wheatear		A – rare vagrant
Pied wheatear		A – rare vagrant
White-crowned black wheatear		A – rare vagrant

Dippers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae
Dark, dumpy, aquatic birds which are able to forage for food on the beds of rivers.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Dipper		A – resident breeding species

Old World sparrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Sparrows tend to be small, plump, brownish or greyish birds with short tails and short, powerful beaks. They are seed-eaters and they also consume small insects.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Rock sparrow		A – rare vagrant
Tree sparrow		A – resident breeding species
Spanish sparrow		A – rare vagrant
House sparrow		A – resident breeding species

Accentors

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae
A small family of drab, unobtrusive, insectivorous birds with thin, pointed bills.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Alpine accentor		A – rare vagrant
Siberian accentor		A – rare vagrant with multiple records in 2016
Dunnock		A – resident breeding species

Wagtails and pipits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They are slender, ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Yellow wagtail		Six subspecies: Yellow wagtail M. f. flavissima Blue-headed wagtail M. f. flava Iberian yellow wagtail M. f. iberiae Italian yellow wagtail M. f. cinereocapilla Black-headed wagtail M. f. feldegg Scandinavian yellow wagtail M. f. thunbergi
Eastern yellow wagtail		A – rare vagrant
Citrine wagtail		A – scarce migrant, formerly a rare vagrant
Grey wagtail		A – resident breeding species
Pied wagtail		A – resident breeding species with three additional visiting subspeciesM. a. yarrelli, pied wagtail M. a. alba M. a. personata M. a. leucopsis, Amur wagtail
Richard's pipit		A – scarce migrant
Blyth's pipit		A – rare vagrant
Tawny pipit		A – rare vagrant, formerly a scarce migrant
Meadow pipit		A – resident breeding species
Tree pipit		A – breeding summer visitor
Olive-backed pipit		A – rare vagrant
Pechora pipit		A – rare vagrant
Red-throated pipit		A – rare vagrant, formerly a scarce migrant
Buff-bellied pipit		A – rare vagrant
Water pipit		A – winter visitor
Rock pipit		A – resident breeding species

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Seed-eating passerine birds that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Chaffinch		A – resident breeding species
Brambling		A – winter visitor, occasional breeder
Evening grosbeak		A – rare vagrant
Hawfinch		A – scarce resident breeding species
Pine grosbeak		A – rare vagrant
Bullfinch		A – resident breeding species
Trumpeter finch		A – rare vagrant
Common rosefinch		A – scarce migrant, occasional breeder
Greenfinch		A – resident breeding species
Twite		A – resident breeding species
Linnet		A – resident breeding species
Common redpoll		A – winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional breeder
Lesser redpoll		A – resident breeding species
Arctic redpoll		A – rare vagrant, formerly a scarce migrant
Parrot crossbill		A – resident breeding species
Scottish crossbill		A – resident endemic breeding species
Crossbill		A – resident breeding species
Two-barred crossbill		A – rare vagrant
Goldfinch		A – resident breeding species
Citril finch		A – rare vagrant
Serin		A – scarce passage migrant, occasional breeder
Siskin		A – resident breeding species and winter visitor

Longspurs and arctic buntings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae
A small family of migratory seed eating birds.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Lapland bunting		A – winter visitor, occasional breeder
Snow bunting		A – winter visitor and scarce breeder

Old World buntings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae.
A large group of seed-eating passerine birds with a distinctively shaped bill.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Corn bunting		A – resident breeding species
Yellowhammer		A – resident breeding species
Pine bunting		A – rare vagrant
Rock bunting		A – rare vagrant
Ortolan bunting		A – scarce migrant
Cretzschmar's bunting		A – rare vagrant
Cirl bunting		A – resident breeding species
Chestnut-eared bunting		A – rare vagrant
Little bunting		A – scarce migrant
Yellow-browed bunting		A – rare vagrant
Rustic bunting		A – rare vagrant, formerly a scarce migrant
Yellow-breasted bunting		A – rare vagrant
Chestnut bunting		A – rare vagrant
Black-headed bunting		A – rare vagrant
Red-headed bunting		A – rare vagrant
Black-faced bunting		A – rare vagrant
Pallas's reed bunting		A – rare vagrant
Reed bunting		A – resident breeding species

New World sparrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passerellidae.
A seed eating group of species, recently split from the family Emberizidae.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Lark sparrow		A – rare vagrant
Dark-eyed junco		A – rare vagrant
White-crowned sparrow		A – rare vagrant
White-throated sparrow		A – rare vagrant
Savannah sparrow		A – rare vagrant
Song sparrow		A – rare vagrant
Eastern towhee		A – rare vagrant

Troupials and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae.
The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Bobolink		A – rare vagrant
Baltimore oriole		A – rare vagrant
Red-winged blackbird		A – rare vagrant
Brown-headed cowbird		A – rare vagrant

New World warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae
A group of small, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal and insectivorous.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Ovenbird		A – rare vagrant
Northern waterthrush		A – rare vagrant
Golden-winged warbler		A – rare vagrant
Black-and-white warbler		A – rare vagrant
Tennessee warbler		A – rare vagrant
Common yellowthroat		A – rare vagrant
Hooded warbler		A – rare vagrant
American redstart		A – rare vagrant
Cape May warbler		A – rare vagrant
Northern parula		A – rare vagrant
Magnolia warbler		A – rare vagrant
Bay-breasted warbler		A – rare vagrant
Blackburnian warbler		A – rare vagrant
Yellow warbler		A – rare vagrant
Chestnut-sided warbler		A – rare vagrant
Blackpoll warbler		A – rare vagrant
Yellow-rumped warbler		A – rare vagrant
Canada warbler		A – rare vagrant, one record
Wilson's warbler		A – rare vagrant

Cardinals and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cardinalidae
The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Summer tanager		A – rare vagrant
Scarlet tanager		A – rare vagrant
Rose-breasted grosbeak		A – rare vagrant
Indigo bunting		A – rare vagrant

The links above lead to family accounts and individual species. Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so other arrangements may be found, as in Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy.

Species awaiting acceptance

The following species have been recorded recently and the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee has not yet made a decision on whether to accept them onto the British List.

Common and binomial names	Image	Status
Fea's petrel		A – rare vagrant, previously accepted onto the British list as Fea's petrel but since split into three distinct species
Grey-headed lapwing		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2023
Canada warbler		A – rare vagrant; first recorded 2023