Class Aves – Birds

Birds alway delight us in sight and sound. The sheer variety of birds in Great Britain is quite astounding. There are around 570 species, and wherever we live we can enjoy seeing them soaring aloft in flight, floating and bobbing on the water, perched in trees, or simply feeding in our own back gardens. Bird song can be the most beautiful of music, gladdening the heart and lifting the spirit.

Species are arranged in their respective families below.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Podicipedidae
Grebes
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) male and female
Anatidae
Ducks, geese & swans
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus male
Phasianidae
Pheasants & partridges
Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Scolopacidae
Sandpipers
Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Psittaculidae
Parrots
Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Hirundinidae
Swallows & martins
Robin Erithacus rubecula
Muscicapidae
Old world flycatchers
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) juvenile
Aegithalidae
Long-tailed tits
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Corvidae
Crows
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Sturnidae
Starlings
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female
Accipitridae
Hawks & eagles
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Rallidae
Rails
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Charadriidae
Plovers & lapwings
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia
Columbidae
Pigeons & doves
Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus)
Motacillidae
Wagtails & pipits
Blackbird (Turdus merula) male
Turdidae
Thrushes
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Sittidae
Nuthatches
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Passeridae
Sparrows
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Ardeidae
Herons
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Falconidae
Falcons
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Haematopodidae
Oystercatchers
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Laridae
Gulls
Picidae
Woodpeckers
Dunnock
Prunellidae
Accentors
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Paridae
Tits
Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
Certhidae
Treecreepers
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Fringillidae
Finches