List of birds of Great Britain

The list of British birds comprises all those bird species which have occurred in a wild state in Great Britain. In general the avifauna of Britain is, of course, similar to that of Europe, although with fewer breeding species. There are 580 species of birds on the British list as of 16 July, 2008, with the latest addition Great Blue Heron ("Ardea herodias"). The species order and scientific names used here follow that of the [http://www.bou.org.uk/recbrlst.html Official British List] , maintained by the [http://www.bou.org.uk British Ornithologists' Union] (BOU). In a few cases, the English names used here differ from those adopted by the BOU, to reflect names in more widespread use among the British birding public.

Decisions relating to the British List are published by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) in its annual reports in "Ibis", the journal of the BOU, and decisions relating to Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man are summarised in these reports.

The BOU uses the following categories for British bird species:
*A Species which have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since January 1, 1950.
*B Species which were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once up to December 31, 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.
*C Species that, although originally introduced by man, either deliberately or accidentally, have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, that maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.
** Categories A, B and C constitute the Official British List.
*** Note that birds can be listed in more than one category, e.g. Canada Goose, with a small number of naturally occurring birds (A), and also many introduced birds (C).

*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 (if any) are thought not to be self sustaining.
** Birds in Categories D and E are NOT on the Official British List (and are not included here).

Species listed as rare here are those for which records are assessed by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC); claims of these species are not accepted unless documented by adequate field descriptions.

The British List has always been geographically rather than politically based. It was for most of its existence a British and Irish list, but is now simply the official list of birds of Great Britain as determined by the British Ornithologists' Union.

Birds records for Northern Ireland are kept by the Northern Ireland Birdwatchers’ Association and the Manx Ornithological Society (MOS) has responsibility for Isle of Man (which is not a legislative part of the UK).

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 Oystercatcher, which are resident in this island, but migrants elsewhere. Also because of its position, 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. These include Ring-billed Gull, Surf Scoter and Pectoral Sandpiper; 150 of the latter species were found in Britain in the record month of September 2003, with a further 40 in Ireland.

List of British birds

Anseriformes

* Anatidae: swans, geese and ducks
** Mute Swan - "Cygnus olor" A & C
** Tundra Swan - "Cygnus columbianus" A
** Whooper Swan - "Cygnus cygnus" A
** Bean Goose - "Anser fabalis" A
** Pink-footed Goose - "Anser brachyrhynchus" A
** White-fronted Goose - "Anser albifrons" A
** Lesser White-fronted Goose - "Anser erythropus" A rare
** Greylag Goose - "Anser anser" A & C
** Snow Goose - "Anser caerulescens" A most records are presumed escapes from captivity
** Canada Goose - "Branta canadensis" A & C
** Barnacle Goose - "Branta leucopsis" A
** Brent Goose - "Branta bernicla" A
** Red-breasted Goose - "Branta ruficollis" A rare
** Egyptian Goose - "Alopochen aegyptiaca" C
** Ruddy Shelduck - "Tadorna ferruginea" B & C many records are presumed escapes from captivity
** Common Shelduck - "Tadorna tadorna" A
** Mandarin Duck - "Aix galericulata" C
** Wigeon - "Anas penelope" A
** American Wigeon - "Anas americana" A rare
** Gadwall - "Anas strepera" A & C
** Common Teal - "Anas crecca" A
** Green-winged Teal - "Anas carolinensis" A
** Mallard - "Anas platyrhynchos" A & C
** American Black Duck - "Anas rubripes" A rare
** Northern Pintail - "Anas acuta" A
** Garganey - "Anas querquedula" A
** Blue-winged Teal - "Anas discors" A rare
** Northern Shoveler - "Anas clypeata" A
** Red-crested Pochard - "Netta rufina" A & C
** Common Pochard - "Aythya ferina" A
** Redhead - "Aythya americana" A rare
** Canvasback - "Aythya valisineria" A rare
** Ring-necked Duck - "Aythya collaris" A
** Ferruginous Duck - "Aythya nyroca" A rare many records are presumed escapes from captivity
** Tufted Duck - "Aythya fuligula" A
** Greater Scaup - "Aythya marila" A
** Lesser Scaup - "Aythya affinis" A rare
** Common Eider - "Somateria mollissima" A
** King Eider - "Somateria spectabilis" A rare
** Steller's Eider - "Polysticta stelleri" A rare
** Harlequin Duck - "Histrionicus histrionicus" A rare
** Long-tailed Duck - "Clangula hyemalis" A
** Common Scoter - "Melanitta nigra" A
** Black Scoter - "Melanitta americana" A rare
** Surf Scoter - "Melanitta perspicillata" A
** Velvet Scoter - "Melanitta fusca" A
** Bufflehead - "Bucephala albeola" A rare most records are presumed escapes from captivity
** Barrow's Goldeneye - "Bucephala islandica" A rare most records are presumed escapes from captivity
** Common Goldeneye - "Bucephala clangula" A
** Smew - "Mergellus albellus" A
** Hooded Merganser - "Lophodytes cucullatus" A rare most records are presumed escapes from captivity
** Red-breasted Merganser - "Mergus serrator" A
** Goosander - "Mergus merganser" A
** Ruddy Duck - "Oxyura jamaicensis" C introduced species currently subject to an eradication programme

Galliformes

* Tetraonidae: grouse
** Red Grouse - "Lagopus lagopus scotica" A
** Ptarmigan - "Lagopus muta" A
** Eurasian Black Grouse - "Tetrao tetrix" A
** Capercaillie - "Tetrao urogallus" B & C reintroduced
* Phasianidae: partridges, pheasants and quails
** Red-legged Partridge - "Alectoris rufa" C
** Grey Partridge - "Perdix perdix" A & C
** Common Quail - "Coturnix coturnix" A
** Common Pheasant - "Phasianus colchicus" C
** Golden Pheasant - "Chrysolophus pictus" C
** Lady Amherst's Pheasant - "Chrysolophus amherstiae" C

Gaviiformes

* Gaviidae: divers
** Red-throated Diver - "Gavia stellata" A
** Black-throated Diver - "Gavia arctica" A
** Great Northern Diver - "Gavia immer" A
** White-billed Diver - "Gavia adamsii" A rare

Podicipediformes

* Podicepidae: grebes
** Pied-billed Grebe - "Podilymbus podiceps" A rare
** Little Grebe - "Tachybaptus ruficollis" A
** Great Crested Grebe - "Podiceps cristatus" A
** Red-necked Grebe - "Podiceps grisegena" A
** Slavonian Grebe - "Podiceps auritus" A
** Black-necked Grebe - "Podiceps nigricollis" A

Procellariiformes

* Diomedeidae: albatrosses
** Black-browed Albatross "Thalassarche melanophris" A rare
* Procellariidae: fulmar, shearwaters, gadfly and other petrels
** Northern Fulmar - "Fulmarus glacialis" A
** Fea's Petrel - "Pterodroma feae" A rare
** Capped Petrel - "Pterodroma hasitata" B rare
** Cory's Shearwater - "Calonectis diomedea" A
** Great Shearwater - "Puffinus gravis " A
** Sooty Shearwater - "Puffinus griseus " A
** Manx Shearwater - "Puffinus puffinus " A
** Balearic Shearwater - "Puffinus mauretanicus" A
** North Atlantic Little Shearwater - "Puffinus baroli" A rare
* Hydrobatidae: storm petrels
** Wilson's Petrel - "Oceanites oceanicus" A rare (though more regular well offshore)
** White-faced Petrel - "Pelagodroma marina" B rare
** Storm Petrel - "Hydrobates pelagicus" A
** Leach's Petrel - "Oceanodroma leucorhea" A
** Swinhoe's Petrel - "Oceanodroma monorhis" A rare
** Madeiran Petrel - "Oceanodroma castro" B rare

Pelecaniformes

* Sulidae: gannets
** Gannet - "Morus bassanus" A
* Phalacrocoracidae: cormorants
** Cormorant - "Phalacrocorax carbo" A
** Double-crested Cormorant, "Phalacrocorax auritus" A rare
** Common Shag - "Phalacrocorax aristotelis" A
* Fregatidae: frigatebirds
** Ascension Frigatebird - "Fregata aquila" A rare
** Magnificent Frigatebird - "Fregata magnificens" A rare
* Phaethontidae: tropicbirds
** Red-billed Tropicbird - "Phaeton aetherius" A rare

Ciconiiformes

* Ardeidae: herons and bitterns
** Bittern - "Botaurus stellata" A
** American Bittern - "Botaurus lentiginosa" A rare
** Little Bittern - "Ixobrychus minutus" A rare
** Night Heron - "Nycticorax nycticorax" A rare
** Green Heron - "Butorides virescens" A rare
** Squacco Heron - "Ardeola ralloides" A rare
** Cattle Egret - "Bubulcus ibis" A rare
** Little Egret - "Egretta garzetta" A
** Snowy Egret - "Egretta thula" A rare
** Great White Egret - "Ardea alba" A rare
** Grey Heron - "Ardea cinerea" A
** Great Blue Heron - "Ardea herodias" A rare
** Purple Heron - "Ardea purpurea" A
* Ciconiidae: storks (rare)
** Black Stork - "Ciconia nigra" A rare
** White Stork - "Ciconia ciconia" A
* Threskiornithidae: ibises and spoonbills
** Glossy Ibis - "Plegadis falcinellus" A rare
** Common Spoonbill - "Platalea leucorodia" A

Accipitriformes

Some classifications also include the Falconidae.

* Pandionidae: Osprey
** Osprey - "Pandion haliaetus" A
* Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and allies
** European Honey Buzzard - "Pernis apivorus" A
** Black Kite - "Milvus migrans" A rare
** Red Kite - "Milvus milvus" A & C
** White-tailed Eagle - "Haliaeetus albicilla" A & C
** Egyptian Vulture - "Neophron percnopterus" B
** Short-toed Eagle - "Circaetus gallicus" A rare
** Marsh Harrier - "Circus aeruginosus" A
** Hen Harrier - "Circus cyaneus" A
** Pallid Harrier - "Circus macrourus" A rare
** Montagu's Harrier - "Circus pygargus" A
** Goshawk - "Accipiter gentilis" A & C
** Eurasian Sparrowhawk - "Accipiter nisus" A
** Common Buzzard - "Buteo buteo" A
** Rough-legged Buzzard - "Buteo lagopus" A
** Greater Spotted Eagle - "Aquila clanga" B
** Golden Eagle - "Aquila chrysaetos" A

Falconiformes

Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes

* Falconidae: falcons
** Lesser Kestrel - "Falco naumanni" A rare
** Common Kestrel - "Falco tinnunculus" A
** American Kestrel - "Falco sparverius" A rare
** Red-footed Falcon - "Falco vespertinus" A rare
** Merlin - "Falco columbarius" A
** Eurasian Hobby - "Falco subbuteo" A
** Eleonora's Falcon - "Falco eleonorae" A rare
** Gyr Falcon - "Falco rusticolus" A rare
** Peregrine Falcon - "Falco peregrinus" A

Gruiformes

* Rallidae: rails and crakes
** Water Rail - "Rallus aquaticus" A
** Spotted Crake - "Porzana porzana" A
** Sora - "Porzana carolina" A rare
** Little Crake - "Porzana parva" A rare
** Baillon's Crake - "Porzana pusilla" A rare
** Corn Crake - "Crex crex" A
** Common Moorhen - "Gallinula chloropus" A
** Allen's Gallinule - "Porphyrio alleni" A rare
** American Purple Gallinule - "Porphyrio martinica" A rare
** Coot - "Fulica atra" A
** American Coot - "Fulica americana" A rare
* Gruidae: cranes
** Common Crane - "Grus grus" A
** Sandhill Crane - "Grus americana" A rare
* Otidae: bustards
** Little Bustard - "Tetrax tetrax" A rare
** Macqueen's Bustard - "Chlamydotis macqueenii" B rare
** Great Bustard - "Otis tarda" A rare

Charadriiformes

uborder Charadrii: waders

* Haematopodidae: oystercatchers
** Common Pied Oystercatcher - "Haematopus ostralegus" A
* Recurvirostridae: avocets and stilts
** Black-winged Stilt - "Himantopus himantopus" A rare
** Avocet - "Recurvirostra avosetta" A
* Burhinidae: thick-knees
** Stone Curlew - "Burhinus oedicnemus" A
* Glareolidae: coursers and pratincoles
** Cream-coloured Courser - "Cursorius cursor" A rare rare
** Collared Pratincole - "Glareola pratincola" A rare
** Oriental Pratincole - "Glareola maldivarum" A rare
** Black-winged Pratincole - "Glareola nordmanni" A rare
* Charadriidae: plovers and lapwings
** Little Ringed Plover - "Charadrius dubius" A
** Ringed Plover - "Charadrius hiaticula" A
** Semipalmated Plover - "Charadrius semipalmatus" A rare
** Killdeer - "Charadrius vociferus" A rare
** Kentish Plover - "Charadrius alexandrinus" A
** Lesser Sand Plover - "Charadrius mongolus" A rare
** Greater Sand Plover - "Charadrius leschenaultii" A rare
** Caspian Plover - "Charadrius asiaticus" A rare
** Eurasian Dotterel - "Charadrius morinellus" A
** American Golden Plover - "Pluvialis dominica" A rare
** Pacific Golden Plover - "Pluvialis fulva" A rare
** Golden Plover - "Pluvialis apricaria" A
** Grey Plover - "Pluvialis squatarola" A
** Sociable Lapwing - "Vanellus gregarius" A rare
** White-tailed Lapwing - "Vanellus leucurus" A rare
** Lapwing - "Vanellus vanellus" A
* Scolopacidae: typical waders or shorebirds
** Great Knot - "Calidris tenuirostris" A rare
** Red Knot - "Calidris canutus" A
** Sanderling - "Calidris alba" A
** Semipalmated Sandpiper - "Calidris pusilla" A rare
** Western Sandpiper - "Calidris mauri" A rare
** Red-necked Stint - "Calidris ruficollis" A rare
** Little Stint - "Calidris minuta" A
** Temminck's Stint - "Calidris temminckii" A
** Long-toed Stint - "Calidris subminuta" A rare
** Least Sandpiper - "Calidris minutilla" A rare
** White-rumped Sandpiper - "Calidris fuscicollis" A rare
** Baird's Sandpiper - "Calidris bairdii" A rare
** Pectoral Sandpiper - "Calidris melanotos" A
** Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - "Calidris acuminata" A rare
** Curlew Sandpiper - "Calidris ferruginea" A
** Stilt Sandpiper - "Calidris himantopus" A rare
** Purple Sandpiper - "Calidris maritima" A
** Dunlin - "Calidris alpina" A
** Broad-billed Sandpiper - "Limicola falcinellus" A rare
** Buff-breasted Sandpiper - "Tryngites subruficollis" A
** Ruff - "Philomachus pugnax" A
** Jack Snipe - "Lymnocryptes minimus" A
** Common Snipe - "Gallinago gallinago" A
** Great Snipe - "Gallinago media" A rare
** Short-billed Dowitcher - "Limnodromus griseus" A rare
** Long-billed Dowitcher - "Limnodromus scolopaceus" A rare
** Woodcock - "Scolopax rusticola" A
** Black-tailed Godwit - "Limosa limosa" A
** Hudsonian Godwit - "Limosa haemastica" A rare
** Bar-tailed Godwit - "Limosa lapponica" A
** Little Curlew - "Numenius minutus" A rare
** Eskimo Curlew - "Numenius borealis" B extinct
** Whimbrel - "Numenius phaeopus" A
** Slender-billed Curlew - "Numenius tenuirostris" A rare
** Curlew - "Numenius arquata" A
** Upland Sandpiper - "Bartramia longicauda" A rare
** Spotted Redshank - "Tringa erythropus" A
** Common Redshank - "Tringa totanus" A
** Marsh Sandpiper - "Tringa stagnatilis" A rare
** Common Greenshank - "Tringa nebularia" A
** Greater Yellowlegs - "Tringa melanoleuca" A rare
** Lesser Yellowlegs - "Tringa flavipes" A rare
** Solitary Sandpiper - "Tringa solitaria" A rare
** Green Sandpiper - "Tringa ochropus" A
** Wood Sandpiper - "Tringa glareola" A
** Terek Sandpiper - "Xenus cinereus" A rare
** Common Sandpiper - "Actitis hypoleucos" A
** Spotted Sandpiper - "Actitis macularius" A rare
** Grey-tailed Tattler - "Heterosceles brevipes" A rare
** Turnstone - "Arenaria interpres" A
** Wilson's Phalarope - "Phalaropus tricolor" A rare
** Red-necked Phalarope - "Phalaropus lobatus" A
** Grey Phalarope - "Phalaropus fulicaria" A

uborder Lari: skuas, gulls & terns

* Stercorariidae: skuas
** Pomarine Skua - "Stercorarius pomarinus" A
** Arctic Skua - "Stercorarius parasiticus" A
** Long-tailed Skua - "Stercorarius longicaudus" A
** Great Skua - "Stercorarius skua" A
* Laridae: gulls
** Great Black-headed Gull - "Larus ichthyaetus" B rare
** Mediterranean Gull - "Larus melanocephalus" A
** Laughing Gull - "Larus atricilla" A rare
** Franklin's Gull - "Larus pipixcan" A rare
** Little Gull - "Larus minutus" A
** Sabine's Gull - "Larus sabini" A
** Bonaparte's Gull - "Larus philadelphia" A rare
** Black-headed Gull - "Larus ridibundus" A
** Slender-billed Gull - "Larus genei" A rare
** Audouin's Gull - "Larus audouinii" A rare
** Ring-billed Gull - "Larus delawarensis" A
** Common Gull - "Larus canus" A
** Lesser Black-backed Gull - "Larus fuscus" A
** Yellow-legged Gull - "Larus michahellis" A
** Herring Gull - "Larus argentatus" A
** Caspian Gull - "Larus cachinnans" A
** American Herring Gull - "Larus smithsonianus" A rare
** Iceland Gull - "Larus glaucoides" A
** Glaucous Gull - "Larus hyperboreus" A
** Great Black-backed Gull - "Larus marinus" A
** Ross's Gull - "Rhodostethia rosea" A rare
** Black-legged Kittiwake - "Rissa tridactyla" A
** Ivory Gull - "Pagophila eburnea" A rare
* Sternidae: terns
** Gull-billed Tern - "Gelochelidon nilotica" A rare
** Caspian Tern - "Hydroprogne caspia" A rare
** Royal Tern - "Sterna maximus" A rare
** Lesser Crested Tern - "Sterna bengalensis" A rare
** Sandwich Tern - "Sterna sandvicensis" A
** Roseate Tern - "Sterna dougallii" A
** Common Tern - "Sterna hirundo" A
** Arctic Tern - "Sterna paradisaea" A
** Forster's Tern - "Sterna forsteri" A rare
** Aleutian Tern - "Onychoprion aleutica" A rare
** Bridled Tern - "Onychoprion anaethetus" A rare
** Sooty Tern - "Onychoprion fuscata" A rare
** Little Tern - "Sternula albifrons" A
** Whiskered Tern - "Chlidonias hybridus" A rare
** Black Tern - "Chlidonias niger" A
** White-winged Tern - "Chlidonias leucopterus" A rare

uborder Alcae: auks

* Alcidae: auks
** Common Guillemot - "Uria aalge" A
** Brunnich's Guillemot - "Uria lomvia" A rare
** Razorbill - "Alca torda" A
** Great Auk - "Pinguinus impennis" B extinct
** Black Guillemot - "Cepphus grylle" A
** Long-billed Murrelet - "Brachyramphus perdix" A rare
** Ancient Murrelet - "Synthliboramphus antiquus" A rare
** Little Auk - "Alle alle" A
** Atlantic Puffin - "Fratercula arctica" A

Pterocliformes

* Pteroclidae: sandgrouse
** Pallas's Sandgrouse - "Syrrhaptes paradoxus" A rare

Columbiformes

* Columbidae: pigeons and doves
** Rock Pigeon or Feral Pigeon - "Columba livia" A & C
** Stock Pigeon - "Columba oenas" A
** Wood Pigeon - "Columba palumbus" A
** Collared Dove - "Streptopelia decaocto" A
** Turtle Dove - "Streptopelia turtur" A
** Oriental Turtle Dove - "Streptopelia orientalis" A rare
** Mourning Dove - "Zenaida macroura A rare"'

Psittaciformes

* Psittacidae: parrots
** Ring-necked Parakeet - "Psittacula krameri" C

Cuculiformes

* Cuculidae: cuckoos
** Great Spotted Cuckoo - "Clamator glandarius" A rare
** Common Cuckoo - "Cuculus canorus" A
** Black-billed Cuckoo - "Coccyzus erythropthalmus" A rare
** Yellow-billed Cuckoo - "Coccyzus americanus" A rare

Strigiformes

* Tytonidae: barn owls
** Barn Owl - "Tyto alba" A
* Strigidae: owls
** Scops Owl - "Otus scops" A rare
** Snowy Owl - "Bubo scandiacus" A rare
** Northern Hawk Owl - "Surnia ulula" A rare
** Little Owl - "Athene noctua" C
** Tawny Owl - "Strix aluco" A
** Long-eared Owl - "Asio otus" A
** Short-eared Owl - "Asio flammeus" A
** Tengmalm's Owl - "Aegolius funereus" A rare

Caprimulgiformes

* Caprimulgidae: nightjars
** European Nightjar - "Caprimulgus europaeus" A
** Red-necked Nightjar - "Caprimulgus ruficollis" A rare
** Egyptian Nightjar - "Caprimulgus aegyptius" A rare
** Common Nighthawk - "Chordeiles minor" A rare

Apodiformes

* Apodidae: swifts
** Chimney Swift - "Chaetura pelagica" A rare
** Needle-tailed Swift - "Hirundapus caudacutus" A rare
** Common Swift - "Apus apus" A
** Pallid Swift - "Apus pallidus" A rare
** Pacific Swift - "Apus pacificus" A rare
** Alpine Swift - "Apus melba" A rare
** Little Swift - "Apus affinis" A rare

Coraciiformes

* Alcedinidae: kingfishers

** Common Kingfisher - "Alcedo atthis" A
** Belted Kingfisher - "Ceryle alcyon" A rare
* Meropidae: bee-eaters
** Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - "Merops persicus" A rare
** European Bee-eater - "Merops apiaster" A
* Coraciidae: rollers
** European Roller - "Coracias garrulus" A rare
* Upupidae: Hoopoes
** Hoopoe - "Upupa epops" A

Piciformes

* Picidae: woodpeckers
** Eurasian Wryneck - "Jynx torquilla" A
** Green Woodpecker - "Picus viridis" A
** Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - "Sphyrapicus varius" A rare
** Great Spotted Woodpecker - "Dendrocopos major" A
** Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - "Dendrocopos minor" A

Passeriformes

* Tyrannidae, Tyrant flycatchers
** Eastern Phoebe, "Sayornis phoebe", very rare US vagrant

* Alaudidae, larks
** Calandra Lark, "Melanocorypha calandra", very rare vagrant
** Bimaculated Lark, "Melanocorypha bimaculata", very rare vagrant
** White-winged Lark, "Melanocorypha leucoptera", very rare vagrant
** Black Lark, "Melanocorypha yeltoniensis", very rare vagrant
** Greater Short-toed Lark, "Calandrella brachydactyla" vagrant
** Lesser Short-toed Lark, "Calandrella rufescens", very rare vagrant
** Crested Lark, "Galerida cristata" vagrant
** Wood Lark, "Lullula arborea"
** Skylark, "Alauda arvensis"
** Shore Lark, "Eremophila alpestris"

* Hirundinidae, swallows and martins
** Tree Swallow, "Tachycineta bicolor", very rare vagrant
** Sand Martin, "Riparia riparia"
** Crag Martin, "Ptyonoprogne rupestris", very rare vagrant
** Purple Martin, "Progne subis", very rare vagrant
** Barn Swallow, "Hirundo rustica"
** Red-rumped Swallow, "Hirundo daurica", rare vagrant
** Cliff Swallow, "Hirundo pyrrhonota", very rare vagrant
** House Martin, "Delichon urbicum"

* Motacillidae, wagtails and pipits
** Citrine Wagtail, " Motacilla citreola", rare
** White Wagtail, " Motacilla alba". Two races
*** " M. a. alba" (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)
*** " M. a. yarrelli", Pied Wagtail (subspecies breeding in Britain)
** Grey Wagtail, " Motacilla cinerea"
** Blue-headed Wagtail, "Motacilla flava"
*** Blue-headed Wagtail "M. f. flava" (nominate subspecies occurring as a migrant)
*** Yellow Wagtail "M. f. flavissima" (subspecies breeding in Britain)
** Richard's Pipit, "Anthus richardi", vagrant
** Tawny Pipit, "Anthus campestris", rare vagrant
** Blyth's Pipit, "Anthus godlewskii", very rare vagrant
** Tree Pipit, "Anthus trivialis"
** Olive-backed Pipit, "Anthus hodgsoni", rare vagrant
** Pechora Pipit, "Anthus gustavi", rare vagrant
** Meadow Pipit, "Anthus pratensis"
** Red-throated Pipit, "Anthus cervinus", rare vagrant
** Water Pipit, "Anthus spinoletta"
** Rock Pipit, "Anthus petrosus"
** Buff-bellied Pipit, "Anthus rubescens", very rare vagrant

* Bombycillidae, waxwings
** Bohemian Waxwing, "Bombycilla garrulus"
** Cedar Waxwing, "Bombycilla cedrorum", very rare vagrant

* Cinclidae, dippers
** European Dipper, "Cinclus cinclus"

* Troglodytidae, wrens
** Wren, "Troglodytes troglodytes"

* Mimidae, mockingbirds
** Northern Mockingbird, "Mimus polyglottos", very rare vagrant
** Brown Thrasher, "Toxostoma rufum", one record
** Gray Catbird, "Dumetella carolinensis", one record

* Prunellidae, accentors
** Dunnock, "Prunella modularis "
** Alpine Accentor, "Prunella collaris", rare vagrant

* Turdidae thrushes and chats
** Blackbird, "Turdus merula"
** Ring Ouzel, "Turdus torquatus"
** Eyebrowed Thrush, "Turdus obscurus", rare vagrant
** Dark-throated Thrush, "Turdus atrogularis"
*** Black-throated Thrush, "T. a. atrogularis", rare vagrant (nominate subspecies)
*** Red-throated Thrush, "T.a. ruficollis", very rare vagrant (subspecies)
** Dusky Thrush, "Turdus naumanni"
*** Naumann's Thrush, "T. n. naumanni", very rare vagrant (nominate subspecies)
*** Dusky Thrush, "T. n. eunomus", rare vagrant (subspecies)
** Fieldfare, "Turdus pilaris"
** Redwing, "Turdus iliacus"
** Song Thrush, "Turdus philomelos"
** Mistle Thrush, "Turdus viscivorus"
** American Robin, "Turdus migratorius", very rare vagrant
** Siberian Thrush, "Zoothera sibirica", very rare vagrant
** White's Thrush or Scaly Thrush, "Zoothera dauma", rare vagrant
** Varied Thrush, "Zoothera naevia", one record
** Veery, "Catharus fuscescens", very rare vagrant
** Gray-cheeked Thrush, "Catharus minimus", rare vagrant
** Swainson's Thrush, "Catharus ustulatus", very rare vagrant
** Hermit Thrush, "Catharus guttatus", very rare vagrant
** Wood Thrush, "Hylocichla mustelina", very rare vagrant
** Rock Thrush, "Monticola saxatilis", rare vagrant
** Blue Rock-Thrush, "Monticola solitarius", very rare vagrant
** Rufous Bush Robin, "Cercotrichas galactotes", very rare vagrant
** Bluethroat, "Luscinia svecica"vagrant, few resident in Norfolk
** Siberian Rubythroat, "Luscinia calliope", very rare vagrant
** Rufous-tailed Robin, "Luscinia sibilans", very rare vagrant
** Thrush Nightingale, "Luscinia luscinia", rare vagrant
** Nightingale, "Luscinia megarhynchos"
** Siberian Blue Robin, "Luscinia cyanea", very rare vagrant
** Red-flanked Bluetail, "Tarsiger cyanurus", very rare vagrant
** European Robin, "Erithacus rubecula"
** White-throated Robin, "Irania gutturalis", very rare vagrant
** European Stonechat, "Saxicola rubicola"
** Siberian Stonechat, "Saxicola maura", rare vagrant
** Whinchat, "Saxicola rubetra"
** Northern Wheatear, "Oenanthe oenanthe"
** Isabelline Wheatear, "Oenanthe isabellina", rare vagrant
** Desert Wheatear, "Oenanthe deserti", rare vagrant
** Black-eared Wheatear, "Oenanthe hispanica", rare vagrant
** Pied Wheatear, "Oenanthe pleschanka", rare vagrant
** White-crowned Wheatear, "Oenanthe leucopyga", very rare vagrant
** Black Redstart, "Phoenicurus ochruros"
** Common Redstart, "Phoenicurus phoenicurus"
** Moussier's Redstart, "Phoenicurus moussieri", very rare vagrant

* Corvidae crows, ravens, and allies
** Carrion Crow, "Corvus corone"
** Common Raven, "Corvus corax"
** Hooded Crow, "Corvus cornix"
** Jackdaw, "Corvus monedula"
** Rook, "Corvus frugilegus"
** Eurasian Jay, "Garrulus glandarius"
** Chough, " Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax "
** European Magpie, "Pica pica"
** Spotted Nutcracker, "Nucifraga caryocatactes", very rare vagrant

* Sylviidae Old World warblers
** Cetti's Warbler, "Cettia cetti"
** Lanceolated Warbler, "Locustella lanceolata", rare vagrant
** Grasshopper Warbler, "Locustella naevia"
** Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, "Locustella certhiola", rare vagrant
** River Warbler, "Locustella fluviatilis", rare vagrant
** Savi's Warbler, "Locustella luscinioides", rare breeder
** Aquatic Warbler, "Acrocephalus paludicola", rare vagrant
** Sedge Warbler, "Acrocephalus schoenobaenus"
** Paddyfield Warbler, "Acrocephalus agricola", rare vagrant
** Reed Warbler, "Acrocephalus scirpaceus"
** Blyth's Reed Warbler, "Acrocephalus dumetorum", rare vagrant
** Marsh Warbler, "Acrocephalus palustris", rare breeder
** Great Reed Warbler, "Acrocephalus arundinaceus", rare vagrant
** Thick-billed Warbler, "Acrocephalus aedon", very rare vagrant
** Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, "Hippolais pallida", very rare vagrant
** Booted Warbler, "Hippolais caligata", rare vagrant
** Sykes' Warbler, "Hippolais rama",very rare vagrant
** Olive-tree Warbler, "Hippolais olivetorum", very rare vagrant
** Icterine Warbler, "Hippolais icterina" vagrant
** Melodious Warbler, "Hippolais polyglotta" vagrant
** Willow Warbler, "Phylloscopus trochilus"
** Common Chiffchaff, "Phylloscopus collybita"
** Iberian Chiffchaff, "Phylloscopus brehmii", very rare vagrant
** Western Bonelli's Warbler, "Phylloscopus bonelli", rare vagrant
** Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, "Phylloscopus orientalis", rare vagrant
** Wood Warbler, "Phylloscopus sibilatrix"
** Dusky Warbler, "Phylloscopus fuscatus", rare vagrant
** Radde's Warbler, "Phylloscopus schwarzi", rare vagrant
** Pallas's Warbler, "Phylloscopus proregulus", rare vagrant
** Yellow-browed Warbler, "Phylloscopus inornatus" rare vagrant
** Hume's Warbler, "Phylloscopus humei", rare vagrant
** Arctic Warbler, "Phylloscopus borealis", rare vagrant
** Greenish Warbler, "Phylloscopus trochiloides", rare vagrant
** Blackcap, "Sylvia atricapilla"
** Garden Warbler, "Sylvia borin"
** Whitethroat, "Sylvia communis"
** Lesser Whitethroat, "Sylvia curruca"
** Asian Desert Warbler, "Sylvia nana" rare vagrant
** Barred Warbler, "Sylvia nisoria" rare vagrant
** Orphean Warbler, "Sylvia hortensis", very rare vagrant
** Rüppell's Warbler, "Sylvia rueppelli" rare vagrant
** Subalpine Warbler, "Sylvia cantillans", rare vagrant
** Sardinian Warbler, "Sylvia melanocephala", rare vagrant
** Spectacled Warbler, "Sylvia conspicillata", very rare vagrant
** Dartford Warbler, "Sylvia undata"
** Marmora's Warbler "Sylvia sarda", very rare vagrant
** Zitting Cisticola, "Cisticola juncidis", very rare vagrant

* Regulidae kinglets
** Goldcrest, "Regulus regulus"
** Firecrest, "Regulus ignicapillus"

* Muscicapidae Old World flycatchers
** Spotted Flycatcher, "Muscicapa striata"
** Pied Flycatcher, "Ficedula hypoleuca"
** Collared Flycatcher, "Ficedula albicollis", rare vagrant
** Red-breasted Flycatcher, "Ficedula parva" rare vagrant
** Taiga Flycatcher, "Ficedula albicilla", very rare vagrant

* Paradoxornithidae: parrotbills
** Bearded Tit, "Panurus biarmicus"

* Aegithalidae long-tailed tits
** Long-tailed Tit, "Aegithalos longicaudus "

* Remizidae penduline tits
** Penduline Tit, "Remiz pendulinus", rarity, has bred

* Paridae titmice
** Marsh Tit, "Parus palustris"
** Willow Tit, "Parus montana"
** Coal Tit, "Parus ater"
** Crested Tit, "Parus cristatus"
** Great Tit, "Parus major"
** Blue Tit, "Parus caeruleus"

* Tichodromadidae Wallcreeper
** Wallcreeper, "Tichodroma muraria", very rare vagrant

* Sittidae nuthatches
** Eurasian Nuthatch, "Sitta europaea"
** Red-breasted Nuthatch, "Sitta canadensis" very rare vagrant

* Certhiidae treecreepers
** Common Treecreeper, "Certhia familiaris"
** Short-toed Treecreeper, "Certhia brachydactyla", rare vagrant

* Laniidae shrikes
** Great Grey Shrike, "Lanius excubitor"
** Southern Grey Shrike, " Lanius meridionalis", rare vagrant
** Lesser Grey Shrike, " Lanius minor", rare vagrant
** Red-backed Shrike, " Lanius collurio"
** Isabelline Shrike, " Lanius isabellinus", rare vagrant
** Woodchat Shrike, " Lanius senator", rare vagrant
** Masked Shrike, " Lanius nubicus", very rare vagrant (one record)
** Long-tailed Shrike, " Lanius schach", very rare vagrant
** Brown Shrike, "Lanius cristatus", very rare vagrant

* Emberizidae buntings and, as very rare vagrants, American sparrows
** Yellowhammer, "Emberiza citrinella"
** Pine Bunting, "Emberiza leucocephalos", rare vagrant
** Cirl Bunting, "Emberiza cirlus"
** Rock Bunting, "Emberiza cia", very rare vagrant
** Ortolan Bunting, "Emberiza hortulana"
** Cretzschmar's Bunting, "Emberiza caesia", very rare vagrant
** Chestnut-eared Bunting, "Emberiza fucata", very rare vagrant
** Little Bunting, "Emberiza pusilla", rare vagrant
** Yellow-browed Bunting, "Emberiza chrysophrys", very rare vagrant
** Rustic Bunting, "Emberiza rustica", rare vagrant
** Yellow-breasted Bunting, "Emberiza aureola" rare vagrant
** Black-faced Bunting, "Emberiza spodocephala", very rare vagrant
** Black-headed Bunting, "Emberiza melanocephala", rare vagrant
** Pallas' Reed Bunting, "Emberiza pallasi", very rare vagrant
** Reed Bunting, "Emberiza schoeniclus"
** Corn Bunting, "Miliaria calandra"
** Snow Bunting, "Plectrophenax nivalis"
** Lapland Bunting, "Calcarius lapponicus" rare breeder
** Rufous-sided Towhee, "Pipilo erythrophthalmus", very rare vagrant
** Lark Sparrow, "Chondestes grammacus", very rare vagrant
** Song Sparrow, "Melospiza melodia", very rare vagrant
** White-crowned Sparrow, "Zonotrichia leucophrys", very rare vagrant
** White-throated Sparrow, "Zonotrichia albicollis", very rare vagrant
** Dark-eyed Junco, "Junco hyemalis", very rare vagrant
** Rose-breasted Grosbeak, "Pheucticus ludovicianus", very rare vagrant
** Indigo Bunting, "Passerina cyanea", very rare vagrant
** Savannah Sparrow, "Passerculus sandwichensis", very rare vagrant

* Thraupidae tanagers very rare vagrant
** Scarlet Tanager, "Piranga olivacea", very rare vagrant
** Summer Tanager, "Piranga rubra", one record

* Vireonidae vireos very rare vagrant
** Yellow-throated Vireo, "Vireo flavifrons", very rare vagrant
** Philadelphia Vireo, "Vireo philadelphicus", very rare vagrant
** Red-eyed Vireo, "Vireo olivaceus", rare vagrant

* Parulidae New World warblers very rare vagrants
** Golden-winged Warbler, "Vermivora chrysoptera", very rare vagrant
** Tennessee Warbler, "Vermivora peregrina", very rare vagrant
** Northern Parula, "Parula americana", very rare vagrant
** Yellow Warbler, "Dendroica petechia", very rare vagrant
** Chestnut-sided Warbler, "Dendroica pensylvanica", very rare vagrant
** Magnolia Warbler, "Dendroica magnolia", very rare vagrant
** Cape May Warbler, "Dendroica tigrina", very rare vagrant
** Yellow-rumped Warbler, "Dendroica coronata", rare vagrant
** Blackburnian Warbler, "Dendroica fusca", very rare vagrant
** Bay-breasted Warbler, "Dendroica castanea", very rare vagrant
** Blackpoll Warbler, "Dendroica striata", rare vagrant
** Black-and-white Warbler, "Mniotilta varia", very rare vagrant
** American Redstart, "Setophaga ruticilla", very rare vagrant
** Ovenbird, "Seiurus aurocapillus", very rare vagrant
** Northern Waterthrush, "Seiurus noveboracensis", very rare vagrant
** Common Yellowthroat, "Geothlypis trichas", very rare vagrant
** Hooded Warbler, "Wilsonia citrina", very rare vagrant
** Wilson's Warbler, "Wilsonia pusilla", very rare vagrant

* Icteridae icterids very rare vagrant
** Bobolink, "Dolichonyx oryzivorus", very rare vagrant
** Brown-headed Cowbird, "Molothrus ater", very rare vagrant
** Baltimore Oriole, "Icterus galbula", very rare vagrant

* Fringillidae finches
** Chaffinch, "Fringilla coelebs"
** Brambling, "Fringilla montifringilla"
** Pine Grosbeak, "Pinicola enucleator", very rare vagrant
** Common Rosefinch, "Carpodacus erythrinus" rare vagrant
** Parrot Crossbill, "Loxia pytyopsittacus", rare vagrant
** Scottish Crossbill, "Loxia scotica"
** Common Crossbill, "Loxia curvirostra"
** Two-barred Crossbill, "Loxia leucoptera", rare vagrant
** European Greenfinch, "Carduelis chloris"
** Common Redpoll, "Carduelis flammea" vagrant
** Lesser Redpoll, "Carduelis cabaret"
** Arctic Redpoll, "Carduelis hornemanni" vagrant
** Eurasian Siskin, "Carduelis spinus"
** European Goldfinch, "Carduelis carduelis"
** Twite, "Carduelis flavirostris"
** Eurasian Linnet, "Carduelis cannabina"
** European Serin, "Serinus serinus" vagrant
** Eurasian Bullfinch, "Pyrrhula pyrrhula"
** Hawfinch, "Coccothraustes coccothraustes"
** Evening Grosbeak, "Coccothraustes vespertinus", very rare vagrant
** Trumpeter Finch, "Rhodopechys githaginea", very rare vagrant

* Ploceidae sparrows
** House Sparrow, "Passer domesticus"
** Spanish Sparrow, "Passer hispaniolensis", very rare vagrant
** Eurasian Tree Sparrow, "Passer montanus"
** Rock Sparrow, "Petronia petronia", very rare vagrant

* Sturnidae starlings
** Rosy Starling, "Sturnus roseus", rare vagrant but increasing
** Common Starling, "Sturnus vulgaris"

* Oriolidae orioles
** Golden Oriole, "Oriolus oriolus", rare breeder

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.

pecies 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.

* Pacific Diver - "Gavia pacifica"
* Glaucous-winged Gull - "Larus glaucescens"
* Elegant Tern - "Sterna elegans"

References and links

*The British Ornithologists' Union publishes a [http://www.bou.org.uk/recbrlst.html List of British birds] .
*Also see [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.0019-1019.2001.00026.x/pdf Taxonomic Recommendations for European Birds] and * [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1474-919x.2002.00110.x/pdf Taxonomic recommendations for British birds] (both in PDF format).
* [http://www.rspb.org.uk The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)] and [http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide RSPB A to Z of UK Birds]
*"Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists" - Martin Collinson, British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323

ee also

*
* List of birds of Wales
* "British Birds" (a long- established ornithology journal).
* Birdwatching
* European birds
* Ornithology