List of birds of Leicestershire and Rutland

Leicestershire

Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...

and Rutland

Rutland

Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....

are neighbouring counties in the English Midlands

English Midlands

The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...

. Rutland is the smallest county in England and was amalgamated with its larger neighbour between 1974 and 1997. Since 1941, the two counties have shared a single bird-recording organisation, the Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society (LROS).

Since 1 January 1941, the date of the foundation of the LROS, 290 bird species have been recorded in the counties in an apparently natural wild state at least once. A further nine were documented prior to that date, but have not been recorded subsequently. There are nine introduced species that maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction. The total list for the LROS recording area is therefore 308 species.

Leicestershire and Rutland are landlocked lowland counties and most of the birds are typical of English farmland habitat. Many coastal, oceanic, and highland birds are absent or rare, and there are few rare vagrants compared to coastal areas. The construction of two large reservoirs, Eyebrook Reservoir

Eyebrook Reservoir

Eyebrook Reservoir is a reservoir in the East Midlands of England. It straddles the border of Leicestershire and Rutland . It is located about 6 km northwest of Corby in Northamptonshire. Nearby villages are Stoke Dry, to the north, and Caldecott, to the south and near the dam.The reservoir...

in 1940 and Rutland Water

Rutland Water

Rutland Water is Anglian Water's drinking water reservoir in the county of Rutland, England, just east of the county town Oakham. It was known as Empingham Reservoir during its construction and until its official opening in 1976. The centre of its dam is at British national grid reference...

(England's largest reservoir) in 1976, has provided freshwater environments enabling many aquatic birds to thrive.

The list below is based on the LROS checklist, using BOU

British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee

The British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee is the recognised national bird records committee for Britain. It maintains a list of birds of Britain...

species names, and the status descriptors in the accounts have the following meanings:

Very rare: fewer than ten records ever
Rare: more than ten records ever, but less than annual
Scarce: fewer than ten birds occurring or pairs breeding annually
Uncommon: 10–100 birds occurring or pairs breeding annually
Fairly common: 100–1,000 birds occurring or pairs breeding annually
Common: 1,000–10,000 birds occurring or pairs breeding annually
Abundant: more than 10,000 birds occurring or pairs breeding annually

In the list below, "BBRC" means that a full description of nationally rare species is required for acceptance of the record by the British Birds Rarities Committee

British Birds Rarities Committee

The British Birds Rarities Committee , established in 1959, is the national bird rarities committee for Britain. It assesses claimed sightings of bird species that are rarely seen in Britain, based on descriptions, photographs and video recordings submitted by observers...

, and "LROS" indicates that a description of county rarities is required for acceptance of the record by the LROS Records Committee. Photographs of birds illustrating the list are not all taken within the locality.

Table of contents
Non-passerines Ducks, geese and swans • Grouse • Pheasants, partridges and quail • Divers • Grebes • Shearwaters and petrels • Storm petrels • Gannets • Cormorants • Bitterns, herons and egrets • Storks • Ibises and spoonbills • Osprey • Buzzards, kites and allies • Falcons • Rails, crakes and coots • Cranes • Oystercatchers • Avocets and stilts • Thick-knees • Pratincoles and coursers • Plovers and lapwings • Sandpipers and allies • Skuas • Gulls • Terns • Auks • Pigeons and doves • Cuckoos • Barn owls • Typical owls • Nightjars • Swifts • Kingfishers • Bee-eaters • Rollers • Hoopoe • Woodpeckers
Passerines Larks • Swallows and martins • Wagtails and pipits • Waxwings • Dippers • Wrens • Accentors • Thrushes • Old World warblers • Kinglets • Old World flycatchers • Babblers • Long-tailed tits • Tits • Nuthatches • Treecreepers • Old World orioles • Shrikes • Crows and allies • Starlings • Sparrows • Finches • Buntings
Footnotes Cited text

Ducks, geese and swans

Order: Anseriformes

Anseriformes

The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds in three extant families: the Anhimidae , Anseranatidae , and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans.All species in the order are highly adapted for an aquatic existence at...

. Family: Anatidae

Anatidae

Anatidae is the biological family of birds that includes ducks, geese and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica and on most of the world's islands and island groups...

The swans, ducks and geese are medium to large birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet and bills

Beak

The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...

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 the counties, especially in winter when large numbers visit from further north. There are about 160 species worldwide, with 41 recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland, four of which are introduced or feral species.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Mute Swan Mute Swan The Mute Swan is a species of swan, and thus a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less...	Cygnus olor	Fairly common resident; uncommon to fairly common breeding
Bewick's Swan Bewick's Swan The Tundra Swan is a small Holarctic swan. The two taxa within it are usually regarded as conspecific, but are also sometimes split into two species, Cygnus bewickii of the Palaearctic and the Whistling Swan, C. columbianus proper, of the Nearctic...	Cygnus columbianus	Uncommon in winter and on passage
Whooper Swan Whooper Swan The Whooper Swan , Cygnus cygnus, is a large Northern Hemisphere swan. It is the Eurasian counterpart of the North American Trumpeter Swan. An old name for the Whooper Swan is Elk; it is so called in Francis Willughby and John Ray's Ornithology of 1676.-Description:The Whooper Swan is similar in...	Cygnus cygnus	Scarce in winter and on passage
Bean Goose Bean Goose The Bean Goose is a medium to large goose breeding in northern Europe and Asia. It was split into two species by the American Ornithologists' Union in 2007, however it is still regarded as a single species by the British Ornithologists' Union – see below...	Anser fabalis	Rare in winter, LROS
Pink-footed Goose Pink-footed Goose The Pink-footed Goose is a goose which breeds in eastern Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard. It is migratory, wintering in northwest Europe, especially Great Britain, the Netherlands, and western Denmark...	Anser brachyrhynchus	Scarce in winter and uncommon on passage
White-fronted Goose White-fronted Goose The Greater White-fronted Goose is a species of goose. The Greater White-fronted Goose is more closely related to the smaller Lesser White-fronted Goose...	Anser albifrons	Scarce to uncommon in winter, mainly escapes
Greylag Goose Greylag Goose The Greylag Goose , Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser....	Anser anser	Fairly common feral resident; uncommon breeding
Canada Goose Canada Goose The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....	Branta canadensis	Introduced common resident; fairly common breeding
Barnacle Goose Barnacle Goose The Barnacle Goose belongs to the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species...	Branta leucopsis	Rare in winter, uncommon feral resident
Brent Goose Brent Goose The Brant or Brent Goose, Branta bernicla, is a species of goose of the genus Branta. The Black Brant is an American subspecies. The specific descriptor bernicla is from the same source as "barnacle" in Barnacle Goose, which looks similar but is not a close relation.-Appearance:The Brant Goose is...	Branta bernicla	Scarce in winter and uncommon on passage
Egyptian Goose Egyptian Goose The Egyptian Goose is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae, and is the only extant member of the genus Alopochen...	Alopochen aegyptiaca	Introduced. Uncommon resident, scarce breeding
Ruddy Shelduck Ruddy Shelduck The Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea, is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae...	Tadorna ferruginea	Rare vagrant or escapee
Common Shelduck Common Shelduck The Common Shelduck is a waterfowl species shelduck genus Tadorna. It is widespread and common in Eurasia, mainly breeding in temperate and wintering in subtropical regions; in winter, it can also be found in the Maghreb...	Tadorna tadorna	Uncommon in winter and on passage, scarce breeding
Mandarin Duck Mandarin Duck The Mandarin Duck , or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan.-Description:...	Aix galericulata	Introduced. Uncommon resident, scarce breeding
Eurasian Wigeon	Anas penelope	Common in winter and on passage, scarce in summer
American Wigeon American Wigeon The American Wigeon, also American Widgeon or Baldpate, is a species of wigeon in the dabbling duck genus Anas. If this is split up, all wigeons will go into their old genus Mareca again...	Anas americana	Very rare, LROS
Gadwall Gadwall The Gadwall is a common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae.- Description :The Gadwall is 46–56 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. The male is slightly larger than the female, weighing on average 990 g against her 850 g...	Anas strepera	Common in winter and on passage, uncommon breeding
Common Teal Common Teal The Eurasian Teal or Common Teal is a common and widespread duck which breeds in temperate Eurasia and migrates south in winter. The Eurasian Teal is often called simply the Teal due to being the only one of these small dabbling ducks in much of its range...	Anas crecca	Common in winter and on passage, uncommon breeding
Green-winged Teal Green-winged Teal The Green-winged Teal is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered conspecific with the Common Teal The Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of...	Anas carolinensis	Very rare, LROS
Mallard Mallard The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....	Anas platyrhynchos	Common in winter and on passage, fairly common breeding
Northern Pintail Northern Pintail The Pintail or Northern Pintail is a widely occurring duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator...	Anas acuta	Uncommon to fairly common in winter and on passage
Garganey Garganey The Garganey is a small dabbling duck. It breeds in much of Europe and western Asia, but is strictly migratory, with the entire population moving to southern Africa, India Santragachi and Australasia in winter, where large flocks can occur. This species was first described by Linnaeus in 1758...	Anas querquedula	Scarce to uncommon on passage; very rare breeding
Blue-winged Teal Blue-winged Teal The Blue-winged Teal is a small dabbling duck from North America.-Description:The Blue-winged Teal is long, with a wingspan of , and a weight of . The adult male has a greyish blue head with a white facial crescent, a light brown body with a white patch near the rear and a black tail. The adult...	Anas discors	Very rare, BBRC
Northern Shoveler Northern Shoveler The Northern Shoveler , Northern Shoveller in British English, sometimes known simply as the Shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of North America, and is a rare vagrant to Australia...	Anas clypeata	Fairly common in winter; rare-scarce breeding
Red-crested Pochard Red-crested Pochard The Red-crested Pochard is a large diving duck.Their breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes in southern Europe and southern and central Asia. They are somewhat migratory, and northern birds winter further south and into north Africa.The adult male is unmistakable. It has a rounded orange...	Netta rufina	Scarce in winter and on passage
Common Pochard	Aythya ferina	Fairly common to common, rare breeding
Redhead Redhead (duck) The Redhead is a medium-sized diving duck, 37 cm long with an 84 cm wingspan.The adult male has a blue bill, a red head and neck, a black breast, yellow eyes and a grey back. The adult female has a brown head and body and a darker bluish bill with a black tip.The breeding habitat is...	Aythya americana	Very rare, BBRC
Ring-necked Duck Ring-necked Duck The Ring-necked Duck is a smaller diving duck from North America.The adult male is similar in color pattern to the Eurasian Tufted Duck, its relative. It has a grey bill with a white band, a shiny purple head, a white breast, yellow eyes and a dark grey back...	Aythya collaris	Very rare, LROS
Ferruginous Duck Ferruginous Duck The Ferruginous Duck is a medium-sized diving duck from Eurasia. The species is known colloquially by birders as "Fudge Duck"....	Aythya nyroca	Rare in winter and on passage, LROS
Tufted Duck Tufted Duck The Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula, is a medium-sized diving duck with a population of close to one million birds.- Description :The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name.The adult female is brown with paler...	Aythya fuligula	Common in winter and on passage, uncommon breeding
Greater Scaup Greater Scaup The Greater Scaup , just Scaup in Europe, or colloquially known as "Bluebill", for its bright blue bill, is small compared to other diving ducks, however it is larger than the closely related Lesser Scaup...	Aythya marila	Uncommon in winter and on passage
Lesser Scaup Lesser Scaup The Lesser Scaup is a small North American diving duck that migrates south as far as Central America in winter. It is colloquially known as the Little Bluebill or Broadbill because of its distinctive blue bill...	Aythya affinis	Very rare, BBRC
Common Eider Common Eider The Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, is a large sea-duck that is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and some northern temperate regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on...	Somateria mollissima	Rare in winter and on passage, LROS
Long-tailed Duck Long-tailed Duck The Long-tailed Duck or Oldsquaw is a medium-sized sea duck. It is the only living member of its genus, Clangula; this was formerly used for the goldeneyes, with the Long-tailed Duck being placed in Harelda...	Clangula hyemalis	Rare in winter
Common Scoter Common Scoter The Common Scoter is a large sea duck, 43-54 cm in length, which breeds over the far north of Europe and Asia east to the Olenyok River. The American/E Siberian M. americana is sometimes considered a subspecies of M. nigra.It winters further south in temperate zones, on the coasts of Europe as...	Melanitta nigra	Rare in winter and uncommon on passage
Velvet Scoter Velvet Scoter The Velvet Scoter , also called a Velvet Duck or whitewing , is a large sea duck, which breeds over the far north of Europe and Asia west of the Yenisey basin. A small, isolated population nests in eastern Turkey...	Melanitta fusca	Rare in winter and on passage, LROS
Common Goldeneye Common Goldeneye The Common Goldeneye is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. Their closest relative is the similar Barrow's Goldeneye....	Bucephala clangula	Fairly common in winter and on passage, uncommon in summer
Smew Smew The Smew is a small duck, which is somewhat intermediate between the typical mergansers and the goldeneyes . It is the only member of the genus Mergellus; sometimes included in Mergus, this genus is distinct and might actually be a bit closer to the goldeneyes...	Mergellus albellus	Uncommon in winter
Red-breasted Merganser Red-breasted Merganser The Red-breasted Merganser is a diving duck.-Taxonomy:The Red-breasted Merganser was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th-century work, Systema Naturae.-Description:...	Mergus serrator	Scarce in winter and on passage
Goosander Common Merganser The Common Merganser or Goosander Mergus merganser is a large duck, of rivers and lakes of forested areas of Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America. It eats fish and nests in holes in trees...	Mergus merganser	Fairly common in winter and on passage
Ruddy Duck Ruddy Duck The Ruddy Duck is a small stiff-tailed duck.Their breeding habitat is marshy lakes and ponds throughout much of North America, and in South America in the Andes. They nest in dense marsh vegetation near water. The female builds her nest out of grass, locating it in tall vegetation to hide it from...	Oxyura jamaicensis	Introduced. Uncommon in winter, scarce breeding

Grouse

Order: Galliformes

Galliformes

Galliformes are an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game bird, containing turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World Quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms...

. Family: Tetraonidae

Grouse are sturdy, medium-sized terrestrial birds of the Northern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere

The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...

. They have feathered feet and nostrils and short, rounded wings. They feed mainly on plant material and lay their eggs in a simple scrape on the ground. They are gamebirds and large numbers were shot in the past in moorland

Moorland

Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...

areas. There are about 19 species worldwide, two of which formerly occurred in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red Grouse Red grouse The Red Grouse is a medium sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the Willow Grouse but is sometimes considered to be a separate species Lagopus scoticus...	Lagopus lagopus	Extinct resident since about 1840
Eurasian Black Grouse	Tetrao tetrix	Extinct resident since about 1840

Pheasants, partridges and quail

Order: Galliformes

Galliformes

. Family: Phasianidae

Phasianidae

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...

Pheasants and allies are terrestrial species, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings. There are about 155 species worldwide with four in Leicestershire and Rutland, two of which are introduced species.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-legged Partridge Red-legged Partridge The Red-legged Partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is sometimes known as French Partridge, to distinguish it from the Grey or English Partridge....	Alectoris rufa	Common introduced resident breeder
Grey Partridge Grey Partridge The Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix, also known as the English Partridge, Hungarian Partridge, or Hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds...	Perdix perdix	Uncommon resident breeder
Common Quail Common Quail The Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix, is a small bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is widespread and is found in parts of Europe, .- Description :It is a small rotund bird, essentially streaked brown with...	Coturnix coturnix	Scarce summer visitor, breeds
Common Pheasant Common Pheasant The Common Pheasant , is a bird in the pheasant family . It is native to Georgia and has been widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. In parts of its range, namely in places where none of its relatives occur such as in Europe , it is simply known as the "pheasant"...	Phasianus colchicus	Common introduced resident breeder

Divers

Order: Gaviiformes

Gaviiformes

Gaviiformes is an order of aquatic birds containing the loons or divers and their closest extinct relatives. Modern gaviiformes are found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia , though prehistoric species were more widespread.-Classification and evolution:There are five living...

. Family: Gaviidae

Divers are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. They swim well, and fly adequately but, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are clumsy on land. They feed on fish and other aquatic animals. There are 5 species worldwide with three visiting Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver The Red-throated Loon or Red-throated Diver is a migratory aquatic bird found in the northern hemisphere. It breeds primarily in Arctic regions, and winters in northern coastal waters. It is the most widely distributed member of the loon or diver family. Ranging from in length, the Red-throated...	Gavia stellata	Rare in winter, LROS
Black-throated Diver Black-throated Diver The Black-throated Loon is a migratory aquatic bird found in the northern hemisphere. The species is known as an Arctic Loon in North America and the Black-throated Diver in Eurasia, its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee.-Taxonomy:The...	Gavia arctica	Rare in winter, LROS
Great Northern Diver Great Northern Diver The Great Northern Loon, Great Northern Diver, or Common Loon , is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds...	Gavia immer	Scarce in winter

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes. Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large diving birds with lobed toes and pointed bills. They are seen mainly on lowland waterbodies and coasts. They feed on aquatic animals and nest

Bird nest

A bird nest is the spot in which a bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young. Although the term popularly refers to a specific structure made by the bird itself—such as the grassy cup nest of the American Robin or Eurasian Blackbird, or the elaborately woven hanging nest of the...

on a floating platform of vegetation. There are about 19 species worldwide with five in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Little Grebe Little Grebe The Little Grebe , also known as Dabchick, member of the grebe family of water birds. At 23 to 29 cm in length it is the smallest European member of its family. It is commonly found in open bodies of water across most of its range.-Description:The Little Grebe is a small water bird with a pointed...	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Uncommon to fairly common breeding
Great Crested Grebe Great Crested Grebe The Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...	Podiceps cristatus	Fairly common in winter and on passage, uncommon breeding
Red-necked Grebe Red-necked Grebe The Red-necked Grebe is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes...	Podiceps grisegena	Scarce in winter and on passage
Slavonian Grebe Slavonian Grebe The Horned Grebe or Slavonian Grebe, Podiceps auritus, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The Slavonian Grebe is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater...	Podiceps auritus	Scarce in winter and on passage
Black-necked Grebe Black-necked Grebe The Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis, known in North America as the Eared Grebe, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It occurs on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.-Taxonomy:There are three subspecies:*P. n...	Podiceps nigricollis	Uncommon in summer and on passage, rare in winter

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes

Procellariiformes

Procellariiformes is an order of seabirds that comprises four families: the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels...

. Family: Procellariidae

Procellariidae

The family Procellariidae is a group of seabirds that comprises the fulmarine petrels, the gadfly petrels, the prions, and the shearwaters. This family is part of the bird order Procellariiformes , which also includes the albatrosses, the storm-petrels, and the diving petrels.The procellariids are...

These are highly pelagic birds with long, narrow wings and tube-shaped nostrils. They feed at sea on fish, squid

Squid

Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...

and other marine life. They come to land to breed in colonies, nesting in burrows or on cliffs. There are about 77 species worldwide, two of which are rare vagrants to Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern Fulmar Northern Fulmar The Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis, Fulmar, or Arctic Fulmar is a highly abundant sea bird found primarily in subarctic regions of the north Atlantic and north Pacific oceans. Fulmars come in one of two color morphs: a light one which is almost entirely white, and a dark one which is...	Fulmarus glacialis	Very rare, LROS
Manx Shearwater Manx Shearwater The Manx Shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx Shearwaters were called Manks Puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters...	Puffinus puffinus	Very rare, LROS

Storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes

Procellariiformes

Procellariiformes is an order of seabirds that comprises four families: the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels...

. Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest of seabird

Seabird

Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...

s, feeding on plankton

Plankton

Plankton are any drifting organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. That is, plankton are defined by their ecological niche rather than phylogenetic or taxonomic classification...

and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. They nest in colonies on the ground, most often in burrows. There are about 20 species worldwide, two of which are rare vagrants to Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European Storm Petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus	Very rare, LROS
Leach's Storm Petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhea	Very rare, LROS

Gannets

Order: Pelecaniformes

Pelecaniformes

The Pelecaniformes is a order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. As traditionally—but erroneously—defined, they encompass all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed. Hence, they were formerly also known by such names as totipalmates or steganopodes...

. Family: Sulidae

Sulidae

The bird family Sulidae comprises the gannets and boobies. Collectively called sulidas, they are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish and similar prey. The ten species in this family are often considered congeneric in older sources, placing all in the genus Sula...

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 about 10 species worldwide, with one recorded as a rare vagrant to Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern Gannet Northern Gannet The Northern Gannet is a seabird and is the largest member of the gannet family, Sulidae.- Description :Young birds are dark brown in their first year, and gradually acquire more white in subsequent seasons until they reach maturity after five years.Adults are long, weigh and have a wingspan...	Morus bassanus	Very rare, LROS

Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes

Pelecaniformes

. Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorant

The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...

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, usually by the sea. There are about 39 species worldwide, with two recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great Cormorant Great Cormorant The Great Cormorant , known as the Great Black Cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the Black Cormorant in Australia and the Black Shag further south in New Zealand, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds...	Phalacrocorax carbo	Fairly common all year, common breeding
Common Shag Common Shag The European Shag or Common Shag is a species of cormorant. It breeds around the rocky coasts of western and southern...	Phalacrocorax aristotelis	Scarce in winter and on passage

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes

Ciconiiformes

Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. Ciconiiformes are known from the Late Eocene...

. Family: Ardeidae

Heron

The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....

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, amphibian

Amphibian

Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...

s and other animals. Many species nest in colonies, often in trees. There are about 63 species worldwide, with nine recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great Bittern Great Bittern The Eurasian Bittern or Great Bittern is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies.-Etymology:...	Botaurus stellata	Scarce in winter
Little Bittern Little Bittern The Little Bittern is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Madagascar. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in...	Ixobrychus minutus	Very rare, BBRC
Black-crowned Night Heron Black-crowned Night Heron The Black-crowned Night Heron commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia .-Description:Adults are...	Nycticorax nycticorax	Very rare, LROS
Squacco Heron Squacco Heron The Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a small heron, long, of which the body is , with wingspan. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.-Behaviour:...	Ardeola ralloides	Very rare, BBRC
Cattle Egret Cattle Egret The Cattle Egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret...	Bubulcus ibis	Very rare, BBRC
Little Egret Little Egret The Little Egret is a small white heron. It is the Old World counterpart to the very similar New World Snowy Egret.-Subspecies:Depending on authority, two or three subspecies of Little Egret are currently accepted....	Egretta garzetta	Uncommon in summer and on passage
Great Egret Great Egret The Great Egret , also known as the Great White Egret or Common Egret, White Heron, or Great White Heron, is a large, widely-distributed egret. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe it is rather localized...	Ardea alba	Very rare, LROS
Grey Heron Grey Heron The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...	Ardea cinerea	Fairly common, breeds
Purple Heron Purple Heron The Purple Heron is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. The European populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa; the more northerly Asian populations also migrate further south within Asia...	Ardea purpurea	Very rare, LROS

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes

Ciconiiformes

. Family: Ciconiidae

Stork

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....

Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They fly with the neck extended. There are about 19 species worldwide with two occurring as rare vagrants in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black Stork Black Stork The Black Stork Ciconia nigra is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread, but rare, species that breeds in the warmer parts of Europe, predominantly in central and eastern regions. This is a shy and wary species, unlike the closely related White Stork. It is seen in...	Ciconia nigra	Very rare, BBRC
White Stork White Stork The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...	Ciconia ciconia	Very rare, LROS

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes

Ciconiiformes

. Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae

The family Threskiornithidae includes 34 species of large terrestrial and wading birds, falling into two subfamilies, the ibises and the spoonbills. It was formerly known as Plataleidae. The spoonbills and ibises were once thought to be related to other groups of long-legged wading birds in the...

A family of long-legged, long-necked wading birds. Ibises have long, curved bills. Spoonbills have a flattened bill, wider at the tip. There are about 33 species worldwide, with one occurring in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Spoonbill Common Spoonbill The Eurasian Spoonbill or Common Spoonbill is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae, breeding in southern Eurasia from Spain to Japan, and also in North Africa. In Europe, only The Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Hungary and Greece have sizeable populations...	Platalea leucorodia	Rare

Osprey

Order: Falconiformes

Falconiformes

The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that comprises the diurnal birds of prey. Raptor classification is difficult and the order is treated in several ways.- Classification problems :...

. Family: Pandionidae

Osprey

The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...

A large migratory fish-eating bird of prey in a family of its own. It is mainly brown above and white below with long, angled wings.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Osprey Osprey The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...	Pandion haliaetus	Scarce on passage, scarce introduced breeder

Buzzards, kites and allies

Order: Falconiformes

Falconiformes

. Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae

The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes , are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a...

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. There are about 240 species worldwide, 12 of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Honey Buzzard Honey Buzzard The European Honey Buzzard , is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers....	Pernis apivorus	Rare, LROS
Red Kite Red Kite The Red Kite is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species is currently endemic to the Western Palearctic region in Europe and northwest Africa, though formerly also occurred just...	Milvus milvus	Rare on passage, very rare breeder (spread from re-introduction in Northamptonshire)
White-tailed Eagle White-tailed Eagle The White-tailed Eagle , also known as the Sea Eagle, Erne , or White-tailed Sea-eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which includes other raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers...	Haliaeetus albicilla	Very rare, LROS
Marsh Harrier Marsh harrier The marsh harriers are birds of prey of the harrier subfamily. They are medium-sized raptors and the largest and broadest-winged harriers. Most of them are associated with marshland and dense reedbeds...	Circus aeruginosus	Uncommon on passage
Hen Harrier Hen Harrier The Hen Harrier or Northern Harrier is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere in Canada and the northernmost USA, and in northern Eurasia. This species is polytypic, with two subspecies. Marsh Hawk is a historical name for the American form.It migrates...	Circus cyaneus	Scarce, LROS
Pallid Harrier Pallid Harrier The Pale or Pallid Harrier is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. It breeds in southern parts of eastern Europe and central Asia and winters mainly in India and southeast Asia...	Circus macrourus	Very rare, BBRC
Montagu's Harrier Montagu's Harrier The Montagu's Harrier is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu.-Plumage:...	Circus pygargus	Very rare, LROS
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	Rare to scarce, LROS
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	Fairly common resident
Common Buzzard Common Buzzard The Common Buzzard is a medium to large bird of prey, whose range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia. It is usually resident all year, except in the coldest parts of its range, and in the case of one subspecies.-Description:...	Buteo buteo	Uncommon to fairly common resident and on passage
Rough-legged Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard The Rough-legged Buzzard , called the Rough-legged Hawk in North America, is a medium-large bird of prey. It is found in Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia during the breeding season and migrates south for the winter.The species exhibits a wide variety of plumage patterns...	Buteo lagopus	Rare in winter and on passage, LROS
Golden Eagle Golden Eagle The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...	Aquila chrysaetos	Very rare, one record 1895 LROS

Falcons

Order: Falconiformes

Falconiformes

. Family: Falconidae

Falconidae

The falcons and caracaras are around 60 species of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae. The family is divided into two subfamiles, Polyborinae, which includes the caracaras and forest falcons, and Falconinae, the falcons, kestrels and falconets.-Description:Falcons and...

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. There are about 64 species worldwide, five of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Kestrel Common Kestrel The Common Kestrel is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called "the kestrel".This species...	Falco tinnunculus	Fairly common breeding resident
Red-footed Falcon Red-footed Falcon The Red-footed Falcon , formerly Western Red-footed Falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons. This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly due to habitat loss and hunting. It is migratory, wintering in Africa...	Falco vespertinus	Very rare, LROS
Merlin Merlin (bird) The Merlin is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the Merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter.-European and North American...	Falco columbarius	Scarce in winter and on passage, LROS
Eurasian Hobby Eurasian Hobby The Eurasian Hobby , or just simply Hobby, is a small slim falcon. It belongs to a rather close-knit group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus Hypotriorchis.-Description:...	Falco subbuteo	Scarce to uncommon breeding summer visitor
Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...	Falco peregrinus	Uncommon in winter and on passage, scarce breeding

Rails, crakes and coots

Order: Gruiformes

Gruiformes

The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like"....

. Family: Rallidae

Rallidae

The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...

Rails and allies mainly occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, marshes, or rivers. Many are shy and secretive birds, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. There are about 135 species worldwide, with 11 recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Water Rail Water Rail The Water Rail is a bird of the rail family which breeds in well-vegetated wetlands across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Northern and eastern populations are migratory, but this species is a permanent resident in the warmer parts of its breeding range...	Rallus aquaticus	Uncommon in winter and on passage, rare breeding
Spotted Crake Spotted Crake The Spotted Crake is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae.Their breeding habitat is marshes and sedge beds across temperate Europe into western Asia. They nest in a dry location in marsh vegetation, laying 6-15 eggs...	Porzana porzana	Rare on passage, bred in nineteenth century, LROS
Little Crake Little Crake The Little Crake is a very small waterbird of the family Rallidae.Their breeding habitat is reed beds in Europe, mainly in the east, and just into western Asia. They nest in a dry location in reed vegetation, laying 4-7 eggs...	Porzana parva	Very rare, one old record from 1841, BBRC
Baillon's Crake Baillon's Crake The Baillon's Crake is a very small waterbird of the family Rallidae.-Distribution:Their breeding habitat is sedge beds in Europe, mainly in the east, and across Asia. They used to breed in Great Britain up to the mid-19th century, but the western European population declined through drainage....	Porzana pusilla	Very rare, BBRC
Corn Crake Corn Crake The Corn Crake, Corncrake or Landrail is a bird in the rail family. It breeds in Europe and Asia as far east as western China, and migrates to Africa for the winter...	Crex crex	Very rare, bred to about 1960, LROS
Common Moorhen Common Moorhen The Common Moorhen is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. The North and South American Committees of the AOU and the IOC have voted on or before July 2011 to split the American forms into a new species Common Gallinule, however, no other committee has voted to...	Gallinula chloropus	Common resident breeder
Eurasian Coot Eurasian Coot The Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra, also known as Coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. The Australian subspecies is known as the Australian Coot.-Distribution:...	Fulica atra	Common in winter, fairly common breeding

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes

Gruiformes

The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like"....

. Family: Gruidae

Crane (bird)

Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...

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". There are about 15 species worldwide, one recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Crane Common Crane The Common Crane , also known as the Eurasian Crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes.It is a large, stately bird and a medium-sized crane at 100–130 cm long, with a 180–240 cm wingspan and a weight of 4.5–6 kg...	Grus grus	Very rare, LROS

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy wading birds with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are about 11 species worldwide with one recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pied Oystercatcher Eurasian Oystercatcher The Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, also known as the Common Pied Oystercatcher, or just Oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with three races breeding in western Europe, central Eurasia,...	Haematopus ostralegus	Uncommon on passage, scarce breeding

Avocets and stilts

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadrii. It contains two distinct groups of birds, the avocets and the stilts .-Description and diet:...

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 about 10 species worldwide, with two recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-winged Stilt Black-winged Stilt The Black-winged Stilt or Common Stilt is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family . Opinions differ as to whether the birds treated under the scientific name H. himantopus ought to be treated as a single species and if not, how many species to recognize...	Himantopus himantopus	Very rare, BBRC
Pied Avocet Pied Avocet The Pied Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta, is a large black and white wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae. They breed in temperate Europe and western and Central Asia. It is a migratory species and most winter in Africa or southern Asia...	Recurvirostra avosetta	Rare to scarce on passage, rare breeding

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Burhinidae

Stone-curlew

The Stone-curlews, also known as Dikkops or Thick-knees are a group of largely tropical birds in the family Burhinidae. Despite the group being classified as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats...

A small family of medium to large waders with strong black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. There are 9 species worldwide, with one recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Stone-curlew Stone-curlew The Stone-curlews, also known as Dikkops or Thick-knees are a group of largely tropical birds in the family Burhinidae. Despite the group being classified as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats...	Burhinus oedicnemus	Very rare, bred to about 1880, LROS

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadri. It contains two distinct groups, the pratincoles and the coursers. The coursers include the atypical Egyptian Plover, Pluvianus aegyptius, which has sometimes been placed in its own family...

A family of slender, long-winged wading birds. There are 17 species worldwide, three of which have occurred as vagrants in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Cream-coloured Courser Cream-coloured Courser The Cream-colored Courser, Cursorius cursor, is a wader in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae.Although classed as waders, these are birds of dry open country, preferably semi-desert, where they typically hunt their insect prey by running on the ground.These coursers are found in...	Cursorius cursor	Very rare, one 1827 record, BBRC
Collared Pratincole Collared Pratincole The Collared Pratincole or Common Pratincole, Glareola pratincola, is a wader in the pratincole family, Glareolidae.Pratincoles are unusual among waders in that they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground.The Collared Pratincole is a...	Glareola pratincola	Very rare, BBRC
Black-winged Pratincole Black-winged Pratincole The Black-winged Pratincole, Glareola nordmanni, is a wader in the pratincole bird family, Glareolidae.Their most unusual feature of the pratincoles is that although classed as waders they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the...	Glareola nordmanni	Very rare, BBRC

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Charadriidae

Charadriidae

The bird family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings, about 64 to 66 species in all.- Morphology :They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings, but most species of lapwing may have more rounded wings...

Small to medium-sized wading birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. There are about 66 species worldwide, nine of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Little Ringed Plover Little Ringed Plover The Little Ringed Plover is a small plover. Adults have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes with white above and a short dark bill...	Charadrius dubius	Uncommon on passage and breeding
Ringed Plover Ringed Plover The Common Ringed Plover or Ringed Plover is a small plover.Adults are 17-19.5 cm in length with a 35–41 cm wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes...	Charadrius hiaticula	Fairly common on passage, scarce breeding
Killdeer Killdeer The Killdeer is a medium-sized plover.Adults have a brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with two black bands. The rump is tawny orange. The face and cap are brown with a white forehead. They have an orange-red eyering...	Charadrius vociferus	Very rare, BBRC
Kentish Plover Kentish Plover The Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, is a small wader in the plover bird family. Despite its name, this species no longer breeds in Kent, or even Great Britain...	Charadrius alexandrinus	Very rare, LROS
Eurasian Dotterel Eurasian Dotterel The Eurasian Dotterel , or in Europe just Dotterel, is a small wader in the plover family of birds.It breeds in the Arctic tundra of northern Eurasia, from Norway to eastern Siberia, and on suitable mountain plateaus such as the Scottish highlands and the Alps...	Charadrius morinellus	Rare on passage, LROS
American Golden Plover American Golden Plover The American Golden Plover is a medium-sized plover.Adults are spotted gold and black on the crown, back and wings. Their face and neck are black with a white border; they have a black breast and a dark rump. The legs are black....	Pluvialis dominica	Very rare, LROS
European Golden Plover	Pluvialis apricaria	Common in winter and on passage
Grey Plover Grey Plover The Grey Plover , known as the Black-bellied Plover in North America, is a medium-sized plover breeding in arctic regions. It is a long-distance migrant, with a nearly worldwide coastal distribution when not breeding....	Pluvialis squatarola	Scarce in winter and on passage
Northern Lapwing Northern Lapwing The Northern Lapwing , also known as the Peewit, Green Plover or just Lapwing, is a bird in the plover family. It is common through temperate Eurasia....	Vanellus vanellus	Abundant in winter; fairly common breeding

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae

The sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders or shorebirds. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil...

A large, diverse family of wading birds. Different lengths of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are about 89 species worldwide, 32 of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red Knot Red Knot The Red Knot, Calidris canutus , is a medium sized shorebird which breeds in tundra and the Arctic Cordillera in the far north of Canada, Europe, and Russia. It is a large member of the Calidris sandpipers, second only to the Great Knot...	Calidris canutus	Scarce on passage, rare in winter
Sanderling Sanderling The Sanderling is a small wader. It is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia...	Calidris alba	Scarce to uncommon on passage
Little Stint Little Stint The Little Stint, Calidris minuta , is a very small wader. It breeds in arctic Europe and Asia, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to Africa and south Asia...	Calidris minuta	Uncommon on passage, rare in winter
Temminck's Stint Temminck's Stint Temminck's Stint, Calidris or Erolia temminckii, is a small wader.This stint's breeding habitat is bogs and marshes in the taiga of Arctic northern Europe and Asia. It will breed in southern Scandinavia and occasionally Scotland. It has a distinctive hovering display flight. It nests in a scrape...	Calidris temminckii	Rare, LROS
White-rumped Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper The White-rumped Sandpiper is a small shorebird.Adults have black legs and a small thin dark bill. The body is dark brown on top and mainly white underneath, with brown streaks on the breast and a white rump. They have a white stripe over their eyes. This bird shows long wings in flight. In winter...	Calidris fuscicollis	Very rare, LROS
Baird's Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper The Baird's Sandpiper is a small shorebird. It is among those calidrids sometimes separated in Erolia.Adults have black legs and a short thin dark bill. They are dark brown on top and mainly white underneath with a black patch on the rump. The head and breast are light brown with dark streaks. In...	Calidris bairdii	Very rare, BBRC
Pectoral Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper The Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, is a small wader. It is sometimes separated with the "stint" sandpipers in Erolia. This may or may not represent a good monophyletic group, depending on the placement of the phylogenetically enigmatic Curlew Sandpiper , the type species of Erolia...	Calidris melanotos	Rare, LROS
Curlew Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper The Curlew Sandpiper is a small wader that breeds on the tundra of Arctic Siberia. It is strongly migratory, wintering mainly in Africa, but also in south and southeast Asia and in Australasia...	Calidris ferruginea	Uncommon on passage
Purple Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper The Purple Sandpiper, Calidris, Arquatella or Erolia maritima is a small shorebird.Adults have short yellow legs and a medium thin dark bill with a yellow base. The body is dark on top with a slight purplish gloss and mainly white underneath. The breast is smeared with grey and the rump is black...	Calidris maritima	Very rare, LROS
Dunlin Dunlin The Dunlin, Calidris alpina, is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints" in Erolia. It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. Birds that breed in northern Europe and Asia are long-distance migrants, wintering south to Africa, southeast Asia and the Middle East...	Calidris alpina	Uncommon to fairly common in winter and on passage
Ruff	Philomachus pugnax	Uncommon in winter and on passage
Jack Snipe Jack Snipe The Jack Snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus is a small stocky wader. It is the smallest snipe, and the only member of the genus Lymnocryptes...	Lymnocryptes minimus	Uncommon in winter and on passage
Common Snipe Common Snipe The Common Snipe is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World. The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows throughout northern Europe and northern Asia...	Gallinago gallinago	Fairly common in winter and on passage, rare breeding
Great Snipe Great Snipe The Great Snipe, Gallinago media is a small stocky wader in the genus Gallinago.This bird's breeding habitat is marshes and wet meadows with short vegetation in north-eastern Europe including north-western Russia. Great Snipes are migratory, wintering in Africa...	Gallinago media	Very rare, 14 records in nineteenth century, none since, BBRC
Long-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher The Long-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus, is a medium-sized shorebird.Adults have yellowish legs and a long straight dark bill. The body is dark brown on top and reddish underneath with spotted throat and breast, bars on flanks. The tail has a black and white barred pattern...	Limnodromus scolopaceus	Very rare, BBRC
Eurasian Woodcock Eurasian Woodcock The Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola, is a medium-small wading bird found in temperate and subarctic Eurasia. It has cryptic camouflage to suit its woodland habitat, with reddish-brown upperparts and buff-coloured underparts...	Scolopax rusticola	Uncommon to fairly common in winter and on passage, rare breeding
Black-tailed Godwit Black-tailed Godwit The Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the Limosa genus, the godwits...	Limosa limosa	Fairly common on passage, rare in winter
Bar-tailed Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit The Bar-tailed Godwit is a large wader in the family Scolopacidae, which breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra mainly in the Old World, and winters on coasts in temperate and tropical regions of the Old World...	Limosa lapponica	Scarce to uncommon on passage, rare in winter
Whimbrel Whimbrel The Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the mostwidespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic North America, Europe and Asia as far south as Scotland....	Numenius phaeopus	Uncommon on passage
Eurasian Curlew Eurasian Curlew The Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia...	Numenius arquata	Uncommon on passage; scarce in winter; rare-scarce breeding
Spotted Redshank Spotted Redshank The Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus, is a wader in the large bird family Scolopacidae. It breeds across northern Scandinavia and northern Asia and migrates south to the Mediterranean, the southern British Isles, France, tropical Africa, and tropical Asia for the winter...	Tringa erythropus	Scarce to uncommon on passage
Common Redshank Common Redshank The Common Redshank or simply Redshank is an Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...	Tringa totanus	Fairly common on passage; uncommon in winter; scarce breeding
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	Uncommon on passage
Lesser Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs The Lesser Yellowlegs is a medium-sized shorebird similar in appearance to the larger Greater Yellowlegs. It is not closely related to this bird, however, but instead to the much larger and quite dissimilar Willet; merely the fine, clear and dense pattern of the neck shown in breeding plumage...	Tringa flavipes	Very rare, BBRC
Green Sandpiper Green Sandpiper The Green Sandpiper is a small wader of the Old World. It represents an ancient lineage of the genus Tringa; its only close living relative is the Solitary Sandpiper . They both have brown wings with little light dots and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern...	Tringa ochropus	Fairly common on passage; uncommon in winter;
Wood Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, is a small wader. This Eurasian species is the smallest of the shanks, which are mid-sized long-legged waders of the family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...	Tringa glareola	Scarce on passage
Common Sandpiper Common Sandpiper The Common Sandpiper is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper , make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize...	Actitis hypoleucos	Scarce to uncommon on passage, rare in winter, bred to 1908
Spotted Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper The Spotted Sandpiper is a small shorebird, 18–20 cm long. Together with its sister species, the Common Sandpiper they make up the genus Actitis...	Actitis macularius	Very rare, BBRC
Ruddy Turnstone Ruddy Turnstone The Ruddy Turnstone is a small wading bird, one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria. It is now classified in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae but was formerly sometimes placed in the plover family Charadriidae...	Arenaria interpres	Uncommon on passage
Wilson's Phalarope Wilson's Phalarope The Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor, is a small wader. This bird, the largest of the phalaropes, breeds in the prairies of North America in western Canada and the western United States. It is migratory, wintering around the central Andes in South America. They are passage migrants through...	Phalaropus tricolor	Very rare, BBRC
Red-necked Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope The Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus, is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is migratory, and, unusually for a wader, winters at sea on tropical oceans....	Phalaropus lobatus	Rare, LROS
Grey Phalarope	Phalaropus fulicaria	Rare, LROS

Skuas

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Stercorariidae

Skua

The skuas are a group of seabirds with about seven species forming the family Stercorariidae and the genus Stercorarius. The three smaller skuas are called jaegers in North America....

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. There are about seven species worldwide, with four recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pomarine Skua Pomarine Skua The Pomarine Skua, Stercorarius pomarinus, known as Pomarine Jaeger in North America, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans.- Taxonomy :...	Stercorarius pomarinus	Very rare, LROS
Arctic Skua Arctic Skua The Parasitic Jaeger, also known as the Arctic Skua or Parasitic Skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae....	Stercorarius parasiticus	Rare, LROS
Long-tailed Skua Long-tailed Skua The Long-tailed Skua, Stercorarius longicaudus is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae....	Stercorarius longicaudus	Very rare, LROS
Great Skua Great Skua The Great Skua, Stercorarius skua, is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. In Britain, it is sometimes known by the name Bonxie, a Shetland name of unknown origin.-Description:...	Stercorarius skua	Rare, LROS

Gulls

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Laridae

Gull

Gulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...

Medium to large seabirds with grey, white and black plumage, webbed feet and strong bills. Many are opportunistic and adaptable feeders. There are about 56 species worldwide, 16 of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Mediterranean Gull Mediterranean Gull The Mediterranean Gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus, is a small gull which breeds almost entirely in Europe, mainly in the south east, especially around the Black Sea, and in central Turkey. There are colonies elsewhere in southern Europe, and this species has undergone a dramatic range expansion in...	Larus melanocephalus	Uncommon in winter and on passage
Laughing Gull Laughing Gull The Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, is a medium-sized gull of North and South America. It breeds on the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Northernmost populations migrate further south in winter, and this species occurs as a rare vagrant to western...	Larus atricilla	Very rare, BBRC
Franklin's Gull Franklin's Gull The Franklin's Gull is a small gull.-Description:It breeds in central provinces of Canada and adjacent states of the northern United States...	Larus pipixcan	Very rare, BBRC
Little Gull Little Gull The Little Gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus or Larus minutus, is a small gull which breeds in northern Europe and Asia. It also has small colonies in parts of southern Canada. It is migratory, wintering on coasts in western Europe, the Mediterranean and the northeast USA. As is the case with many gulls,...	Larus minutus	Uncommon on passage; rare to scarce in winter;
Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull The Sabine's Gull is a small gull. Its generic placement is disputed; some authors treat it as the sole species in the genus Xema as Xema sabini, while others retain it in the genus Larus as Larus sabini. It breeds in the arctic and has a circumpolar distribution through northernmost North America...	Larus sabini	Very rare, LROS
Black-headed Gull Black-headed Gull The Black-headed Gull is a small gull which breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory, wintering further south, but some birds in the milder westernmost areas of Europe are resident...	Larus ridibundus	Abundant in winter, uncommon breeding
Ring-billed Gull Ring-billed Gull The Ring-billed Gull is a medium-sized gull.Adults are length and with a wingspan. The head, neck and underparts are white; the relatively short bill is yellow with a dark ring; the back and wings are silver gray; and the legs are yellow. The eyes are yellow with red rims...	Larus delawarensis	Very rare, LROS
Common Gull Common Gull The Common Gull or Mew Gull Larus canus is a medium-sized gull which breeds in northern Asia, northern Europe and northwestern North America. It migrates further south in winter...	Larus canus	Abundant in winter, fairly common to common on passage
Lesser Black-backed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa...	Larus fuscus	Common in winter and on passage
Yellow-legged Gull Yellow-legged Gull The Yellow-legged Gull , sometimes referred to as Western Yellow-legged Gull , is a large gull of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, which has only recently achieved wide recognition as a distinct species...	Larus michahellis	Uncommon in winter and on passage
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	Common in winter, scarce to uncommon on passage
Caspian Gull Caspian Gull Caspian Gull is a name applied to the gull taxon Larus cachinnans, a member of the Herring Gull/Lesser Black-backed Gull complex.- Description :...	Larus cachinnans	Uncommon in winter and on passage
Iceland Gull Iceland Gull The Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides, is a large gull which breeds in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland, but not Iceland, where it is only seen in the winter. It is migratory, wintering from in the North Atlantic as far south as the British Isles and northernmost states of the eastern USA,...	Larus glaucoides	Rare to scarce in winter, LROS
Glaucous Gull Glaucous Gull The Glaucous Gull is a large gull which breeds in the Arctic regions of the northern hemisphere and the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans as far south as the British Isles and northernmost states of the USA, also on the Great...	Larus hyperboreus	Rare to scarce in winter, LROS
Great Black-backed Gull Great Black-backed Gull The Great Black-backed Gull is the largest gull in the world, which breeds on the European and North American coasts and islands of the North Atlantic...	Larus marinus	Fairly common in winter, scarce to uncommon on passage
Black-legged Kittiwake Black-legged Kittiwake The Black-legged Kittiwake is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae.This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 as Larus tridactylus....	Rissa tridactyla	Scarce on passage

Terns

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Sternidae

Tern

Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily of the gull family Laridae . They form a lineage with the gulls and skimmers which in turn is related to skuas and auks...

Terns are slender seabirds with long, pointed wings, a pointed bill and a tail which is usually forked. There are about 44 species worldwide, 10 recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Caspian Tern Caspian Tern The Caspian Tern is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no subspecies accepted either...	Hydroprogne caspia	Very rare, BBRC
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis	Scarce on passage
Roseate Tern Roseate Tern The Roseate Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in bill colour and minor plumage details....	Sterna dougallii	Very rare, LROS
Common Tern Common Tern The Common Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, breeding in temperate and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and east and central North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. It is sometimes...	Sterna hirundo	Uncommon to fairly common on passage, uncommon breeding
Arctic Tern Arctic Tern The Arctic Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America...	Sterna paradisaea	Uncommon to fairly common on passage
Bridled Tern Bridled Tern The Bridled Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. It is a bird of the tropical oceans.-Description:...	Onychoprion anaethetus	Very rare, BBRC
Little Tern Little Tern The Little Tern, Sternula albifrons or Sterna albifrons, is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. It was formerly placed into the genus Sterna, which now is restricted to the large white terns . The former North American and Red Sea S. a...	Sternula albifrons	Scarce on passage
Whiskered Tern Whiskered Tern The Whiskered Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in size and minor plumage details....	Chlidonias hybridus	Very rare, BBRC
Black Tern Black Tern The Black Tern, Chlidonias niger, is a small tern generally found in or near inland water in Europe and North America. As its name suggests, it has predominantly dark plumage.- Description :...	Chlidonias niger	Uncommon on passage
White-winged Tern White-winged Tern The White-winged Tern, or White-winged Black Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus, is a small tern generally found in or near bodies of fresh water across from Southeastern Europe east to Australia....	Chlidonias leucopterus	Very rare, LROS

Auks

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

. Family: Alcidae

Auks are seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins with their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, but the living species are able to fly. There are about 23 species worldwide, four of which are rare vagrants in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Guillemot Common Guillemot The Common Murre or Common Guillemot is a large auk. It is also known as the Thin-billed Murre in North America. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring in low-Arctic and boreal waters in the North-Atlantic and North Pacific...	Uria aalge	Very rare, LROS
Razorbill Razorbill The Razorbill is colonial seabird that will only come to land in order to breed. It is the largest living member of the Auk family. This agile bird will choose only one partner for life and females will lay one egg per year. Razorbills will nest along coastal cliffs in enclosed or slightly exposed...	Alca torda	Very rare, LROS
Little Auk Little Auk The Little Auk, or Dovekie , is a small auk, the only member of the genus Alle. It breeds on islands in the high Arctic. There are two subspecies: A. a. alle breeds in Greenland, Iceland, Novaya Zemlya and Spitsbergen, and A. a...	Alle alle	Rare, LROS
Atlantic Puffin Atlantic Puffin The Atlantic Puffin is a seabird species in the auk family. It is a pelagic bird that feeds primarily by diving for fish, but also eats other sea creatures, such as squid and crustaceans. Its most obvious characteristic during the breeding season is its brightly coloured bill...	Fratercula arctica	Very rare, LROS

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes. Family: Pteroclididae

Sturdy, medium-sized birds with a small head and long, pointed wings. There are 16 species worldwide, one of which has occurred as a vagrant in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pallas's Sandgrouse Pallas's Sandgrouse The Pallas's Sandgrouse is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family named after the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas....	Syrrhaptes paradoxus	Very rare, except at least 45 birds in a 1888 population peak and temporary range expansion, BBRC

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes

Columbiformes

Columbiformes are an avian order that includes the very widespread and successful doves and pigeons, classified in the family Columbidae, and the extinct Dodo and the Rodrigues Solitaire, long classified as a second family Raphidae. 313 species, found worldwide, comprise the Columbiformes order....

. Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere

Cère

The Cère is a long river in south-western France, left tributary of the Dordogne River. Its source is in the south-western Massif Central, near the mountain Plomb du Cantal...

. There are about 308 species worldwide, five of which occur in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Feral Pigeon	Columba livia	Common feral resident
Stock Dove	Columba oenas	Common resident breeding
Common Wood Pigeon	Columba palumbus	Abundant resident breeding
Eurasian Collared Dove Eurasian Collared Dove The Eurasian Collared Dove most often simply called the Collared Dove, also sometimes hyphenated as Eurasian Collared-dove is a species of dove native to Asia and Europe, and also recently introduced in North America....	Streptopelia decaocto	Common resident breeding
Turtle Dove Turtle Dove The European Turtle Dove , also known as Turtle Dove, is a member of the bird family Columbidae, which includes the doves and pigeons.-Distribution & Status:...	Streptopelia turtur	Uncommon breeding summer visitor

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes

Cuculiformes

The near passerine bird order Cuculiformes traditionally included three families as below:* Musophagidae - turacos and allies* Cuculidae - cuckoos, coucals, roadrunners and anis* Opisthocomidae - Hoatzin...

. Family: Cuculidae

Cuckoo

The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...

Birds of variable size with slender bodies and long tails. Some species are lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. There are about 141 species worldwide, one of which breeds in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Cuckoo Common Cuckoo The Common Cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals....	Cuculus canorus	Fairly common breeding summer visitor

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes

Owl

Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...

. Family: Tytonidae

Tytonidae

Barn-owls are one of the two families of owls, the other being the true owls, Strigidae. They are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons...

Barn owls are medium-sized to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are about 16 species worldwide, with one in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Barn Owl Barn Owl The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...	Tyto alba	Uncommon breeding resident

Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes

Owl

. Family: 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. There are about 199 species worldwide, with four recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Little Owl Little Owl The Little Owl is a bird which is resident in much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It is not native to Great Britain, but was first introduced in 1842, and is now naturalised there...	Athene noctua	Introduced. Fairly common resident breeding
Tawny Owl Tawny Owl The Tawny Owl or Brown Owl is a stocky, medium-sized owl commonly found in woodlands across much of Eurasia. Its underparts are pale with dark streaks, and the upperparts are either brown or grey. Several of the eleven recognised subspecies have both variants...	Strix aluco	Fairly common resident breeding
Long-eared Owl Long-eared Owl The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl...	Asio otus	Scarce in winter, rare breeding
Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl The Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...	Asio flammeus	Uncommon in winter

Nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes

Caprimulgiformes

The Caprimulgiformes is an order of birds that includes a number of birds with global distribution . They are generally insectivorous and nocturnal...

. Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjar

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills. They are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats . Some New World species are named as nighthawks...

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. There are about 91 species worldwide, one of which occurs in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European Nightjar European Nightjar The European Nightjar, or just Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus, is the only representative of the nightjar family of birds in most of Europe and temperate Asia.- Habitat and distribution :...	Caprimulgus europaeus	Rare to scarce in summer and on passage

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes

Apodiformes

Traditionally, the bird order Apodiformes contained three living families: the swifts , the tree swifts , and the hummingbirds . In the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this order is raised to a superorder Apodimorphae in which hummingbirds are separated as a new order, Trochiliformes...

. Family: Apodidae

Swift

The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are actually not closely related to passerine species at all; swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes, which they share with hummingbirds...

The swifts are small aerial birds, spending 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. There are about 100 species worldwide, two of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Swift Common Swift The Common Swift is a small bird, superficially similar to the Barn Swallow or House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes...	Apus apus	Common summer breeding visitor
Alpine Swift Alpine Swift The Alpine Swift syn. is a species of Swift. The bird is superficially similar to a large Barn Swallow or House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes...	Apus melba	Very rare, LROS

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are about 93 species worldwide, one of which breeds in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	Uncommon breeding resident

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Meropidae

Bee-eater

The bee-eaters are a group of near-passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa and Asia but others occur in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers...

A group of near-passerine birds characterised by richly-coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail-feathers. There are about 26 species worldwide, one of which has occurred in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European Bee-eater European Bee-eater The European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster, is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka...	Merops apiaster	Very rare, LROS

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Coraciidae

Roller

The rollers are an Old World family, Coraciidae, of near passerine birds. The group gets its name from the aerial acrobatics some of these birds perform during courtship or territorial flights. Rollers resemble crows in size and build, and share the colourful appearance of kingfishers and...

A small family of colourful, medium-sized birds with a crow-like shape that feed mainly on insects. There are about 12 species worldwide, one of which has occurred in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European Roller European Roller The European Roller, Coracias garrulus, is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East and Central Asia and Morocco....	Coracias garrulus	Very rare, BBRC

Hoopoe

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Upupidae

Hoopoe

The Hoopoe is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive 'crown' of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae. One insular species, the Giant Hoopoe of Saint Helena, is extinct, and the Madagascar subspecies of the Hoopoe is sometimes...

A distinctive bird in its own family with a long curved bill, a crest and black-and-white striped wings and tail.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Hoopoe Hoopoe The Hoopoe is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive 'crown' of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae. One insular species, the Giant Hoopoe of Saint Helena, is extinct, and the Madagascar subspecies of the Hoopoe is sometimes...	Upupa epops	Very rare, LROS

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes

Piciformes

Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives...

. Family: Picidae

Picidae

The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of near-passerine birds. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia and New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions...

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. There are about 219 species worldwide, four recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian Wryneck Eurasian Wryneck The Eurasian Wryneck, Jynx torquilla, is a species of wryneck in the family of woodpeckers.This species breeds in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It is migratory, wintering in tropical Africa and southern Asia. It is a bird of open woodland and orchards...	Jynx torquilla	Very rare, bred to 1903, LROS
European Green Woodpecker	Picus viridis	Fairly common breeding resident
Great Spotted Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker The Great Spotted Woodpecker , Dendrocopos major, is a bird species of the woodpecker family . It is distributed throughout Europe and northern Asia, and usually resident year-round except in the colder parts of its range...	Dendrocopos major	Fairly common breeding resident
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is assigned to the genus Dendrocopos ....	Dendrocopos minor	Uncommon breeding resident

Larks

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...

. Family: Alaudidae

Lark

Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, and in northern and eastern Australia; only one, the Shore Lark, has spread to North America, where it is called the Horned Lark...

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. There are about 96 species worldwide, three of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wood Lark Woodlark The Woodlark is the only lark in the genus Lullula. It breeds across most of Europe, the Middle East Asia and the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations of this passerine bird are more migratory, moving further south in winter...	Lullula arborea	Rare, bred to about 1840, LROS
Skylark Skylark The Skylark is a small passerine bird species. This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range,...	Alauda arvensis	Common breeding, wintering and on passage
Shore Lark Shore Lark The Shore Lark , called the Horned Lark in North America, is a species of bird in the genus Eremophila.- Description :...	Eremophila alpestris	Very rare, LROS

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Hirundinidae

Swallow

The swallows and martins are a group of passerine birds in the family Hirundinidae which are characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding...

This is a group of passerines characterized by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with wide gape. There are about 83 species worldwide, five of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Sand Martin Sand Martin The Sand Martin is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole of Europe and the Mediterranean countries, part of northern Asia and also North America. It winters in eastern and southern Africa, South America and South Asia...	Riparia riparia	Fairly common summer breeding visitor
Crag Martin Crag Martin The Eurasian Crag Martin or just Crag Martin is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is about 14 cm long with ash-brown upperparts and paler underparts, and a short, square tail that has distinctive white patches on most of its feathers. It breeds in the mountains of southern...	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	Very rare, BBRC
Barn Swallow Barn Swallow The Barn Swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas...	Hirundo rustica	Common summer breeding visitor
Red-rumped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow The Red-rumped Swallow is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It breeds in open hilly country of temperate southern Europe and Asia from Portugal and Spain to Japan, India and tropical Africa. The Indian and African birds are resident, but European and other Asian birds are migratory...	Hirundo daurica	Very rare, LROS
House Martin House Martin The Common House Martin , sometimes called the Northern House Martin or, particularly in Europe, just House Martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and temperate Asia; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia...	Delichon urbicum	Common summer breeding visitor

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae

The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. There are around 65 species in 6 genera and they include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. The longclaws are entirely restricted to the Afrotropics, and the wagtails are predominately found in Europe, Africa and...

The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They are slender, ground-feeding insectivores of open country. There are about 66 species worldwide, 10 of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Citrine Wagtail Citrine Wagtail The Citrine Wagtail or Yellow-headed Wagtail is a small songbird in the family Motacillidae. The term citrine refers to its yellowish colouration. Its systematics, phylogeny and taxonomy are subject of considerable debate in the early 21st century. This is because this bird forms a cryptic...	Motacilla citreola	Very rare, BBRC
Pied Wagtail	Motacilla alba	Common resident breeding
Grey Wagtail Grey Wagtail The Grey Wagtail is a small member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae. The species looks similar to the Yellow Wagtail but has the yellow on its underside restricted to the throat and vent. Breeding males have a black throat...	Motacilla cinerea	Uncommon resident breeding
Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	Uncommon summer breeding visitor, fairly common on passage
Richard's Pipit Richard's Pipit The Richard's Pipit is a medium-sized passerine bird which breeds in open grasslands in northern Asia. It is a long-distance migrant moving to open lowlands in southern Asia. It is a rare but regular vagrant to western Europe...	Anthus richardi	Very rare, LROS
Tree Pipit Tree Pipit Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis, is a small passerine bird which breeds across most of Europe and temperate western and central Asia. It is a long-distance migrant moving in winter to Africa and southern Asia....	Anthus trivialis	Uncommon summer breeding visitor
Meadow Pipit Meadow Pipit The Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, is a small passerine bird which breeds in much of the northern half of Europe and also northwestern Asia, from southeastern Greenland and Iceland east to just east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, and south to central France and Romania; there is also an isolated...	Anthus pratensis	common on passage, fairly common in winter, uncommon breeding
Red-throated Pipit Red-throated Pipit The Red-throated Pipit is a small passerine bird which breeds in the far north of Europe and Asia, with a foothold in northern Alaska. It is a long-distance migrant moving in winter to Africa, south and east Asia and west coast USA...	Anthus cervinus	Very rare, LROS
Water Pipit Water Pipit The Water Pipit, Anthus spinoletta, is a small passerine bird which breeds in the mountains of southern Europe and southern temperate Asia across to China. It is a short-distance migrant moving to wet open lowlands such as marshes and flooded fields in winter...	Anthus spinoletta	Very rare, LROS
Rock Pipit Rock Pipit The Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus, is a small passerine bird species which breeds on rocky coasts of western Europe northwards from Brittany. It is mainly resident in Ireland, Great Britain and France, in the west of its range, but the Scandinavian and Russian populations migrate south in winter;...	Anthus petrosus	Scarce in winter and on passage

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterised by soft, silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. There are three species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bohemian Waxwing Bohemian Waxwing The Bohemian Waxwing is a member of the waxwing family of passerines. A sleek bird, 18–21 cm long with a pointed crest, it travels in large, nomadic groups with a strong, direct flight. It breeds in coniferous forests throughout the most northern parts of Europe, Asia and western North America...	Bombycilla garrulus	Rare to scarce in winter

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Cinclidae

Dipper

Dippers are members of the genus Cinclus in the bird family Cinclidae, named for their bobbing or dipping movements. They are unique among passerines for their ability to dive and swim underwater.-Description:...

Dark, dumpy, aquatic birds that are able to forage for food on the beds of rivers. There are five species worldwide, with one recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White-throated Dipper White-throated Dipper The White-throated Dipper , also known as the European Dipper or just Dipper is an aquatic passerine bird found in Europe, Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. The species is divided into several subspecies, based primarily on colour differences, particularly of the pectoral band...	Cinclus cinclus	Very rare, bred to about 1840, LROS

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and a thin down-turned bill. There are about 80 species worldwide, with one breeding in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wren Winter Wren The Winter Wren is a very small North American bird and a member of the mainly New World wren family Troglodytidae. It was once lumped with Troglodytes pacificus of western North America and Troglodytes troglodytes of Eurasia under the name Winter Wren.It breeds in coniferous forests from British...	Troglodytes troglodytes	Abundant resident breeding

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Prunellidae

A small family of drab, unobtrusive, insectivorous birds with thin, pointed bills. There are 13 species worldwide, with one in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Dunnock Dunnock The Dunnock, Prunella modularis, is a small passerine bird found throughout temperate Europe and into Asia. It is by far the most widespread member of the accentor family, which otherwise consists of mountain species...	Prunella modularis	Abundant resident breeding

Thrushes

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Turdidae

Thrush (bird)

The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...

The thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. There are about 90 species worldwide, six in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Blackbird	Turdus merula	Abundant resident breeding
Ring Ouzel Ring Ouzel The Ring Ouzel is a European member of the thrush family Turdidae.It is the mountain equivalent of the closely related Common Blackbird, and breeds in gullies, rocky areas or scree slopes....	Turdus torquatus	Scarce to uncommon on passage, formerly bred in 19th century, LROS
Fieldfare Fieldfare The Fieldfare is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It breeds in woodland and scrub in northern Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, with many northern birds moving south during the winter. It is a very rare breeder in Great Britain and Ireland, but winters in large numbers in these...	Turdus pilaris	Common in winter, rare in summer
Redwing Redwing The Redwing is a bird in the thrush family Turdidae, native to Europe and Asia, slightly smaller than the related Song Thrush.-Taxonomy:...	Turdus iliacus	Common in winter
Song Thrush Song Thrush The Song Thrush is a thrush that breeds across much of Eurasia. It is also known in English dialects as throstle or mavis. It has brown upperparts and black-spotted cream or buff underparts and has three recognised subspecies...	Turdus philomelos	Common resident breeding
Mistle Thrush Mistle Thrush The Mistle Thrush is a member of the thrush family Turdidae.It is found in open woods and cultivated land over all of Europe and much of Asia...	Turdus viscivorus	Common resident breeding

Old World warblers

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Sylviidae

Old World warbler

The "Old World Warblers" is the name used to describe a large group of birds formerly grouped together in the bird family Sylviidae. The family held over 400 species in over 70 genera, and were the source of much taxonomic confusion. Two families were split out initially, the cisticolas into...

A group of small, insectivorous passerine birds. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs. There are about 408 species worldwide, 18 of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Cetti's Warbler Cetti's Warbler Cetti's Warbler , Cettia cetti, is an Old World warbler which breeds in Europe, northwest Africa and east southern temperate Asia as far as Afghanistan and NW Pakistan. It is the only bush warbler to occur outside Asia...	Cettia cetti	Rare in winter and on passage
Grasshopper Warbler Grasshopper Warbler The Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella naevia, is an Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and Asia. It is migratory, wintering from northwest Africa to India....	Locustella naevia	Uncommon breeding summer visitor
Savi's Warbler Savi's Warbler The Savi's Warbler, Locustella luscinioides, is an Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds in southern Europe into temperate western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa....	Locustella luscinioides	Very rare, LROS
Aquatic Warbler Aquatic Warbler The Aquatic Warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds in temperate eastern Europe and western Asia, with an estimated population of 15,000 pairs. It is migratory, wintering in west Africa...	Acrocephalus paludicola	Very rare, one occurrence in 1864, LROS
Sedge Warbler Sedge Warbler The Sedge Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa...	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	Common breeding summer visitor
Eurasian Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	Fairly common breeding summer visitor
Marsh Warbler Marsh Warbler The Marsh Warbler, Acrocephalus palustris, is an Old World warbler currently classified in the family Acrocephalidae. It breeds in temperate Europe and western Asia and winters mainly in south east Africa...	Acrocephalus palustris	Very rare, LROS
Great Reed Warbler Great Reed Warbler The Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, is an Eurasiaan songbird in the genus Acrocephalus. It used to be placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, but nowadays is recognized to be part of the marsh- and tree-warbler family .-Description:This is a large thrush-sized warbler,...	Acrocephalus arundinaceus	Very rare, BBRC
Willow Warbler Willow Warbler The Willow Warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia...	Phylloscopus trochilus	Abundant breeding summer visitor
Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	Common breeding summer visitor, scarce to uncommon in winter
Western Bonelli's Warbler Western Bonelli's Warbler Western Bonelli's Warbler is a "warbler" in the leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus. It was formerly regarded as the western subspecies of a wider "Bonelli's Warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, this species is now usually considered to be two species :* Western Bonelli's...	Phylloscopus bonelli	Very rare, BBRC
Wood Warbler Wood Warbler The Wood Warbler is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe, and just into the extreme west of Asia in the southern Ural Mountains...	Phylloscopus sibilatrix	Scarce on passage, rare breeding
Yellow-browed Warbler Yellow-browed Warbler The Yellow-browed Warbler is a leaf warbler which breeds in temperate Asia. This warbler is strongly migratory and winters mainly in tropical southeast Asia, but also in small numbers in western Europe...	Phylloscopus inornatus	Very rare, LROS
Greenish Warbler Greenish Warbler The Greenish Warbler and Green Warbler are widespread leaf-warblers throughout their breeding range in northeastern Europe and temperate to subtropical continental Asia. This warbler is strongly migratory and winters in India. It is not uncommon as a spring or early autumn vagrant in Western...	Phylloscopus trochiloides	Very rare, LROS
Blackcap Blackcap The Blackcap is a common and widespread sylviid warbler which breeds throughout temperate Europe, western Asia and northwestern Africa, and winters from northwestern Europe south to tropical Africa...	Sylvia atricapilla	Common breeding summer visitor, uncommon in winter
Garden Warbler Garden Warbler The Garden Warbler, Sylvia borin, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe into western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in central and southern Africa...	Sylvia borin	Fairly common breeding summer visitor
Whitethroat Whitethroat The Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia and Pakistan.This is one of several Sylvia species...	Sylvia communis	Common breeding summer visitor
Lesser Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat The Lesser Whitethroat is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds in temperate Europe, except the southwest, and in western and central Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, wintering in Africa just south of the Sahara, Arabia and India.Unlike many typical warblers,...	Sylvia curruca	Fairly common breeding summer visitor

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Regulidae

A family of very small birds. There are seven species worldwide, with two in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Goldcrest Goldcrest The Goldcrest, Regulus regulus, is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden crest feathers gives rise to its English and scientific names, and possibly to it being called the "king of the birds" in European folklore. Several subspecies are recognised across the very...	Regulus regulus	Fairly common to common breeding summer visitor
Common Firecrest	Regulus ignicapillus	Rare in winter and on passage

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatcher

The Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae is a large family of small passerine birds mostly restricted to the Old World. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.-Characteristics:...

The flycatchers are small birds that fly out from a perch to catch insects in the air or from the ground. There are about 120 species worldwide, 11 of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Spotted Flycatcher Spotted Flycatcher The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in most of Europe and western Asia, and is migratory, wintering in Africa and south western Asia. It is declining in parts of its range....	Muscicapa striata	Uncommon breeding summer visitor
European Pied Flycatcher European Pied Flycatcher The Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family, one of the four species of Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers. It breeds in most of Europe and western Asia. It is migratory, wintering mainly in western Africa. It hybridizes with...	Ficedula hypoleuca	Rare to scarce on passage, very rare breeding
Bluethroat Bluethroat The Bluethroat is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...	Luscinia svecica	Very rare, LROS
Nightingale Nightingale The Nightingale , also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...	Luscinia megarhynchos	Uncommon breeding summer visitor
Red-flanked Bluetail Red-flanked Bluetail The Red-flanked Bluetail , also known as the Orange-flanked Bush-robin, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...	Tarsiger cyanurus	Very rare, BBRC
European Robin European Robin The European Robin , most commonly known in Anglophone Europe simply as the Robin, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family , but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher...	Erithacus rubecula	Abundant resident breeding
European Stonechat European Stonechat The European Stonechat is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a subspecies of the Common Stonechat. Long considered a member of the thrush family Turdidae, genetic evidence has placed it and its relatives in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.It is 11.5–13 cm long and...	Saxicola rubicola	Uncommon in winter and on passage
Whinchat Whinchat The Whinchat Saxicola rubetra is a small migratory passerine bird breeding in Europe and western Asia and wintering in Africa.Its scientific name means "small rock-dweller", in reference to its habitat...	Saxicola rubetra	Uncommon on passage, rare breeding
Northern Wheatear Northern Wheatear The Northern Wheatear or Wheatear is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...	Oenanthe oenanthe	Uncommon on passage, very rare breeding
Black Redstart Black Redstart The Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros is a small passerine bird in the redstart genus Phoenicurus. Like its relatives, it was formerly classed as a member of the Thrush family , but is now known to be an Old World flycatcher .-Description:The Black Redstart is 13–14.5 cm in length and 12–20...	Phoenicurus ochruros	Scarce in winter and on passage, rare breeding
Common Redstart Common Redstart The Common Redstart , or often simply Redstart, is a small passerine bird in the redstart genus Phoenicurus...	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Uncommon in summer and on passage, rare breeding

Babblers

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Timaliidae

Old World babbler

The Old World babblers or timaliids are a large family of mostly Old World passerine birds. They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent...

The babblers are a large and varied group of small to medium-sized passerine birds. There are about 294 species worldwide, including the parrotbills, with one recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bearded Tit Bearded Tit The Bearded Reedling is a peculiar small passerine bird. It is also frequently known as the Bearded Tit due to some similarities to Long-tailed Tits, or Bearded Parrotbill since it was later placed with these after it was removed from the true tits in the family Paridae...	Panurus biarmicus	Rare in winter and on passage

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Aegithalidae

Small, long-tailed birds that typically live in flocks for much of the year. There are eight species worldwide, with one breeding in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Long-tailed Tit Long-tailed Tit The Long-tailed Tit or Long-tailed Bushtit is a common bird found throughout Europe and Asia. There are several extensive accounts of this species, most notably Cramp and Perrins, 1993; Gaston, 1973; and Harrap and Quinn, 1996...	Aegithalos longicaudus	Common breeding resident

Tits

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Paridae

Tits are mainly small, stocky, woodland species with short stout bills. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects. There are about 59 species worldwide, five breeding in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Marsh Tit Marsh Tit The Marsh Tit Poecile palustris is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae and genus Poecile, closely related to the Willow, Père David's and Songar Tits. It is small with a black crown and nape, pale cheeks, brown back and greyish-brown wings and tail. Between 8 and 11 subspecies are recognised...	Parus palustris	Fairly common resident breeding
Willow Tit Willow Tit The Willow Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and northern Asia. It is more of a conifer specialist than the closely related Marsh Tit, which explains it breeding much further north...	Parus montana	Common resident breeding
Coal Tit Coal Tit The Coal Tit, Periparus ater, is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate to subtropical Eurasia and northern Africa. The Spot-winged Tit The Coal Tit, Periparus ater, is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a...	Parus ater	Common resident breeding
Great Tit Great Tit The Great Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa in any sort of woodland. It is generally resident, and most Great Tits do not migrate except in extremely...	Parus major	Abundant resident breeding
Blue Tit Blue Tit The Blue Tit is a 10.5 to 12 cm long passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and western Asia in deciduous or mixed woodlands...	Parus caeruleus	Abundant resident breeding

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Sittidae

Nuthatch

The nuthatches are a genus, Sitta, of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae. Characterised by large heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet, nuthatches advertise their territory using loud, simple songs...

Nuthatches are small woodland birds with the unusual ability to climb down trees head-first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. There are about 24 species worldwide, one breeding in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian Nuthatch Eurasian Nuthatch The Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea, is a small passerine found throughout temperate Europe and Asia, although not in Ireland. It belongs to the nuthatch family Sittidae....	Sitta europaea	Fairly common resident breeding

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Certhiidae

Treecreeper

The treecreepers are a family, Certhiidae, of small passerine birds, widespread in wooded regions of the Northern Hemisphere and sub-Saharan Africa. The family contains ten species in two genera, Certhia and Salpornis...

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. There are seven species worldwide, one breeding in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Treecreeper Common Treecreeper The Eurasian Treecreeper or Common Treecreeper is a small passerine bird also known in the British Isles, where it is the only living member of its genus, simply as Treecreeper. It is similar to other treecreepers, and has a curved bill, patterned brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and long...	Certhia familiaris	Common resident breeding

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Oriolidae

The orioles are medium-sized passerines, mostly with bright and showy plumage, the females often 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 27 species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Eurasian Golden Oriole Golden Oriole The Eurasian Golden Oriole or simply Golden Oriole is the only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in northern hemisphere temperate regions...	Oriolus oriolus	Rare in summer and on passage, LROS

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Laniidae

Shrike

Shrikes are passerine birds of the family Laniidae. The family is composed of thirty-one species in three genera. The family name, and that of the largest genus, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes were also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits...

Shrikes are passerine birds with a 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 that of a bird of prey. There are about 30 species worldwide, three of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great Grey Shrike Great Grey Shrike The Great Grey Shrike or Northern Grey Shrike is a large songbird species in the shrike family . It forms a superspecies with its parapatric southern relatives, the Southern Grey Shrike , the Chinese Grey Shrike and the Loggerhead Shrike...	Lanius excubitor	Rare, LROS
Red-backed Shrike Red-backed Shrike The Red-backed Shrike is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae.English common names include 'Wariangle' and 'worrier'.-Description:...	Lanius collurio	Very rare, bred to 1944, LROS
Woodchat Shrike Woodchat Shrike The Woodchat Shrike is a member of the shrike family Laniidae.The Woodchat breeds in southern Europe, the Middle East and northwest Africa, and winters in tropical Africa. It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with orchard trees and some bare or sandy ground.This migratory medium-sized...	Lanius senator	Very rare, LROS

Crows and allies

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Corvidae

Corvidae

Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs and nutcrackers. The common English names used are corvids or the crow family , and there are over 120 species...

The crows and their relatives are fairly large birds with strong bills and are usually intelligent and adaptable. There are about 119 species worldwide, eight of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Carrion Crow Carrion Crow The Carrion Crow is a member of the passerine order of birds and the crow family which is native to western Europe and eastern Asia.-Taxonomy:...	Corvus corone	Common resident breeding
Common Raven Common Raven The Common Raven , also known as the Northern Raven, is a large, all-black passerine bird. Found across the northern hemisphere, it is the most widely distributed of all corvids...	Corvus corax	Scarce in winter and on passage, rare resident breeding
Hooded Crow Hooded Crow The Hooded Crow is a Eurasian bird species in the crow genus. Widely distributed, it is also known locally as Scotch Crow, Danish Crow, and Corbie or Grey Crow in Ireland, which is what its Welsh name, Brân Lwyd, translates as...	Corvus cornix	Very rare, LROS
Eurasian Jackdaw Jackdaw The Jackdaw , sometimes known as the Eurasian Jackdaw, European Jackdaw or Western Jackdaw, is a passerine bird in the crow family. Found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, it is mostly sedentary, although northern and eastern populations migrate south in winter. Four subspecies are...	Corvus monedula	Common resident breeding
Rook Rook (bird) The Rook is a member of the Corvidae family in the passerine order of birds. Named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, the species name frugilegus is Latin for "food-gathering"....	Corvus frugilegus	Abundant resident breeding
Eurasian Jay Eurasian Jay The Eurasian Jay is a species of bird occurring over a vast region from Western Europe and north-west Africa to the Indian Subcontinent and further to the eastern seaboard of Asia and down into south-east Asia...	Garrulus glandarius	Fairly common resident breeding
European Magpie European Magpie The European Magpie, Eurasian Magpie, or Common Magpie, , is a resident breeding bird throughout Europe, much of Asia and northwest Africa. It is one of several birds in the crow family named as magpies, and belongs to the Holarctic radiation of "monochrome" magpies...	Pica pica	Common resident breeding
Spotted Nutcracker Spotted Nutcracker The Spotted Nutcracker, Eurasian Nutcracker, or just Nutcracker, is a passerine bird slightly larger than the Eurasian Jay. It has a much larger bill and a slimmer looking head without any crest. The feathering over its body is predominantly a chocolate brown with distinct white spots and streaks...	Nucifraga caryocatactes	Very rare, BBRC

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Sturnidae

Starling

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The name "Sturnidae" comes from the Latin word for starling, sturnus. Many Asian species, particularly the larger ones, are called mynas, and many African species are known as glossy starlings because of their iridescent...

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious.There are about 114 species worldwide, two of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rosy Starling Rosy Starling The Rosy Starling or Rose-coloured Starling is a passerine bird in the starling family Sturnidae. It is sometimes given its own, monotypic genus Pastor...	Sturnus roseus	Very rare, LROS
Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Abundant breeding, in winter and on passage

Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Passeridae

Sparrow

The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...

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. There are about 38 species worldwide, two of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
House Sparrow House Sparrow The House Sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the House Sparrow occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia...	Passer domesticus	Common resident breeding
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	Fairly common resident breeding

Finches

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Fringillidae

Finch

The true finches are passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to the Northern Hemisphere, but one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics, one to the Hawaiian Islands, and one subfamily – monotypic at genus level – is found...

Seed-eating passerine birds that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. There are about 176 species worldwide, 13 of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Chaffinch Chaffinch The Chaffinch , also called by a wide variety of other names, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.- Description :...	Fringilla coelebs	Abundant resident breeding
Brambling Brambling The Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.- Etymology :The common English name is probably derived from the German "brâma", meaning bramble or a thorny bush. It has also been called the Cock o' the North and the Mountain Finch.- Description...	Fringilla montifringilla	Uncommon to fairly common in winter and on passage
Common Crossbill Common Crossbill The Common Crossbill is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in the spruce forests of North America, where it is known as Red Crossbill, as well as Europe and Asia; some populations breed in pine forests in certain areas of all three continents, and in North...	Loxia curvirostra	Rare to scarce in winter, very rare breeding, LROS
European Greenfinch European Greenfinch The European Greenfinch, or just Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. The genus Carduelis might be split up and in this case, the greenfinches would be separated in their old genus Chloris again.This bird is widespread throughout Europe, north...	Carduelis chloris	Common to abundant resident breeding
Common Redpoll Common Redpoll The Common Redpoll is a species in the finch family. It breeds somewhat further south than the Arctic Redpoll, also in habitats with thickets or shrubs. Nominate C. f. flammea breeds across the northern parts of North America and Eurasia. There is also an Icelandic subspecies, Icelandic Redpoll...	Carduelis flammea	Rare in winter and on passage, LROS
Lesser Redpoll Lesser Redpoll The Lesser Redpoll is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Carduelis in the finch family, Fringillidae. It is the smallest, brownest and most streaked of the redpolls...	Carduelis cabaret	Fairly common in winter and on passage, rare breeding
Arctic Redpoll Arctic Redpoll The Arctic Redpoll , known in North America as the Hoary Redpoll, is a bird species in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in tundra birch forest. It has two subspecies, C. h. hornemanni of Greenland and neighbouring parts of Canada, and C. h...	Carduelis hornemanni	Very rare, LROS
Eurasian Siskin Eurasian Siskin The Eurasian Siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European Siskin, Common Siskin or just Siskin. Other names include Black-headed Goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia...	Carduelis spinus	Fairly common to commonin winter, very rarebreeding
European Goldfinch European Goldfinch The European Goldfinch or Goldfinch is a small passerine bird in the finch family.-Habitat and range:The goldfinch breeds across Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia, in open, partially wooded lowlands. It is resident in the milder west of its range, but migrates from colder regions...	Carduelis carduelis	Common resident breeding
Twite Twite The Twite is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.The Twite is a small finch, similar in size and shape to a Linnet. Birds of the subspecies flavirostris are long, and those of the subspecies altaica are long. It lacks the red head patch and breast shown by the Linnet and the...	Carduelis flavirostris	Rare in winter and on passage, LROS
Eurasian Linnet	Carduelis cannabina	Fairly common in winter, common breeding
Eurasian Bullfinch Eurasian Bullfinch The Bullfinch, Common Bullfinch or Eurasian Bullfinch is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. In Anglophone Europe it is known simply as Bullfinch, as it is the original bird to bear the name bullfinch.This bird breeds across Europe and temperate Asia...	Pyrrhula pyrrhula	Common resident breeding
Hawfinch Hawfinch The Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, is a passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. Its closest living relatives are the Evening Grosbeak from North America and the Hooded Grosbeak from Central America especially Mexico.This bird breeds across Europe and temperate Asia...	Coccothraustes coccothraustes	Scarce on passage, rare breeding

Buntings

Order: Passeriformes

Passerine

. Family: Emberizidae

Emberizidae

The Emberizidae are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill.In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the sparrows, the...

The Emberizidae are a large family of seed-eating passerine birds with a distinctively shaped bill. There are about 372 species worldwide, eight of which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Yellowhammer Yellowhammer The Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae. It is common in all sorts of open areas with some scrub or trees and form small flocks in winter....	Emberiza citrinella	Common resident breeding
Cirl Bunting Cirl Bunting The Cirl Bunting , Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae....	Emberiza cirlus	Very rare, bred to 1920, LROS
Black-headed Bunting Black-headed Bunting The Black-headed Bunting, Emberiza melanocephala, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae....	Emberiza melanocephala	Very rare, BBRC
Reed Bunting Reed Bunting The Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae....	Emberiza schoeniclus	Common resident breeding
Snow Bunting Snow Bunting The Snow Bunting , sometimes colloquially called a snowflake, is a passerine bird in the longspur family Calcariidae. It is an arctic specialist, with a circumpolar Arctic breeding range throughout the northern hemisphere...	Plectrophenax nivalis	Rare in winter and on passage, LROS
Lapland Bunting Lapland Bunting The Lapland Longspur or Lapland Bunting, Calcarius lapponicus, is a passerine bird in the longspur family Calcariidae, a group separated by most modern authors from the Fringillidae ....	Calcarius lapponicus	Very rare in winter and on passage, LROS
Corn Bunting Corn Bunting The Corn Bunting, Miliaria calandra, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae...	Miliaria calandra	Uncommon resident breeding

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