When to Watch Wildlife

Feedback
 

© PMcS 2006

When to Watch Birds
(showing which birds migrate)
(by English name)

Go to the main birds page.

The big table below shows which bird species can be seen in which month. Some live in Britain permanently, some visit during summer to breed, whilst others just stay the winter to escape the cold of northern Europe.  Furthermore some species which we think of as residents all year round have their numbers significantly boosted in winter, or move around the countryside away from their summer haunts.

There are many other bird species that arrive on these shores, as passage migrants (between the north and the south) or because they have been blown off course.   These are often sought out by the extreme birders (known as 'twitchers').  So keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the experience of spotting something new.
 

Key to table below:
 

Notes:

1.  Months are shown as the equivalent number - i.e. January is month 1 and February is month 2 etc.
2.  Many sea birds remain largely or entirely out at sea through the winter and only land during the breeding season.
3.  Many birds (e.g. ducks) are shown as residents, but in fact are confined to very small breeding areas during summer and are normally seen more commonly in winter.