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British birds


Mallard

The list of British birds comprises all those bird species which have occurred in a wild state in Great Britain. In general the avifauna of Britain is, of course, similar to that of Europe, although with fewer breeding species. There are about 550 species of birds on the British list.

Because of its mild winters, Great Britain has a considerable population of wintering species, particularly ducks, geese and swans. There are also a number of species, such as Oystercatcher, which are resident in this island, but migrants elsewhere.

Because of its position, Britain receives a number of vagrants from Asia and North America. Some American gulls, ducks and waders are regular enough to not be considered rare. These include Ring-billed Gull, Surf Scoter and Pectoral Sandpiper. 150 of the latter species were found in Britain in the record month of September 2003, with a further 40 in Ireland.

This page lists the British bird species in the non-passerine families, which are listed in accordance with the 2003 reordering of the British list. See also British birds: passerines

Table of contents
1 List of British birds
2 References and links
3 See also

List of British birds

Anseriformes

Galliformes

Gaviiformes

Podicipediformes

Procellariiformes

Pelecaniformes


White Stork

Ciconiiformes

Accipitriformes

Some classifications also include the Falconidae.

Falconiformes

Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes

Gruiformes

Charadriiformes


Dunlin

Pterocliformes

Columbiformes

Psittaciformes

Cuculiformes

Strigiformes

Caprimulgiformes

Apodiformes

Coraciiformes

Piciformes

Passeriformes

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

References and links

See also