List of Birds of the Peak District

Though not exclusively the majority of our birding takes place within this area. Listed below are the species likely to be encountered on an annual basis.

Mute Swan	Common and widespread on the lowlands. More localised in the Peak District and generally absent from the Dark Peak.
Whopper Swan	A regular winter visitor in small numbers to the east of the region. More widespread on passage particularly in March and late October/November.
Bewick’s (Tundra)Swan	A very scarce passage and winter visitor late October/November-March. Recently has become more regular on the Humber Peatlands.
Pink-footed Goose	A common passage migrant mid-September-early April. Usually seen flying over the region as flocks commute between the East and West coasts. Birds on the ground are rarer but regular particularly in the east. Occasional birds (usually thought to be feral) can be encountered all year.
Greylag Goose	A common and increasing resident throughout much of the region though still scarce in the higher areas of the Peak District.
Canada Goose	A very common resident throughout the region.
Barnacle Goose	A localised feral resident .
Egyptian Goose	Breeds regularly in north Nottinghamshire with more sporadic occurrences in other lowland areas. Present all year.
Shelduck	A scarce and localised breeder in the White Peak and lowland areas.
Mandarin Duck	An increasing and locally common feral breeder particularly in the White Peak and western Sheffield
Wigeon	A common winter and passage visitor particularly on the lowlands. Scarce in summer.
Gadwall	A widespread and increasing resident on the lowlands
Teal	An uncommon breeding species present in both the Peak District and lowland areas. Widespread outside the breeding season with large numbers at favoured localities.
Mallard	A common resident throughout the region.
Pintail	An uncommon non-breeding visitor.
Garganey	A scarce passage migrant to lowland areas, particularly March-May and August-September, breeding sporadically.
Shoveler	An uncommon breeder on the lowlands, fairly common as a non-breeder
Red-crested Pochard	A scarce but increasing species, mainly on the lowlands, particularly in north Nottinghamshire. Most are presumed to be of feral origin
Pochard	A common non-breeding visitor to the lowlands and fringes of the Peak District with occasional breeding records
Tufted Duck	A common and widespread breeding resident.
Common Scoter	A scarce passage migrant (particularly in June/July) and rare winter visitor.
Goldeneye	A fairly common and widespread winter visitor. October-March/April.
Red-breasted Merganser	A scarce and decreasing migrant breeder to the Dark Peak.
Goosander	An increasing breeding species in the Peak District. Widespread and fairly common in winter.
Ruddy Duck	Remnants of the feral population survive in the region.
Red Grouse	A common resident in the Dark Peak.
Black Grouse	A small and localised population of re-introduced birds in the Dark Peak. Usually easiest to see in spring.
Red-legged Partridge	A common and widespread in open lowland areas. Scarcer in the Peak District and absent from the higher moors.
Grey Partridge	A widespread but decreasing resident species. Absent from higher moorland.
Quail	A rare passage migrant and migrant breeder with numbers fluctuating annually. Usually in meadows and crops both in the Peak District and lowland areas. May/June to August/September. Very hard to see with most encounters involving hearing singing males.
Pheasant	A very common and widespread resident except on the highest moors
Great Northern Diver	A rare winter and visitor with 1-3 now annual at Carsington Water, Derbyshire. October/November to April/early May.
Cormorant	A fairly common, widespread, and increasing species though yet to breed in most areas.
Bittern	Small numbers breeds around the Humber and likely to do so in some other lowland areas in the near future. Higher number in winter and though still scarce and localised there are some excellent sites for this species in the area.
Little Egret	An uncommon but increasing non-breeding visitor. Mainly a lowland species with highest numbers in late summer/early autumn.
Grey Heron	A common and widespread resident.
Spoonbill	A rare but increasingly regular visitor to the east of the region particularly in late summer/early autumn.
Little Grebe	A common and widespread resident though very localised in the Dark Peak
Great Crested Grebe	Generally a common and widespread resident though largely absent from higher areas.
Red-necked Grebe	A single male currently holds territory at one site. Otherwise a rare passage and winter visitor.
Black-necked Grebe	A migrant breeder to a handful of sites on the lowlands with a few passage and winter visitors.
Honey Buzzard	1-2 pairs breed in north Nottinghamshire. Otherwise a rare but regular non-breeding visitor with early September the peak period.
Red Kite	Still very scarce in the region but increasing and beginning to breed.
Marsh Harrier	An increasing breeder in the east of the region with an expanding range, quite numerous around the Humber where present all year. An uncommon but regular passage/non breeding visitor elsewhere.
Hen Harrier	A localised non breeding visitor to both upland and lowland areas. Suffers heavy persecution on the Peak District grouse moors and most breeding attempts end with the birds being killed.
Goshawk	A scarce breeding species increasing in areas away from the Dark Peak grouse moors where it suffers systematic illegal persecution. By far the easiest time to see this species is in February and March when birds are displaying.
Sparrowhawk	A common resident except on the higher treeless areas
Common Buzzard	A fairly common resident. Increasing in all areas away from grouse moors.
Osprey	An increasing passage migrant with numbers peaking in early spring and early autumn. Odd birds summer and breeding attempts may not be far away.
Kestrel	A common and widespread resident.
Merlin	A scarce breeder in the Dark Peak where it is one of the few birds of prey generally not persecuted. The breeding population is migrant, present April-October, replaced with a smaller number of winter visitors. In winter usually much easier to see on the eastern lowlands
Hobby	Still scarce in the Peak District but increasing. Commoner on the lowlands with some excellent local sites. April/May-September with a few stragglers through to October.
Peregrine	A fairly common and widespread resident. Though regularly persecuted around grouse moors this species is flourishing in other areas including the White Peak and in urban areas.
Water Rail	A localised breeding species on the lowlands with numbers swelled by winter visitors.
Spotted Crake	Very rare but a few birds occur on passage at lowland sites almost annually mainly August to early October.
Moorhen	A common and widespread resident except in the highest areas.
Coot	A common and generally widespread resident though scarce in the Dark Peak.
Common Crane	Though still vary rare, one pair now breeds at a site in the east of the region and non breeding birds are increasing encountered in other areas.
Oystercatcher	A widespread species in small numbers. Generally a migrant breeder in the Peak District but occurs in other areas all year.
Avocet	A migrant breeding species that has recently spread west from the Humber and now breeds in small numbers at a few lowland sites.
Little Ringed Plover	A migrant breeder occurring in small numbers in the uplands and more commonly on the lowlands. March/April to September.
Ringed Plover	An uncommon breeding species found in both upland (where a migrant) and lowland areas. Higher numbers occur on passage.
Dotterel	A scarce migrant usually found in late April to mid-May. Somewhat unpredictable in the Dark Peak of late, there are regular stopover sites in the east of the region.
Golden Plover	A fairly common migrant breeder to the Dark Peak. Large flocks gather at a number of localities on passage and in winter.
Grey Plover	A rare passage migrant peaking in May/early June and September/October.
Lapwing	A fairly common breeder in both the Peak District and lowland areas.
Knot	A rare passage migrant typically in May and September-October.
Sanderling	A rare passage migrant peaking in May and September.
Temminck’s Stint	A very rare but annual passage migrant to lowland areas. May and August to September.
Little Stint	A scarce passage migrant to mainly lowland sites mainly in September and October.
Pectoral Sandpiper	A very rare but annual passage migrant to mainly lowland areas. July to October.
Curlew Sandpiper	A scarce passage migrant particularly to the lowlands and mainly from July-early October peaking in September.
Dunlin	An uncommon breeder on the higher moorland. Common and widespread as a passage migrant with small numbers wintering.
Ruff	A somewhat localised but fairly common passage migrant with higher numbers at lowland sites in late summer and autumn.
Jack Snipe	A scarce (and easily missed) passage migrant and winter visitor.
Common Snipe	A widespread breeding species with high numbers present at some Peak District sites. Common on the lowlands on passage and in winter.
Woodcock	A fairly common resident with high numbers at many Dark Peak woodlands. By far the easiest time to see this species in when males are displaying at dawn and dusk from February to June/early July.
Black-tailed Godwit	A fairly common but localised passage migrant to a number of lowland sites. Scarcer in the Peak District.
Whimbrel	A scarce passage migrant, often overhead, peaking in April/May and August/September.
Curlew	A quite common migrant breeder to the Peak District from February/March to July. Passage birds are widespread, wintering birds rather rare and on the lowlands.
Common Sandpiper	A migrant breeder quite common at some Peak District sites. Widespread as a passage migrant. March/April-September with odd stragglers later.
Green Sandpiper	A fairly common passage migrant to mainly lower sites. A small number winter in the lowlands. Peak numbers July to mid October.
Spotted Redshank	A generally scarce passage migrant though can be fairly common July-early October at a few lowland sites to the east of the region particularly by the Humber.
Greenshank	A passage migrant, fairly common to the east. April-May and particularly July to early October.
Wood Sandpiper	A rare passage migrant mainly from mid April-May and August-September. Most frequent on the lowlands.
Redshank	A very scarce migrant breeder in the peak District, somewhat more common on the lowlands where present all year.
Turnstone	A very scarce passage migrant to both uplands and lowlands.
Black-headed Gull	An abundant species though more localised to breeding colonies in both the Peak District and lowland areas during the breeding season
Mediterranean Gull	Still rare but starting to breed at a few lowland sites. Also found in winter but in very small numbers.
Common Gull	A fairly common passage and winter visitor, scarce in summer.
Lesser Black-backed Gull	A common non-breeding visitor with birds present all year but with the highest numbers from mid-summer through winter. Occasionally breeds in the east of the region.
Herring Gull	A fairly common passage and winter visitor. Most present October/November to March.
Yellow-legged Gull	A scarce but regular non breeding visitor with peak numbers usually in late summer to early autumn.
Caspian Gull	A rare but regular visitor most frequently in winter.
Iceland Gull	A rare and decreasing winter visitor.
Glaucous Gull	A rare and decreasing winter visitor.
Great Black-backed Gull	A fairly common winter visitor though less widespread then Herring and and Lesser Black-backed Gulls with most present October/November to March
Black Tern	A scarce passage migrant most frequently encountered in late April/May and August/September.
Common Tern	A migrant breeder to lowland sites. Locally common mid-April-September.
Arctic Tern	A scarce passage migrant typically found in late April/May and August/September.
(Feral) Rock Dove/Pigeon	A very common resident.
Stock Dove	A common resident present at both Peak District pastures and lowland arable areas as well as in towns.
Woodpigeon	An abundant and widespread resident with even larger numbers in winter. Overhead migration can be spectacular in late autumn.
Collared Dove	A generally common resident though absent from many higher areas.
Turtle Dove	This species has suffered a drastic decline but is still present at a few sites to the east of the region. Mainly present May to September.
Ring-necked Parakeet	A small feral population is resident in suburban areas of South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
Cuckoo	Still fairly common particularly along the moorland fringe and on lowland heaths. Mid-April to July with juveniles through until September.
Barn Owl	An uncommon resident in the White Peak and lowland arable areas though with some good local sites.
Little Owl	A fairly common and widespread resident except on the high open moors.
Tawny Owl	A common resident throughout wooded areas.
Long-eared Owl	A very scarce and elusive resident breeder. Higher numbers are present in winter with communal roosts at lowland sites often providing the best opportunity to see this species.
Short-eared Owl	A migrant breeder in the Peak District somewhat nomadic in nature with wide annual fluctuations in numbers. Winter visitors present on both the uplands (depending on weather conditions) and lowlands.
Nightjar	A migrant breeder now rare and very localised in Derbyshire but with a number of small populations on the South Yorkshire moorland fringe. Larger populations are present in eastern South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. Mid-may to mid August with occasional birds to mid-September.
Swift	A common migrant breeder. Widespread though usually scarcer in higher areas. Late April to March with a few stragglers into September.
Kingfisher	A fairly common resident mainly in the White Peak and lowland areas.
Green Woodpecker	A fairly common and widespread resident. Scarcer in the uplands with high numbers at favoured lowland sites.
Great Spotted Woodpecker	A common resident throughout wooded areas.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	A more localised resident than the other woodpeckers but with good numbers present in some areas including suburban Sheffield and particularly north Nottinghamshire. Easiest to see when singing and displaying in early spring
Great Grey Shrike	A winter and passage visitor October-April. Numbers peak in spring, and particularly, autumn, with usually at least 4 overwintering in the region. Typically occurs on moorland with scattered trees and lowland heaths.
Magpie	A common resident except on the open moors.
Jay	A common resident widespread through the regions woodlands.
Rook	A common resident except on most of the open moors.
Jackdaw	A common resident except on the higher moorland areas.
Carrion Crow	A common and widespread resident.
Raven	Though still persecuted on grouse moors this species has become increasingly common and has begun to expand out of the Peak District to lowland areas.
Goldcrest	A common and quite widespread resident, abundant in coniferous woodland.
Firecrest	A recent colonist with a small and sporadic population of migrant breeders in the Peak District. A scattering of birds are also present on the lowlands outside the breeding season.
Blue Tit	An abundant resident throughout the areas deciduous and mixed woodland.
Great Tit	An abundant resident throughout the areas deciduous and mixed woodland.
Coal Tit	A common resident throughout the areas woodland, abundant in coniferous woodland.
Willow Tit	A resident locally common at several lowland wetland sites. A small population is also present around the Peak District moorland fringe.
Marsh Tit	A locally fairly common resident restricted to the White Peak and North Nottinghamshire.
Bearded Reedling/Tit	A resident breeder at a single Humber site on the edge of the area. A very rare non-breeding visitor elsewhere on the lowlands.
Woodlark	A migrant breeder to a number of lowland sites in South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. Arrives February/March with sightings becoming scarce after the song period ends in July.
Skylark	Common and widespread in open areas. A migrant breeder in higher areas but present on the lowland all year.
Sand Martin	A fairly common migrant breeder in both the Peak District and lowlands. Present mid-March to September.
Swallow	A common and widespread migrant breeder. Present April to September with small numbers through to mid-October.
House Martin	A common and widespread migrant breeder. Present mainly late April to early October.
Cetti’s Warbler	A recent colonist to the lowlands though still rare. Typically a flush of new arrivals late October/November.
Long-tailed Tit	A common and widespread resident.
Wood Warbler	A migrant breeder which has declined but still maintains several strongholds in upland deciduous and mixed woodland. Arrives mid-late April and usually leaves promptly in early July.
Chiffchaff	A common migrant breeder in deciduous woodland and wooded scrub throughout much of the region. Most present March to October with a small wintering population.
Willow Warbler	An abundant and widespread migrant breeder, often reaching very high densities, in open woodland and scrub. Late March to September.
Blackcap	A common and widespread migrant breeder with a moderate sized winter population.
Garden Warbler	A locally common migrant breeder in scrubby habitat both on the lowlands and along the moorland fringe.
Lesser Whitethroat	Very local in the Peak District but fairly common and widespread to the east of the region. Mid-April to September. Easiest to find when singing until June.
Common Whitethroat	A locally common migrant breeder at lowland sites and along the moorland fringe. Mid-April to September.
Grasshopper Warbler	A localised breeder to both upland bogs and a variety of lowland habitats with rank undergrowth. Easiest to see in spring around dawn and dusk.
Sedge Warbler	A somewhat localised but fairly common species on the lowlands. Mid-April-September. Easiest to see when singing up to July.
Reed Warbler	A localised migrant breeder to lowland sites. High numbers at some of the more extensive reedbeds. Mid-April to early September though easiest when singing up to July.
Waxwing	A winter visitor with numbers fluctuating annually but rarely completely absent. Can be found anywhere with berries but particularly fond of suburban areas. Birds arrive late October/November and can leave at any point between March and early May.
Nuthatch	A common and widespread resident throughout the regions deciduous and mixed woodland though scarcer in some of the higher woodlands.
Treecreeper	A common and widespread resident in all forms of woodland.
Wren	An abundant resident in virtually all habitats throughout the region.
Starling	A common resident on the lowlands and some upland pastures.
Dipper	A common resident in the west of the region. Found in both the Dark and White Peak as well as on many watercourses flowing east from the Pennines including in urban areas
Blackbird	A common resident throughout the area except on the higher open moors. Large numbers of additional birds winter.
Ring Ouzel	A localised migrant breeder to the Dark Peak. The first birds arrive in March but become more widespread in April and are easiest to see from then until the end of the song period in June. Early morning and late evening visits are the most productive. Local birds are present until September with a few migrants into October.
Fieldfare	A common and widespread winter and passage visitor from October to mid April. Very rare in summer but with occasional breeding attempts.
Song Thrush	A common and widespread resident in all wooded and scrub areas.
Redwing	A common and widespread winter and passage visitor from October to March with smaller numbers to early April.
Mistle Thrush	A common and widespread resident particularly along the moorland fringe.
Spotted Flycatcher	A fairly common migrant breeder particularly to upland woodland. Generally arrives mid-May and leaves September.
Robin	An abundant resident in all areas of woodland and scrub.
Nightingale	A migrant breeder now restricted to a couple of sites on the lowlands. Generally only recorded during the song period mid April-June.
Black Redstart	Formerly a rare but regular breeder in urban Sheffield, nesting attempts are currently sporadic. Otherwise a rare passage migrant particularly in late autumn.
Redstart	A localised but fairly common migrant breeder to upland woodland. Easiest to find during the song period mid-April to June though birds still present in September.
Whinchat	A localised migrant breeder particularly to moorland edges. Late April to September.
Stonechat	A locally fairly common resident particularly in the Dark Peak. Numbers fluctuate in line with winter weather conditions.
(Northern) Wheatear	A fairly common migrant breeder mainly to upland areas. Migrants are more widespread. Late March to September with a few migrants later.
Pied Flycatcher	A locally fairly common migrant breeder particularly to the Dark Peak. Mid-April to July with a few stragglers and migrants through to September.
Dunnock	A common resident except on the highest moorland.
House Sparrow	A common resident in areas of human habitation.
Tree Sparrow	Though much declined a number of very good sites still exist in the region.
Yellow Wagtail	A much declined migrant breeder now with a restricted range in the east of region. More widespread on passage particularly in autumn. Mid-April to September.
Grey Wagtail	A fairly common species found in the region throughout the year but abandoning the higher ground in winter and becoming more widespread on the lowlands.
White Wagtail	A passage migrant, most commonly to the lowlands, with most birds identified in March and April.
Pied Wagtail	A common and widespread resident except on the higher moorland areas.
Tree Pipit	A migrant breeder still locally common in lightly wooded areas in the uplands and some lowland heaths. Mid-April to July when birds are singing is the easiest period to see them with migration taking place in August.
Meadow Pipit	A common breeder, abundant on moorland. Higher areas are largely abandoned in winter.
Chaffinch	A common resident throughout the region except on the open moors.
Brambling	A winter and passage visitor in variable numbers, mainly October-early April.
Greenfinch	A common and widespread resident except on the highest ground.
Goldfinch	A common and widespread breeder. Present all year but partly migratory with birds rare in higher areas in winter.
Siskin	A common breeder in coniferous Dark Peak woodland. Widespread outside the breeding season with additional winter visitors.
Linnet	A common resident along the moorland fringe and in lowland areas of scrub and farmland. A migrant breeder in upland areas.
Twite	A migrant breeder that as declined hugely in recent years due to changes in Peak District agriculture. A tiny population persists, present March-October/November.
Lesser Redpoll	Still a fairly common resident found particularly in Dark Peak conifer and birch woods. Numbers fluctuate annually. Present in higher numbers on passage and winter when widespread through wooded areas.
Common (Mealy) Redpoll	A generally rare passage and winter visitor with influxes in some winters. Typically found in birch and alder. October-April.
Common Crossbill	Numbers vary greatly from year to year but some birds at least are present annually in Peak District coniferous woodlands. Periodic influxes are signalled by the arrival of birds in June.
Bullfinch	A common and widespread resident in wooded and scrub areas.
Hawfinch	A scarce resident that has declined in most areas but still maintains a presence in the White Peak and North Nottinghamshire. Easiest to see November to March, very tricky outside this period.
Yellowhammer	A fairly common resident around the moorland fringe and at lowland heaths and arable land.
Reed Bunting	A fairly common resident at both wet moorland and lowland wetlands sites.
Corn Bunting	A much declined resident breeder still present at a few lowland sites.

Rarities

In addition to the more regular species, listed below are some of the rarer species we have recorded in the area since 2005.

(Eurasian) White-fronted Goose Little Swift

American Wigeon Wryneck

Green-winged teal Saxual (Southern) Grey Shrike

Ringed-necked Duck Red-rumped Swallow

Scaup Western Bonelli’s warbler

Slavonian Grebe Dartford Warbler

Stone Curlew Iberian Chiffchaff

Marsh Sandpiper Savi’s warbler

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Arctic Redpoll

Kittiwake Common Rosefinch

White-winged (Black) Tern