With over 260 different types of birds in the UK, it can almost be impossible to identify every single species. There are still a fair few contenders to sift through when it comes to birds with red heads or red patches on their heads.
Luckily, we've put together this article with all the birds that may help you with your identification.
The most common birds with red heads
The birds below are the most likely birds to see in the UK that have red heads, as they are generally quite common. However, it can vary slightly depending on your location.
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Length
12-13cm
Wingspan
21-25cm
Weight
14-19g
Goldfinch
There is a large population of goldfinches in the UK, and they can be seen everywhere in the country - although they are more popular in Southern England. These birds will usually be around scattered bushes and trees, thistles and any rough ground.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
Length
23-26cm
Wingspan
38-44cm
Weight
70-98g
Great Spotted Woodpecker
These woodpeckers are usually found in woodland, parks and large gardens. They like more mature, broad trees and conifers. They are much more common in England and Wales but can be seen throughout the country.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers are rather fond of peanut feeders and bird tables too.
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridis
Length
30-36cm
Wingspan
40-42cm
Weight
180-220g
European Green Woodpecker
These are the largest breeding woodpeckers in the UK, and you can usually see them on garden lawns and in parks. This is because they spend most of their time feeding on the ground, particularly hunting for ants.
Green Woodpeckers can generally be seen throughout the country but are absent from the far north and west and Ireland.
Lesser Redpoll
Acanthis cabaret
Length
11-13cm
Wingspan
20-22.5cm
Weight
9-12g
Lesser Redpoll
You'd assume that the common redpoll would be more common than the lesser redpoll, but the lesser is much more abundant in the UK. These tiny finches were recently split into their own species from the common redpoll. They are only slightly bigger than a blue tit and can mainly be seen in woodland and gardens.
The lesser redpoll has a breeding population across Scotland, northern and eastern England and Wales. You're a lot less likely to see these birds in other parts of England, but sightings can happen during the winter months.
Linnet
Linaria cannabina
Length
13-14cm
Wingspan
21-25cm
Weight
15-20g
Linnet
Once a popular caged bird, these small, slender finches are residents over most of the UK and have a well-established population. Male linnets have reddish breasts and foreheads, with females being much browner all over.
Large numbers of these birds can usually be seen along the coast from Kent all the way up to Aberdeenshire. Usually, they can be found on parks, gardens, saltmarshes, farmland hedges and rough ground.
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Length
50-90cm
Wingspan
70-90cm
Weight
720-1600g
Pheasant
These large, vocal gamebirds can be seen almost everywhere across the country. Male pheasants are the more colourful out of the sexes, and they have dark green heads with red face markings.
European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
Length
12.5-14cm
Wingspan
20-22cm
Weight
16-22g
Robin
One of the UK's favourite birds, the robin has a distinctive red breast and can be seen all year round all over the country. Male and female robins look exactly the same, with juveniles having no red breasts; instead, it's a golden brown colour with spots.
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Length
17-19cm
Wingspan
32-34cm
Weight
16-22g
Swallow
These small birds have reddish throats, glossy blue backs and distinctive long tail streamers. They arrive in the UK for summer and can be seen most of the time performing superb displays in the air. When winter comes, swallows migrate south.
Less common birds with red heads in the UK
The re headed birds below are fairly rare and much less common in the UK. However, it can vary slightly depending on your location.
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Length
11.5-14cm
Wingspan
19-22cm
Weight
10-18g
Common Redpoll
Don't let the name fool you, as the Common Redpoll isn't actually that common at all here in the UK. With an estimated UK breeding of between 1-4 birds and 300 wintering, you'll have to be extremely lucky to see one of these.
In winter, you're most likely to see these birds on the east coast.
Common Crane
Grus grus
Length
100-130cm
Wingspan
180-240cm
Weight
3-6.1kg
Crane
These large, pleasant birds have a small breeding population in Norfolk and a re-introduced population in Somerset. In spring and autumn, small numbers can be found passing through Britain.
Cranes are predominately grey but have dark necks, with patches of white and a red mark.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minor
Length
14-16cm
Wingspan
25-27cm
Weight
17-25g
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Unlike the great spotted and green woodpeckers, these small resident woodpeckers are a lot less common. Males are the only sex to have a vibrant red crown.
These woodpeckers are generally much quieter with their tapping and will nest and feed higher up.
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Length
23-29cm
Wingspan
40-45cm
Weight
120-300g
Little Grebe
In the summer months, the little grebe has bright reddish cheeks and throat. They are small and rather plump looking and can sometimes appear to have a fluffy rear end.
These birds can be seen in most parts of the UK, but not usually in upland areas.
Pochard
Aythya ferina
Length
42-49cm
Wingspan
67-75cm
Weight
690-1200g
Pochard
During the spring and winter months, it's quite straightforward to distinguish male pochards. Their heads are a reddish-brown colour, with dark breasts and light bodies. Female pochards are often mistaken with other species, as they are mostly brown with grey bodies and pale cheeks.
However, when pochards grow new feathers, males and females do look extremely similar.
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena
Length
40-50cm
Wingspan
77-85cm
Weight
750-1600g
Red-Necked Grebe
Red Grebes are rare in the UK, with less than 20 of these birds spending the summer here. During winter, the number of these birds increases slightly, but usually not by many.
In summer, these birds have red necks and chests.
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina
Length
53-57cm
Wingspan
85-100cm
Weight
900-1400g
Red-Crested Pochard
Males have orange-brown heads, with pale flanks and red beaks. Females have pale cheeks and are brown all over.
Spain has a substantial population of red-crested pochards, but closer to the UK, France, Netherlands and Germany all have small but good populations of these birds.
This is where sometimes the occasional bird will come over to the UK. All of the breeding birds in the UK are said to come from escaped birds.
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulus
Length
19-23cm
Wingspan
32-35cm
Weight
55-80g
Waxwing
Waxwings are winter visitors to the UK and are slightly smaller than starlings in size. They don't breed in the UK but can be seen in large numbers during some winters.
They have a very distinctive crest, with reddish-brown bodies and black throats. They have a yellow tip on their tails, white and yellow on the wings and small black masks around their eyes.
What is the most common bird with a red head?
The most common bird you'll see in the UK with a red head, will probably be either a Robin or Goldfinch. This is because out of the red-headed birds they are by far the most popular and are much more likely to visit your garden than most of the others.