What birds can I see in Devon?

Devon is home to around 200 recorded bird species, ranging from familiar garden birds like the Great Tit and Magpie to coastal and wetland specialists such as the Common Shelduck and Common Merganser. The county's varied habitats also attract scarcer visitors including the Eurasian Woodcock and Great Grey Shrike.

What are the best habitats for birdwatching in Devon?

Devon offers a rich variety of habitats, including the Exe Estuary, which is one of the premier birdwatching sites in the South West for waders and wildfowl. Dartmoor's moorlands, the wooded river valleys, and the coastal cliffs along both the north and south coasts also provide excellent opportunities for spotting a wide range of species.

When is the best time of year to go birdwatching in Devon?

Birdwatching in Devon is rewarding year-round. Winter brings large flocks of waders and wildfowl to the estuaries, spring and autumn are ideal for spotting passage migrants such as the Common Sandpiper, and summer is perfect for observing breeding birds on Dartmoor and along the coast.

Are there any rare or unusual birds to look out for in Devon?

Devon occasionally hosts rare visitors such as the Great Grey Shrike, which may turn up on heathland or scrubby areas during winter. The Mandarin Duck, though not native, can also be spotted on some of Devon's wooded rivers and lakes, adding a splash of colour to any birdwatching outing.

Birds in Devon

Explore 204 species found in this region.

Devon is one of the most rewarding counties in England for birdwatching, with around 200 species recorded across its diverse landscapes. From the rugged coastlines of Exmoor and the South Devon cliffs to the estuaries of the Exe and Taw, the county supports an impressive range of birdlife including waders such as the Northern Lapwing and Common Sandpiper, wildfowl like the Common Shelduck and Mandarin Duck, and occasional rarities such as the Great Grey Shrike. Whether exploring Dartmoor's upland heaths or the sheltered reedbeds of the Exe Estuary, birders will find something to enjoy in every season.

Visiting in April? Look out for Atlantic Puffin and Black-crowned Night-heron arriving this month, and Barn Owl and Barnacle Goose depart for the season.

GoldcrestSmallest · 8.5cm

Mute SwanLargest · 160cm

Ranges from the Goldcrest (8.5cm) to the Mute Swan (160cm)56 families represented

Showing 1–23 of 204 species

ResidentLives here year-roundBreedingVisits to breed in warmer monthsNon-breedingVisits outside breeding seasonPassagePasses through during migrationCommonly spottedReported on most outingsUncommonly spottedPresent but not always seenRarely spottedFew sightings each year

Arctic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticusLC

A rare but regular autumn passage seabird, best seen from Devon's headlands during strong onshore winds. Harasses terns and gulls to steal their catches.

PassageRarely spotted

Aug–Oct

Arctic Loon

Gavia arcticaLC

A rare midwinter visitor to Devon's coastal waters, mainly in December to February. Usually seen singly in sheltered bays.

Non-breedingRarely spotted

Dec–Feb

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arcticaVU

Breeds on Lundy Island, Devon's only nesting site for this charismatic auk. Present from April to July, nesting in burrows on the island's western slopes.

BreedingRarely spotted

Apr–Jul

Avocet

Recurvirostra avosettaLC

An elegant wader present on Devon's estuaries for much of the year. The Exe Estuary is a key site, with notable winter flocks.

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Jun–Apr

Balearic Shearwater

Puffinus mauretanicusCR

A globally threatened shearwater, passing Devon's coast from July to October. Best seen during onshore winds at key headlands.

PassageRarely spotted

Jul–Oct

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponicaNT

Frequents Devon's estuaries, especially the Exe and Taw-Torridge, probing mudflats with its upturned bill. Most numerous in winter and on autumn passage.

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Jul–May

Barn Owl

Tyto albaLC

A scarce resident of Devon's farmland and rough grassland. Hunts silently at dusk along hedgerows and field margins.

ResidentRarely spotted

Oct–Jul

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rusticaLC

A common summer visitor, hawking insects over Devon's farmland and villages. Often nests in barns and outbuildings from March to November.

BreedingCommonly spotted

Mar–Nov

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Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsisLC

A rare passage visitor, with small numbers occasionally appearing on Devon's estuaries and coastal fields in autumn and late winter.

PassageRarely spotted

Oct–Mar

Black Redstart

Phoenicurus ochrurosLC

A rare winter visitor occasionally spotted along Devon's rocky coastline and harbour walls between October and March.

Non-breedingRarely spotted

Oct–Mar

Black Swan

Cygnus atratusLC

An escaped or feral bird, occasionally seen on Devon's lakes and estuaries from summer into autumn. Native to Australia.

ResidentRarely spotted

Jun–Nov

Black Tern

Chlidonias nigerLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally seen in September over Devon's estuaries and reservoirs, hawking insects over the water.

PassageRarely spotted

Sep

Black-crowned Night-heron

Nycticorax nycticoraxLC

A very rare spring passage visitor, with occasional April records. One of Devon's most sought-after vagrant herons.

PassageRarely spotted

Apr

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollisLC

A rare non-breeding visitor in midwinter, favouring sheltered estuaries and coastal lagoons. Most likely seen in January, February, or December.

Non-breedingRarely spotted

Dec–Feb

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosaNT

A year-round presence on the Exe Estuary, one of the UK's key wintering sites. Feeds on mudflats in large flocks, with numbers peaking from autumn through spring.

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Year-round