Birds in Wiltshire
Explore 144 species found in this region.
Wiltshire's diverse landscapes, from the rolling chalk downlands of Salisbury Plain to the river valleys of the Avon and Kennet, support a rich variety of birdlife. With 143 species recorded across the county, birders can enjoy sightings ranging from the iconic Barn Owl hunting over open farmland to the striking Mandarin Duck along wooded waterways. The county's mix of wetlands, ancient woodlands, and grasslands makes it a rewarding destination for birdwatching throughout the year.
Visiting in April? Look out for Barn Swallow and Common Redstart arriving this month, and Common Gull and Common Merganser depart for the season.
Showing 1–23 of 144 species
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
A rare but cherished resident, hunting over Wiltshire's farmland and river valleys at dusk. Benefits from nestbox schemes.
Jan–Oct
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
A common summer visitor, nesting in barns and outbuildings across Wiltshire's farmland from April to October.
Apr–Oct
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
A common year-round resident, abundant in gardens, hedgerows and woodland throughout Wiltshire.
Year-round
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
Found year-round in woodland and mature gardens, with numbers boosted in winter by continental migrants visiting berry-laden hedgerows and garden feeders.
Year-round
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
A common and familiar garden resident throughout Wiltshire, readily using nest boxes and feeders year-round.
Year-round
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia, sometimes joining Chaffinch flocks on farmland and beneath beech trees. Numbers vary greatly between years.
Oct–Apr
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
An uncommon but year-round resident of Wiltshire's hedgerows and scrubby woodland edges, quietly feeding on buds and seeds.
Year-round
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
The county's most frequently seen raptor, soaring over farmland, downland, and woodland edges year-round. Often heard giving its distinctive mewing call.
Year-round
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Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
A familiar resident of lakes, gravel pits, and river meadows, with flocks gathering on Wiltshire's waterways year-round.
Year-round
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
A common resident across all habitats in Wiltshire, from farmland and downland to towns and villages throughout the year.
Year-round
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, its explosive song heard year-round from dense waterside scrub at wetland sites.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
A common resident found in woodlands, hedgerows and gardens across Wiltshire, often forming mixed flocks in winter.
Year-round
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
A common year-round resident of Wiltshire's woodlands and scrub, its repetitive song one of the earliest heard in spring.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
An uncommon year-round resident favouring coniferous and mixed woodlands, regularly visiting garden feeders across Wiltshire.
Year-round
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to Wiltshire's reservoirs and playing fields, mainly seen in winter months and again briefly in July.
Jul–Mar
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Found along clean rivers and streams year-round. A flash of electric blue along the Avon or Kennet is unmistakable.
Year-round
Common Loon
Gavia immerLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally spotted on larger Wiltshire reservoirs during October.
Oct
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally seen on rivers and larger lakes from November to March. Favours clear, fish-rich waters for diving.
Nov–Mar
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
A year-round resident of Wiltshire's farmland and woodland edges, often released for shooting on the Salisbury Plain estates.
Year-round
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
A rare and elusive passage visitor to Salisbury Plain's arable fields in June and July. Far more often heard than seen, with its distinctive triple call.
Jun–Jul
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
An increasingly common resident, its deep cronking call now heard regularly over downland and wooded valleys.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally found in birch and alder stands across Wiltshire from October to April.
Oct–Apr
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
A scarce summer breeder found in mature oak woodland, particularly in the west of the county. Males flash their vivid orange tails from tree-hole nest sites.
Apr–Sep