A-Z of Birds

Herons, storks and ibises

Bittern

One of the rarest breeding birds in the UK, a secretive and difficult to see member of the heron family.

Grouse

Black Grouse

One of the larger members of the grouse family with seven sub-species, the black grouse, whilst categorised as vulnerable within Europe, is stable throughout its Asian areas of occupation.

Auks

Black Guillemot

Also known as the sea pigeon, tystie and greenland dove, this medium-sized bird has two very different plumages.

Grebes

Black Necked Grebe

The black-necked grebe is a highly-sociable, small and dark member of the grebe family. Known as the 'eared grebe' in America.

Chats

Black Redstart

The UK has a small resident breeding population of black redstarts supplemented annually by passage migrants, overwintering birds and summer breeders. Often at home as a city dweller choosing derelict sites, old buildings and industrial areas, the black redstart will also choose cliff ledges, gorges, rock and scree habitats.

Gulls and terns

Black Tern

A graceful tern, easily distinguishable in their black summer plumage, which they're named after.

Herons, egrets and bitterns

Black-crowned Night Heron

The black-crowned night heron lives on five of the world’s continents and is the most geographically widespread of all herons. Found year round mainly in the southern hemisphere, they breed and over winter more commonly within regions of the northern hemisphere.

Gulls and terns

Black-Headed Gull

The title of Black-headed Gull is rather a misnomer for this bird as its head is not black but a dark brown colour and only in adult birds during the breeding season. It is not present during the winter months or in other plumages. Unlike many gulls it is not restricted to coastal regions and is widespread inland in both rural and urban areas.

Sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes

Black-Tailed Godwit

An impressive, proud looking wader with particularly fine summer plumage which migrates south from its northern breeding grounds from July to October, returning for the summer from late February through April.