A Checklist of Somerset Birds

The Somerset List to the end of 2014 contains 357 species. Using the BOURC classification 336 are in Category A, 18 in B and three in C. Golden Pheasant has been removed from the list as it is considered that there never was a self-sustaining population in Somerset.

An explanation of the BOUC classification is given below.

A Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.

B Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least prior to 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.

C1 Naturalized introduced species - species that have occurred only as a result of introduction, e.g. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus

C2 Naturalized established species – species with established populations resulting from introduction by Man, but which also occur in an apparently natural state, e.g. Greylag Goose Anser anser

C3 Naturalized re-established species – species with populations successfully re-established by Man in areas of former occurrence, e.g. Red Kite Milvus milvus.

C4 Naturalized feral species – domesticated species with populations established in the wild, e.g. Rock Pigeon (Dove)/Feral Pigeon Columba livia

C5 Vagrant naturalized species – species from established naturalized populations abroad, e.g. possibly some Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea occurring in Britain. There are currently no species in category C5.

C6 Former naturalized species - species formerly placed in C1 whose naturalized populations are either no longer self-sustaining or are considered extinct, e.g. Lady Amherst’s Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae. D Species that would otherwise appear in Category A except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state. Species placed in Category D only form no part of the British List, and are not included in the species totals.

E Species recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining. Species in Category E that have bred in the wild in Britain are designated as E*. Category E species form no part of the British List (unless already included within Categories A, B or C).

The table below also gives the reporting status against the species that are classed as requiring either County or National submissions. SOSRC (F) requires full description and SOSRC (S) short notes, whereas BBRC requires submission to the British Birds Rarity Committee. The SOSRC submissions form can be found here.

Somerset Vernacular name Scientific name Category status Mute Swan Cygnus olor A

Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus A

Whooper Swan Cygnus Cygnus A SOSRC (S)

Bean Goose Anser fabalis A SOSRC (F)

Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus A SOSRC (F)

White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons A SOSRC (S)

Greylag Goose Anser anser A, C2

Canada Goose Branta canadensis C1

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis A, C2

Brent Goose Branta bernicla A

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca A

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea B

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna A

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata C1

Wigeon Anas penelope A

American Wigeon Anas americana A SOSRC (F)

Gadwall Anas strepera A

Teal Anas crecca A

Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis A SOSRC (F)

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos A

Pintail Anas acuta A

Garganey Anas querquedula A

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors A BBRC

Shoveler Anas clypeata A

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina A, C2 SOSRC (S)

Pochard Aythya ferina A

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris A SOSRC (F)

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca A SOSRC (F)

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula A

Scaup Aythya marila A

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis A SOSRC (F)

Eider Somateria mollissima A

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis A SOSRC (S)

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra A

Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca A SOSRC (S)

Goldeneye Bucephala clangula A

Smew Mergellus albellus A

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator A

Goosander Mergus merganser A

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicenas C1

Quail Coturnix coturnix A

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa A

Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus A SOSRC (F)

Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix A SOSRC (F)

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix A

Pheasant Phasianus colchicus A

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata A SOSRC (S)

Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica A SOSRC (F)

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer A SOSRC (S)

Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche cholororhynchos A BBRC

Fulmar Fulmaris glacialis A

Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis A SOSRC (F)

Great Shearwater Puffinis gravis A SOSRC (F)

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus A SOSRC (F)

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus A

Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus A SOSRC (F)

Macaronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli A BBRC

Wilson’s Petrel Oceanites oceanicus A SOSRC (F)

Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus A SOSRC (S)

Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa A SOSRC (S)

Gannet Morus bassanus A

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo A

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis A SOSRC (S)

Bittern Botaurus stellaris A

American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus B BBRC

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus A BBRC

Night-heron Nycticorax Nycticorax A SOSRC (F)

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides A BBRC

Cattle Egret Bulbulcus ibis A SOSRC (F)

Little Egret Egretta garzetta A

Great White Egret Ardea alba A SOSRC (S)

Grey Heron Ardea cinera A

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea A SOSRC (F)

Black Stork Ciconia nigra A BBRC

White Stork Ciconia ciconia A SOSRC (F)

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus A SOSRC (F)

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia A SOSRC (S)

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps A BBRC

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis A

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus A

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena A SOSRC (S)

Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus A SOSRC (S)

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis A SOSRC (S)

Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus A SOSRC (F)

Black Kite Milvus migrans A SOSRC (F)

Red Kite Milvus milvus A

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla B SOSRC (F)

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus B BBRC

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus A

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus A

Pallid Harrier Circus cyaneus A BBRC

Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus A SOSRC (F)

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis A SOSRC (S)

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A

Buzzard Buteo buteo A

Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus A SOSRC (F)

Osprey Pandion haliaetus A SOSRC (S)

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus A

Spotted Crake Porzana porzana A SOSRC (F)

Little Crake Porzana parva B BBRC

Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla B BBRC

Corncrake Crex crex A SOSRC (F)

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A

Coot Fulica atra A

Crane Grus grus A

Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax B BBRC

Great Bustard Otis tarda B BBRC

Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus A SOSRC (F)

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus A BBRC

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta A

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus A

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica A SOSRC (F) Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria A

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola A

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus A

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius A

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula A

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus A SOSRC (F)

Dotterel Charadrius morinellus A SOSRC (S)

Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda B BBRC

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus A

Curlew Numenius arquata A

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa A

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica A

Turnstone Arenaria interpres A

Knot Calidris canutus A

Ruff Calidris pugnax A

Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus A BBRC Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea A

Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii A SOSRC (F)

Sanderling Calidris alba A

Dunlin Calidris alpina A

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima A

Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii A BBRC

White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis A SOSRC (F) Little Stint Calidris minuta A

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngitess subruficollis A SOSRC (F) Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos A SOSRC (F)

Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla A BBRC Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor A BBRC

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus A SOSRC (F)

Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius A SOSRC (S)

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus A BBRC

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos A

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius A

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus A

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus A

Greenshank Tringa nebularia A

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes A BBRC

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis A BBRC

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola A

Redshank Tringa totanus A

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus A

Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus A BBRC

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola A

Snipe Gallinago gallinago A

Great Snipe Gallinago media A

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola B BBRC

Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni A BBRC Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor B BBRC Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus A SOSRC (S)

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus A

Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus A SOSRC (F)

Great Skua Stercorarius skua A

Puffin Fratercula arctica A SOSRC (F)

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle A SOSRC (F)

Razorbill Alca torda A

Little Auk Alle alle A SOSRC (F)

Guillemot Uria aalge A

Little Tern Sternula albifrons A

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica A BBRC

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia A BBRC

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida A BBRC

Black Tern Chlidonias niger A

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus A SOSRC (F) Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis A

Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri A BBRC

Common Tern Sterna hirundo A

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii A SOSRC (F)

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea A

Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnean B BBRC

Sabine's Gull Xema sabini A SOSRC (S)

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla A

Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia A BBRC

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus A

Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus A

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla A BBRC

Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan A BBRC

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus A

Common Gull Larus canus A

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis A SOSRC (F)

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus A Herring Gull Larus argentatus A

Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis A SOSRC (S)

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans A SOSRC (F)

Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides A SOSRC (S)

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus A SOSRC (S)

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus A Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus B BBRC

Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon Columba livia A Stock Dove Columba oenas A

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus A

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto A

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur A

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus A

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus B BBRC

Barn Owl Tyto alba A

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus B

Little Owl Athene noctua A

Tawny Owl Strix aluco A

Long-eared Owl Asio otus A

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus A

Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus A

Swift Apus apus A

Alpine Swift Apus melba A SOSRC (F)

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis A

Bee-eater Merops apiaster A SOSRC (F)

Roller Coracias garrulus A

Hoopoe Upupa epops A SOSRC (S)

Wryneck Jynx torquilla A SOSRC (S)

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis A

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor A Kestrel Falco tinnunculus A

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus A SOSRC (F)

Merlin Falco columbarius A

Hobby Falco subbuteo A

Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus B BBRC

Peregrine Falco peregrinus A

Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri A

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus A SOSRC (S)

Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus A BBRC

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio A SOSRC (F)

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor A BBRC

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor A SOSRC (S)

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator A SOSRC (F)

Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax A SOSRC (F)

Magpie Pica pica A

Jay Garrulus glandarius A

Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes A BBRC

Jackdaw Corvus monedula A

Rook Corvus frugilegus A

Carrion Crow Corvus corone A

Hooded Crow Corvus cornix A SOSRC (F)

Raven Corvus corax A

Goldcrest Regulus regulus A

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla A

Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus A SOSRC (F)

Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus A

Great Tit Parus major A

Coal Tit Periparus ater A

Willow Tit Poecile montana A SOSRC (F)

Marsh Tit Poecile palustris A

Bearded Tit PanurusBiarmicus A

Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla A SOSRC (F)

Crested Lark Galerida cristata A BBRC

Woodlark Lullula arborea A SOSRC (S)

Skylark Alauda arvensis A

Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris A

Sand Martin Riparia riparia A

Swallow Hirundo rustica A

House Martin Delichon urbicum A

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica A SOSRC (F)

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti A

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus A

Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus A SOSRC (F)

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus A SOSRC (S) Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus A SOSRC (F)

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix A

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita A

Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus A BBRC

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus A

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla A

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin A

Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria A SOSRC (F)

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca A

Whitethroat Sylvia communis A

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata A

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala A BBRC

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia A

Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides A BBRC

Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina A SOSRC (F)

Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta A SOSRC (F)

Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola A BBRC

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus A

Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris A SOSRC (F)

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus A

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus A BBRC

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulous A SOSRC (S)

Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria A BBRC

Nuthatch Sitta europaea A

Treecreeper Certhia familiaris A

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes A

Starling Sturnus vulgaris A

Rose-coloured Starling Pastor roseus A SOSRC (F)

Dipper Cinclus cinclus A

White's Thrush Zoothera dauma B BBRC

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus A

Blackbird Turdus merula A

Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis A BBRC

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris A

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos A

Redwing Turdus iliacus A

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus A

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata A

Robin Erithacus rubecula A

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos A

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica A SOSRC (F)

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva A SOSRC (F) Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca A

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros A

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus A

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra A

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus A

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe A

Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka A BBRC

Dunnock Prunella modularis A

Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris B BBRC

House Sparrow Passer domesticus A

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus A

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava A

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea A

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba A

Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi A SOSRC (S)

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris A SOSRC (F)

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis A

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis A

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus A SOSRC (F)

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus A

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta A

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla A

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs A

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes A SOSRC (S)

Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus A SOSRC (F)

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula A

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris A

Linnet Carduelis cannabina A

Twite Carduelis flavirostris A SOSRC (S)

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret A

Mealy Redpoll Carduelis flammea A SOSRC (F)

Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera A

Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra A

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis A

Serin Serinus serinus A SOSRC (F)

Siskin Carduelis spinus A

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis A SOSRC (S)

Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus A SOSRC (S)

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis A BBRC Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis A BBRC

Yellowhammer Emberiza citronella A

Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus A SOSRC (F)

Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana A SOSRC (F)

Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla A SOSRC (F)

Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola A BBRC Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus A

Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala A BBRC

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra A SOSRC (F)