Much larger than common Swift, with a slower wing action. White belly and chin also sets it apart but chin marking can sometimes be hard to see.

The adult males are the easiest to identify, with their white, rather than orange, crowns and a broad green stripe through the eye, tapering to the nape. From a distance this can look like a black... more

Very similar to the Common Tern. Arctic Terns are recognised by very short legs, blood red bill without a black tip and a translucent appearance to all primary wing feathers.

It is quite simple to identify Avocets. The mostly white plumage, marked with sparse black narrow lines, is very distinctive, as are the upturned bill and blue legs. If the bird is feeding its... more

This is a pale, long-winged, long-legged owl, 33

It is clearly related too but smaller than the Canada Goose with more silvery grey wings and mantle. Identified best by its creamy-white face, black breast and barred back.

Larger than Goldeneye with the head and neck shape differing. Head of the breeding male has a more bluish-purple hue and the white facial patch extends above the eye.

Bearded Tit adults have a orange brown plumage with a distinctive long, trailing tail and black and white lines down the wings. Juveniles can be almost orange-coloured with much more black on... more

Bewicks Sawn is the smallest and has shortest-neck of Europe's swans, like the Whooper, Bewicks have an obvious yellow in the beak. Bewick's Swan has a short yellow blob at the base, as opposed... more

Stocky, rather bulky, thick-necked heron, generally golden brown with distinct black margins and black crown. Sexes alike and no seasonal differences. Juvenile just distinguishable on close view... more

Smaller than common Guillemot, body plump and pear-shaped. Summer breeding plumage: Body all black with large oval white upperwing patches; underwing white with dark trailing edge, red legs and... more

Their feathers are mainly black in colour but they have a line of white flight feathers on the edges of their wings. These feathers are sometimes on show when they are at rest but they are... more

Despite the name, the Black-headed Gull spends most of the year with a white head and only shows the dark colours during summer. In fact, when its head does turn dark in summer it doesn't quite... more

A beautiful member of the gull family, slightly built and resembling a Common Gull, although adults have all black wingtips and their flight is noticeably lighter and more elegant than the Common... more

A favourite garden bird, the Blue Tit displays a far greater range of colours than its name suggests. In addition to the obvious blue colouring, the bird also carries a vibrant yellow breast,... more

A medium sized bird of prey with broad wings. A shortish fan shaped tail. The common buzzard is renowned for its variation in plumage. Variations include very pale, light, medium, dark and very... more

A large goose, with a distinctive black head and neck and large white throat patch. An introduced species from N America, it has successfully spread to cover most of the UK. It forms noisy flocks... more

Very similar in appearance to rooks, but carrion crows have smoother plumage which has a green and purple iridescence, and the bill is thicker and blunter.

Juvenile birds have duller,... more

A very colourful, alert and chirpy bird, the Chaffinch is a popular bird often found under feeding tables in gardens and parks throughout much of the United Kingdom.

The male has a pink... more

A tiny bird the size of a blue-tit that have brownish green upper parts and buff underparts. There is a dark stripe through the eye, a pale eyebrow and a thin pale eye ring.

The male has a bright yellow head, with a black crown, eye stripe and throat, and a greenish breast band across its otherwise yellow underparts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is... more

Length is about 9 inches and it has a Wingspan of approximately 23 inches
The adult male has a white throat
Adult female has a buff throat
Very short beak
Blackish... more

The Cormorant is a large conspicuous waterbird that has an almost primitive appearance, with it's long neck making it virtually reptilian looking.

Crested tits are similar to Willow and Marsh Tits but in the U.K. they are only found in the Caledonia Forests of Scotland.

They have a relatively large head that is a dirty white colour... more

The Crossbill, especially the male has an almost Parrot like appearance and is in fact a heavily built Finch with brick red breast and darker red wings and tail, the female being a grey/green... more

Large wader, with long down curving bill. Uniformly streaked and barred grey brown. distinctive haunting call

Transatlantic vagrant. Predominantly a plain dark grey (male) or brownish (female) bunting. The bill is pinkish white and a white belly.