What is a "British" bird?

[RoyW]

The thread in this link demonstrates quite well that different people have different ideas on what should be called a "UK bird", and has made me wonder what other people would consider a "British Bird".

Hopefully the poll that I have tried to attach will allow you to select all of the options that you feel apply - and feel free to add additional comments by posting replies!

For the record, from the linked thread in which the number of "UK" owls was questioned; I would consider Snowy Owl (with an average of just under 4 a year since 1970) to be no more a British species than I would Great Reed Warbler (which has averaged nearer 5 official records in the same period), and I am aware of no evidence that suggests there have been wild Eagle Owls in Britain since soon after the last ice age, about 10,00 years ago (though I would be happy to see evidence that suggests otherwise). I therefore consider neither to be British - but Snowy Owls do reach our shores un-aided.

[Deb London]

Quite simply a British Bird for me is one of those featured in my favourite, well-thumbed ornithological books that I possessed as a child. I'm not at all xenophobic, believe me. But the desire to discover all the birds of these isles probably started with an I Spy book. And other books told me what was British even if it was rare.

Snowy Owl? Definitely British!

Of course this is a load of rubbish. But I have no concept of official lists and their importance and I really couldn't care less.

[STYRBJORN]

If it . . . .
1.) is wearing a bikini
2.) is being sick in a bar in Ibiza
3.) has a British passport

. . . . It's a British bird.

Ric

[sometimes]

Not really thought about it before. any birding I do tends to be in the context of seeing a bird in Britain without an underlying acceptance as to whether a bird is British. Clearly a bird like a Robin would live it's entire life in Britain, whereas a Swift would not. Both birds I might see in Britain, but are both 'British' ?- if I went to France I would see the same birds, are they then 'French' instead? I'm not sure human boundaries are appropriate to wild animals.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by sometimes

Not really thought about it before. any birding I do tends to be in the context of seeing a bird in Britain without an underlying acceptance as to whether a bird is British. Clearly a bird like a Robin would live it's entire life in Britain, whereas a Swift would not. Both birds I might see in Britain, but are both 'British' ?- if I went to France I would see the same birds, are they then 'French' instead? I'm not sure human boundaries are appropriate to wild animals.

Though Robins may be seen throughout the year here + no doubt many do live their entire lives here, many Robins here in winter are from the continent + indeed at least some of our breeding birds may head south, so even the Robin isn't as clear cut as it may seem.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Quite simply a British Bird for me is one of those featured in my favourite, well-thumbed ornithological books that I possessed as a child.

This wouldn't work for me (though I'm probably much older than you are). My first bird book was the Observer's Book of British Birds, given to me on my birthday in 1952 - and collared doves aren't mentioned in it.

Apparently they started breeding here in the mid-fifties:BBC Nature - Collared dove videos, news and facts

[Adam Cheeseman]

All birds that occur in a wild state in this country, providing the vagrants have arrived without the deliberate assistance of Man. If it's ok with the BOU then it's fine by me. UK400 on the other hand...

Cheers,

Adam

[Synn]

I usually take it as ones that breed here annually, so Swallows and Cuckoos etc. would count, but Whooper Swans, and Redwings etc. wouldn't

[operanut1972]

I am a new comer to this twitching business so anything I say is very uninformed but from a point of logic, I would say anything that winters or breeds in the UK, excluding migratory visitors(overflight or very brief stops) deserves the title 'British Bird' if I wanted to be pedantic I would sate something like "the birds belong to no one but themselves". Clear as concrete this question!!!

[tcvarlh]

I know of three, possibly four birds that ARE British. Working South to North they are : KENTISH PLOVER, DARTFORD WARBLER, MANX SHEARWATER (British Isles) and the SCOTTISH CROSSBILL.
I could include Canada Geese (Commonwealth), Egyptian Goose (Protectorate) but I think that may be a little jingoistic.

<(")

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