This page contains a complete bird species list for Cumbria updated in August 2024 with some changes to status categories and the reinstatement of Snow Goose to the list. See below for the recording and breeding category definitions.
| Brent Goose | Branta bernicla | ||
| ‒ ‒ nigricans | R | Rare winter visitor | |
| ‒ ‒ bernicla | F | Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant | |
| ‒ ‒ hrota | F | Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant | |
| Red-breasted Goose | Branta ruficollis | R | Rare winter visitor |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| ‒ ‒ interior/parvipes | R | Rare winter visitor | |
| ‒ ‒ canadensis | C | Common resident and summer visitor primarily to moult. Breeds in small numbers | |
| Barnacle Goose | Branta leucopsis | A | Abundant winter visitor |
| Cackling Goose | Branta hutchinsii | V | Vagrant |
| Snow Goose | Anser caerulescens | R | Rare winter visitor and escape |
| Greylag Goose | Anser anser | C | Common resident, winter visitor and summer visitor primarily to moult. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Taiga Bean Goose | Anser fabilis | V | Vagrant |
| Pink-footed Goose | Anser brachyrhynchus | A | Abundant winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Tundra Bean Goose | Anser serrirostris | R | Rare winter visitor and passage migrant |
| White-fronted Goose | Anser albifrons | U | Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant |
| ‒ ‒ flavirostris | |||
| ‒ ‒ albifrons | |||
| Lesser White-fronted Goose | Anser erythropus | V | Vagrant |
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | F | Fairly common resident. Breeds in small numbers |
| Bewick’s Swan | Cygnus columbianus | R | Rare winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Whooper Swan | Cygnus cygnus | F | Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | C | Common resident, abundant summer visitor and winter visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Mandarin Duck | Aix galericulata | U | Uncommon introduced resident and escape. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | U | Uncommon passage migrant |
| Blue-winged Teal | Spatula discors | V | Vagrant |
| Shoveler | Spatula clypeata | U | Uncommon resident and fairly common winter visitor. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera | F | Fairly common resident passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Wigeon | Mareca penelope | U | Uncommon resident, abundant winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| American Wigeon | Mareca americana | R | Rare visitor |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | A | Abundant resident and winter visitor, some introduced. Breeds in large numbers |
| Pintail | Anas acuta | C | Common winter visitor and passage migrantOccasional breeder |
| Teal | Anas crecca | C | Fairly common resident, common passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Green-winged Teal | Anas carolinensis | V | Vagrant |
| Pochard | Aythya ferina | U | Uncommon resident, common passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Ferruginous Duck | Aythya nyroca | V | Vagrant |
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | R | Rare visitor |
| Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | C | Common resident and winter visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Scaup | Aythya marila | F | Fairly common winter visitor and occasional in summer |
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | V | Vagrant |
| King Eider | Somateria spectabilis | V | Vagrant |
| Eider | Somateria mollissima | C | Common resident. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | V | Vagrant |
| Velvet Scoter | Melanitta fusca | S | Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Common Scoter | Melanitta nigra | F | Fairly common passage migrant, uncommon in winter |
| Long-tailed Duck | Clangula hyemalis | U | Uncommon winter visitor |
| Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | C | Common winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional in summer |
| Smew | Mergellus albellus | S | Scarce winter visitor |
| Goosander | Mergus merganser | C | Common resident and winter visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | F | Fairly common resident and common winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | V | Vagrant |
| Red Grouse | Lagopus lagopus | C | Common resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Black Grouse | Lyrurus tetrix | F | Fairly common resident. Breeds in small numbers |
| Grey Partridge | Perdix perdix | F | Fairly common resident, some introduced. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | A | Abundant resident, large numbers introduced. Breeds in large numbers |
| Quail | Coturnix coturnix | F | Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds occasionally |
| Red-legged Partridge | Alectoris rufa | C | Common resident, many introduced. Breeds in small numbers |
| Nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus | U | Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Alpine Swift | Tachymarptis melba | V | Vagrant |
| Swift | Apus apus | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Great Bustard | Otis tarda | V | Vagrant |
| Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Pallas’s Sandgrouse | Syrrhaptes paradoxus | V | Vagrant |
| Rock Dove & Feral Pigeon | Columba livia | C | Common resident, some introduced. Breeds in large numbers |
| Stock Dove | Columba oenas | C | Common resident and winter visitor. Breeds in large numbers |
| Woodpigeon | Columba palumbus | A | Abundant resident and winter visitor. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Turtle Dove | Streptopelia turtur | R | Rare passage migrant |
| Collared Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Water Rail | Rallus aquaticus | U | Uncommon resident and winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Corncrake | Crex crex | V | Vagrant |
| Spotted Crake | Porzana porzana | V | Vagrant |
| Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Coot | Fulica atra | C | Common resident and winter visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| American Coot | Fulica americana | V | Vagrant |
| Baillon’s Crake | Zapornia pusilla | V | Vagrant |
| Little Crake | Zapornia parva | V | Vagrant |
| Crane | Grus grus | R | Rare |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | F | Fairly common resident and winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | V | Vagrant |
| Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | S | Scarce winter visitor |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus | F | Fairly common resident and winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Slavonian Grebe | Podiceps auritus | S | Scarce winter visitor |
| Black-necked Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | R | Rare winter visitor |
| Stone-curlew | Burhinus oedicnemus | V | Vagrant |
| Oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus | A | Abundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus Himantopus | V | Vagrant |
| Avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta | U | Uncommon summer visitor. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Lapwing | Vanellus Vanellus | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Golden Plover | Pluvialis apricaria | F/A | Fairly common resident and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Pacific Golden Plover | Pluvialis fulva | V | Vagrant |
| American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | V | Vagrant |
| Grey Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | F | Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Ringed Plover | Charadrius hiaticula | F | Fairly common resident, common winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| ‒ ‒ psammodromus | Passage migrant | ||
| ‒ ‒ hiaticula | |||
| Little Ringed Plover | Charadrius dubius | U | Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrines | V | Vagrant |
| Greater Sand Plover | Charadrius leschenaultia | V | Vagrant |
| Dotterel | Charadrius morinellus | U | Uncommon passage migrant and rare summer visitor. Breeds occasionally |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | F | Fairly common passage migrant |
| Hudsonian Whimbrel | Numenius hudsonicus | V | Vagrant |
| Curlew | Numenius arquata | C/A | Common resident, summer visitor and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica | F | Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa | F | Fairly common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor Former breeder |
| ‒ ‒ islandica | Passage migrant | ||
| ‒ ‒ limosa | |||
| Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | C | Common winter visitor and passage migrant, fairly common in summer |
| Knot | Calidris canutus | A | Abundant winter visitor and passage migrant, uncommon in summer |
| Ruff | Calidris pugnax | F/S | Fairly common passage migrant and scarce winter visitor |
| Broad-billed Sandpiper | Calidris falcinellus | V | Vagrant |
| Stilt Sandpiper | Calidris Himantopus | V | Vagrant |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | U | Uncommon passage migrant |
| Temminck’s Stint | Calidris temminckii | V | Vagrant |
| Long-toed Stint | Calidris subminuta | V | Vagrant |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | C | Common winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | U/A | Uncommon resident and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| ‒ ‒ schinzii | |||
| ‒ ‒ alpina | |||
| ‒ ‒ artica | |||
| Purple Sandpiper | Calidris maritima | F | Fairly common winter visitor |
| Baird’s Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | V | Vagrant |
| Little Stint | Calidris minuta | U | Uncommon passage migrant and scarce winter visitor |
| White-rumped Sandpiper | Calidris fuscicollis | V | Vagrant |
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Calidris subruficollis | R | Rare visitor |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | S | Scarce passage migrant |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | V | Vagrant |
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | R | Rare visitor |
| Woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | C | Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Jack Snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus | U | Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Great Snipe | Gallinago media | V | Vagrant |
| Snipe | Gallinago gallinago | C/A | Common resident and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Terek Sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | V | Vagrant |
| Wilson’s Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | V | Vagrant |
| Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | R | Rare passage migrant |
| Grey Phalarope | Phalaropus fulicarius | R | Rare passage migrant |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant, scarce in winter. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | V | Vagrant |
| Green Sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | U | Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | V | Vagrant |
| Redshank | Tringa totanus | F/A | Fairly common resident, summer visitor and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| ‒ ‒ totanus | |||
| ‒ ‒ robusta | |||
| Marsh Sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis | V | Vagrant |
| Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola | S | Scarce passage migrant |
| Spotted Redshank | Tringa erythropus | U | Uncommon passage migrant, scarce in winter |
| Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | F | Fairly common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | V | Vagrant |
| Cream-coloured Courser | Cursorius cursor | V | Vagrant |
| Black-winged Pratincole | Glareola nordmanni | V | Vagrant |
| Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Ivory Gull | Pagophila eburnean | V | Vagrant |
| Sabine’s Gull | Xema sabini | R | Rare passage migrant |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Little Gull | Hydrocoloeus minutus | U | Uncommon winter visitor passage migrant |
| Ross’s Gull | Rhodostethia rosea | V | Vagrant |
| Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | V | Vagrant |
| Mediterranean Gull | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus | F | Fairly common passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds occasionally |
| Common Gull | Larus canus | A | Abundant winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | V | Vagrant |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | F | Fairly common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| Glaucous Gull | Larus hyperboreus | S | Scarce winter visitor |
| Iceland Gull | Larus glaucoides | S | Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | A | Abundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| ‒ ‒ argenteus | |||
| ‒ ‒ argentatus | |||
| Caspian Gull | Larus cachinnans | V | Vagrant |
| Yellow-legged Gull | Larus michahellis | R | Rare passage migrant and winter visitor |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | Larus fuscus | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant and overwintering bird. Breeds in large numbers |
| ‒ ‒ graellsii | |||
| ‒ ‒ intermedius | Passage migrant | ||
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia | V | Vagrant |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Elegant Tern | Thalasseus elegans | V | Vagrant |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons | F | Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| Bridled Tern | Onychoprion anaethetus | V | Vagrant |
| Sooty Tern | Onychoprion fuscatus | V | Vagrant |
| Roseate Tern | Sterna dougallii | R | Rare passage migrant Former breeder |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | F | Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| Arctic Tern | Sterna paradisaea | F | Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida | V | Vagrant |
| White-winged Black Tern | Chlidonias leucopterus | V | Vagrant |
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | S | Scarce passage migrant |
| Great Skua | Stercorarius skua | U | Uncommon passage migrant, scarce in winter |
| Pomarine Skua | Stercorarius pomarinus | F | Fairly common passage migrant, rare in winter |
| Arctic Skua | Stercorarius parasiticus | F | Fairly common passage migrant, scarce in winter |
| Long-tailed Skua | Stercorarius longicaudus | U | Uncommon passage migrant |
| Little Auk | Alle alle | R | Rare winter visitor |
| Common Guillemot | Uria aalge | A | Abundant summer visitor and fairly common passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in large numbers |
| ‒ ‒ aalge | |||
| ‒ ‒ albionis | |||
| Razorbill | Alca torda | F | Fairly common summer visitor, common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor |
| Black Guillemot | Cepphus grylle | U | Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant, scarce in winter. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Puffin | Fratercula arctica | U/FC/S | Uncommon breeder, fairly common passage migrant and scarce winter visitor |
| Red-throated Diver | Gavia stellata | F | Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Black-throated Diver | Gavia arctica | S | Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Great Northern Diver | Gavia immer | U | Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant |
| White-billed Diver | Gavia adamsii | V | Vagrant |
| Wilson’s Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | V | Vagrant |
| Storm Petrel | Hydrobates pelagicus | S | Scarce summer visitor and passage migrant |
| Leach’s Petrel | Oceanodroma leucorhoa | S | Scarce passage migrant |
| Fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis | F | Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| Cory’s Shearwater | Calonectris borealis | V | Vagrant |
| Sooty Shearwater | Ardenna grisea | V | Vagrant |
| Great Shearwater | Ardenna gravis | V | Vagrant |
| Manx Shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | C | Common offshore summer visitor and passage migrant |
| Balearic Shearwater | Puffinus mauretanicus | V | Vagrant |
| Black Stork | Ciconia nigra | V | Vagrant |
| White Stork | Ciconia Ciconia | V | Vagrant |
| Gannet | Morus bassanus | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant |
| Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | C | Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| ‒ ‒ carbo | |||
| ‒ ‒ sinensis | |||
| Shag | Gulosus aristotelis | U | Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | R | Rare visitor |
| Spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | S | Scarce passage migrant Bred in 2021 |
| Bittern | Botaurus stellaris | S | Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor |
| Little Bittern | Ixobrychus minutus | V | Vagrant |
| Night-heron | Nycticorax Nycticorax | V | Vagrant |
| Squacco Heron | Ardeola ralloides | V | Vagrant |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | S | Scarce visitor |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | F | Fairly common resident. Breeds in small numbers |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea | V | Vagrant |
| Great White Egret | Ardea alba | U | Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | F | Fairly common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | U | Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Honey-buzzard | Pernis apivorus | S | Scarce summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | R | Rare visitor Former breeder |
| Sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | C | Common resident. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | U | Uncommon resident. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus | U/S | Uncommon passage migrant and scarce resident |
| Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus | U | Uncommon resident, winter visitor. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Pallid Harrier | Circus macrourus | V | Vagrant |
| Montagu’s Harrier | Circus pygargus | V | Vagrant |
| Red Kite | Milvus milvus | U | Uncommon resident, re-introduced. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans | V | Vagrant |
| White-tailed Eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | R | Rare visitor |
| Rough-legged Buzzard | Buteo lagopus | R | Rare winter passage migrant |
| Buzzard | Buteo buteo | C | Common resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | F | Fairly common resident. Breeds in small numbers |
| Tengmalm’s Owl | Aegolius funereus | V | Vagrant |
| Little Owl | Athene noctua | U | Uncommon resident. Breeds in small numbers |
| Scops Owl | Otus scops | V | Vagrant |
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | U | Uncommon resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | U | Uncommon resident, fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in small numbers |
| Snowy Owl | Bubo scandiacus | V | Vagrant |
| Tawny Owl | Strix aluco | C | Common resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Hoopoe | Upupa epops | R | Rare visitor |
| Roller | Coracias garrulus | V | Vagrant |
| Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | U | Uncommon resident. Breeds in small numbers |
| Bee-eater | Merops apiaster | R | Rare passage migrant Bred in 2015 |
| Wryneck | Jynx torquilla | V | Vagrant |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | Dryobates minor | R | Rare visitor Former breeder |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | C | Common resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Green Woodpecker | Picus viridis | F | Fairly common resident. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | C | Common resident and winter visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Red-footed Falcon | Falco vespertinus | V | Vagrant |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | U | Uncommon resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Hobby | Falco subbuteo | U | Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant |
| Gyr Falcon | Falco rusticolus | V | Vagrant |
| Peregrine | Falco peregrinus | F | Fairly common resident. Breeds in small numbers |
| Red-backed Shrike | Lanius collurio | V | Vagrant |
| Daurian Shrike | Lanius isabellinus | V | Vagrant |
| Great Grey Shrike | Lanius excubitor | ||
| ‒ ‒ excubitor | S | Scarce winter visitor | |
| ‒ ‒ pallidirostris | V | Vagrant | |
| Woodchat Shrike | Lanius senator | V | Vagrant |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | V | Vagrant |
| Golden Oriole | Oriolus oriolus | R | Rare passage migrant |
| Jay | Garrulus glandarius | C | Common resident. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Magpie | Pica pica | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Nutcracker | Nucifraga caryocatactes | V | Vagrant |
| Chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | V | Vagrant |
| Jackdaw | Coloeus monedula | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Rook | Corvus frugilegus | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Carrion Crow | Corvus corone | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Hooded Crow | Corvus cornix | U | Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Raven | Corvus corax | F | Fairly common resident. Breeds in small numbers |
| Waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus | I | Irruptive winter visitor |
| Coal Tit | Periparus ater | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Marsh Tit | Poecile palustris | F | Fairly common resident. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Willow Tit | Poecile montanus | U | Uncommon resident. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Blue Tit | Cyanistes caeruleus | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Great Tit | Parus major | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Bearded Tit | Panurus biarmicus | V | Vagrant |
| Woodlark | Lullula arborea | V | Vagrant |
| Skylark | Alauda arvensis | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Shore Lark | Eremophila alpestris | V | Vagrant |
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Swallow | Hirundo rustica | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers |
| House Martin | Delichon urbicum | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Red-rumped Swallow | Cecropis daurica | V | Vagrant |
| Cetti’s Warbler | Cettia cetti | U | Uncommon visitor and resident |
| Long-tailed Tit | Aegithalos caudatus | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| ‒ ‒ rosaceus | |||
| ‒ ‒ caudatus | |||
| Wood Warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix | F | Fairly common summer visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Western Bonelli’s Warbler | Phylloscopus bonelli | V | Vagrant |
| Hume’s Warbler | Phylloscopus humei | V | Vagrant |
| Yellow-browed Warbler | Phylloscopus inornatus | U | Uncommon autumn passage migrant, has wintered |
| Pallas’s Warbler | Phylloscopus proregulus | V | Vagrant |
| Dusky Warbler | Phylloscopus fuscatus | V | Vagrant |
| Willow Warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | ||
| ‒ ‒ collybita | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant, scarce in winter. Breeds in very large numbers | |
| ‒ ‒ tristis | V | Vagrant | |
| Greenish Warbler | Phylloscopus trochiloides | V | Vagrant |
| Sedge Warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Paddyfield Warbler | Acrocephalus Agricola | V | Vagrant |
| Blyth’s Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus dumetorum | V | Vagrant |
| Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | U | Uncommon summer visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Marsh Warbler | Acrocephalus palustris | V | Vagrant |
| Booted Warbler | Iduna caligata | V | Vagrant |
| Melodious Warbler | Hippolais polyglotta | V | Vagrant |
| Icterine Warbler | Hippolais icterina | V | Vagrant |
| Grasshopper Warbler | Locustella naevia | F | Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | A | Abundant summer visitor, passage migrant and scarce winter visitor. Breeds in large numbers |
| Garden Warbler | Sylvia borin | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Barred Warbler | Curruca nisoria | V | Vagrant |
| Lesser Whitethroat | Curruca curruca | F | Fairly common summer visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Eastern Subalpine Warbler | Curruca cantillans | V | Vagrant |
| Whitethroat | Curruca communis | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Dartford Warbler | Curruca undata | V | Vagrant |
| Firecrest | Regulus ignicapilla | S | Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Goldcrest | Regulus regulus | A | Abundant resident and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Nuthatch | Sitta europaea | C | Common resident. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Treecreeper | Certhia familiaris | C | Common resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Rose-coloured Starling | Pastor roseus | R | Rare passage migrant |
| Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor and winter visitor. Breeds in very large numbers |
| ‒ ‒ vulgaris | |||
| ‒ ‒ zetlandicus | |||
| Song Thrush | Turdus philomelos | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers |
| ‒ ‒ clarkei | |||
| ‒ ‒ philomelos | |||
| Mistle Thrush | Turdus viscivorus | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus | A | Abundant winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Blackbird | Turdus merula | A | Abundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | A | Abundant winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Ring Ouzel | Turdus torquatus | F | Fairly comon summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate mumbers |
| Spotted Flycatcher | Muscicapa striata | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Robin | Erithacus rubecula | A | Abundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica | V | Vagrant |
| Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | V | Vagrant |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher | Ficedula parva | V | Vagrant |
| Pied Flycatcher | Ficedula hypoleuca | C | Common summer visitor. Breeds in large numbers |
| Collared Flycatcher | Ficedula albicollis | V | Vagrant |
| Black Redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | U | Uncommon passage migrant and scarce winter visitor |
| Redstart | Phoenicurus Phoenicurus | C | Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Whinchat | Saxicola rubetra | F | Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Stonechat | Saxicola rubicola | F | Fairly common resident, summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | ||
| ‒ ‒ oenanthe | A | Abundant summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers | |
| ‒ ‒ leucorhoa | S | scarce passage migrant | |
| Isabelline Wheatear | Oenanthe isabelline | V | Vagrant |
| Desert Wheatear | Oenanthe deserti | V | Vagrant |
| Dipper | Cinclus cinclus | C | Common resident. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus | C | Common resident and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Spanish Sparrow | Passer hispaniolensis | V | Vagrant |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Dunnock | Prunella modularis | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Yellow Wagtail | Motacilla flava | ||
| ‒ ‒ flavissima | U | Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers | |
| ‒ ‒ flava | R | Rare visitor | |
| Citrine Wagtail | Motacilla citreola | V | Vagrant |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | C | Common resident, summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in large numbers |
| Pied Wagtail | Motacilla alba | ||
| ‒ ‒ yarrellii | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers | |
| ‒ ‒ alba | F | Fairly common passage migrant | |
| Richard’s Pipit | Anthus richardi | V | Vagrant |
| Tawny Pipit | Anthus campestris | V | Vagrant |
| Meadow Pipit | Anthus pratensis | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Tree Pipit | Anthus trivialis | C | Common summer visitor Breeds in large numbers |
| Olive-backed Pipit | Anthus hodgsoni | V | Vagrant |
| Water Pipit | Anthus spinoletta | R | Rare winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Rock Pipit | Anthus petrosus | ||
| ‒ ‒ petrosus | U | Uncommon resident and fairly common winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers | |
| ‒ ‒ littoralis | V | Vagrant | |
| Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | A | Abundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very large numbers |
| ‒ ‒ gengleri | |||
| ‒ ‒ coelebs | |||
| Brambling | Fringilla montfringilla | C | Common winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Hawfinch | Coccothraustes coccothraustes | U | Uncommon resident and winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Bullfinch | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | C | Common resident and uncommon winter visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| Common Rosefinch | Carpodacus erythrina | V | Vagrant |
| Greenfinch | Chloris chloris | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Twite | Linaria flavirostris | U | Uncommon resident, fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers |
| Linnet | Linaria cannabina | A | Abundant resident, summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Common Redpoll | Acanthis flammea | V | Vagrant |
| Lesser Redpoll | Acanthis cabaret | C | Abundant resident, summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in large numbers |
| Arctic Redpoll | Acanthis hornemanni | V | Vagrant |
| Parrot Crossbill | Loxia pytyopsittacus | V | Vagrant |
| Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | U | Uncommon resident, irruptive passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers |
| Two-barred Crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | V | Vagrant |
| Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | A | Abundant resident and summer visitor. Breeds in very large numbers |
| Serin | Serinus serinus | V | Vagrant |
| Siskin | Spinus spinus | C | Common resident, summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor. Breeds in large numbers |
| Lapland Bunting | Calcarius lapponicus | R | Rare winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Snow Bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis | F | Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant |
| ‒ ‒ nivalis | |||
| ‒ ‒ insulae | |||
| Corn Bunting | Miliaria calandra | R | Rare visitor Former widespread breeder |
| Yellowhammer | Emberiza citronella | A | Abundant resident. Breeds in large numbers |
| Ortolan Bunting | Emberiza hortulana | V | Vagrant |
| Cirl Bunting | Emberiza cirlus | V | Vagrant |
| Little Bunting | Emberiza pusilla | V | Vagrant |
| Rustic Bunting | Emberiza rustica | V | Vagrant |
| Reed Bunting | Emberiza schoeniclus | C | Common resident. Breeds in moderate numbers |
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | V | Vagrant |
Record Recording Categories 2021
The Record Recording Categories are derived from the numbers of records of each species in the decade 2011 – 2020 using the usual 10-year rolling assessment. It is important to note that these definitions do not represent an accurate measure of the abundance of species. It is our ambition to work towards determining meaningful assessments of the abundance of both species and breeding numbers for the county.
These are most meaningful for the Vagrant, Rare and Scarce categories and become progressively less meaningful through the Uncommon, Fairly Common, Common to Abundant categories. The data from which these numbers of records are calculated come largely from casual observations which do not use a standard method. These casual observations do frequently have a degree of focus however, for example records of the scarcer waders are usually the result of observers looking for them at likely locations at the appropriate time of year.
The primary purpose of creating these definitions is to determine which species currently occur with a sufficient degree of rarity that they require a description to be submitted and accepted before they become accepted records. It is the species that are Vagrant and Rare that require a description.
These definitions are calculated in this way using the number of records during the past decade –
- V Vagrant – Fewer than 2
- R Rare – 3 – 10, or at least 5 years without a record
- S Scarce – Averaging up to 5 per year
- U Uncommon – Averaging 6 – 50 per year
- F Fairly common – Averaging 50 – 500 per year
- C Common – Averaging 500 – 5, 000 per year
- A Abundant – Averaging over 5, 000 per year
In addition to the Vagrant and Rare species Regional Recorders may ask for descriptions of species other than those designated as Vagrant or Rare particularly where there is a single observer and no suitable photograph is available.
Breeding Categories
These are derived from the numbers of pairs given in The Breeding Birds of Cumbria 1997-2001, these numbers are then modified by applying BTO trends since that time –
- Former breeder : not in the last 10 years
- Occasional breeder : at least once in the last 10 years
- Breeds in very small numbers : 1-25 pairs per annum
- Breeds in small numbers : 25-250 pairs per annum
- Breeds in moderate numbers : 250-2500 pairs per annum
- Breeds in large numbers : 2500 – 25000 pairs per annum
- Breeds in very large numbers : over 25000 pairs per annum