Cumbria Bird List

British Bird List

The way the Cumbrian list is presented has been revised and now takes two forms, much in the same way as the British list is presented by the British Ornithologists’ Union.  The Simple list format gives a clear presentation of the species and subspecies and their status which is calculated using a 10-year rolling process which is updated annually.  The Full checklist format provides more detail and context to the list with includes background evidence for the inclusion and exclusion of the species concerned.

NameScientificCategoryComment
Brent Goose Branta bernicla
 ‒ ‒ nigricans RRare winter visitor
 ‒ ‒ bernicla FFairly common winter visitor and passage migrant
 ‒ ‒ hrota FFairly common winter visitor and passage migrant
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollis RRare winter visitor
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
 ‒ ‒ interior/parvipes RRare winter visitor
 ‒ ‒ canadensis CCommon resident and summer visitor primarily to moult Breeds in small numbers
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis AAbundant winter visitor Feral population breeds in very small numbers
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsii VVagrant
Ross’s GooseAnser rossiiVVagrant
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensR/ERare winter visitor and escape
Greylag GooseAnser anser CCommon resident, winter visitor and summer visitor primarily to moult Breeds in moderate numbers
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabilis VVagrant
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus AAbundant winter visitor and passage migrant
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris RRare winter visitor and passage migrant
White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
      ‒ ‒ flavirostrisU Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
 ‒ ‒ albifronsU Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropus VVagrant
Mute SwanCygnus olor FFairly common resident Breeds in small numbers
Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus VVagrant
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus FFairly common winter visitor and passage migrant
ShelduckTadorna tadorna C/ACommon resident, abundant summer visitor and winter visitor Breeds in moderate numbers
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata U/EUncommon introduced resident and escape Breeds in very small numbers
GarganeySpatula querquedula UUncommon passage migrant
Blue-winged TealSpatula discors VVagrant
Shoveler Spatula clypeata U/FUncommon resident and fairly common winter visitor Breeds in very small numbers
GadwallMareca strepera FFairly common resident passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in very small numbers
WigeonMareca penelope U/AUncommon resident, abundant winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
American WigeonMareca americana RRare visitor
MallardAnas platyrhynchos AAbundant resident and winter visitor, some introduced Breeds in large numbers
Pintail Anas acuta CCommon winter visitor and passage migrant Occasional breeder
Teal Anas crecca F/CFairly common resident, common passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Green-winged TealAnas carolinensis RRare visitor
Pochard Aythya ferina UUncommon resident, passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in very small numbers
Ferruginous DuckAythya nyroca VVagrant
Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris RRare visitor
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula CCommon resident and winter visitor Breeds in moderate numbers
Scaup Aythya marila UUncommon winter visitor and occasional in summer
Lesser ScaupAythya affinis VVagrant
King EiderSomateria spectabilis VVagrant
EiderSomateria mollissima CCommon resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata VVagrant
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca UUncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra F/UFairly common passage migrant, uncommon in winter
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis UUncommon winter visitor
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula FFairly common winter visitor and passage migrant, occasional in summer
SmewMergellus albellus SScarce winter visitor
Goosander Mergus merganser FFairly common resident and winter visitor Breeds in moderate numbers
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator FFairly common resident and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis V/EVagrant and escape
Red Grouse Lagopus scotica CCommon resident Breeds in moderant numbers
Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix FFairly common resident Breeds in small numbers
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix FFairly common resident, some introduced Breeds in moderate numbers
PheasantPhasianus colchicus AAbundant resident, large numbers introduced Breeds in large numbers
Quail Coturnix coturnix UUncommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds occasionally
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa CCommon resident, many introduced Breeds in small numbers
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus UUncommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba VVagrant
SwiftApus apus CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Great BustardOtis tarda VVagrant
CuckooCuculus canorus FFairly common summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Pallas’s SandgrouseSyrrhaptes paradoxus VVagrant
Rock Dove & Feral Pigeon Columba livia CCommon resident, some introduced Breeds in large numbers
Stock DoveColumba oenas CCommon resident and winter visitor Breeds in large numbers
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus AAbundant resident and winter visitor Breeds in very large numbers
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur RRare passage migrant
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto CCommon resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Water RailRallus aquaticus UUncommon resident and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Corncrake Crex crex VVagrant
Spotted CrakePorzana porzana VVagrant
MoorhenGallinula chloropus CCommon resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Coot Fulica atra CCommon resident and winter visitor Breeds in moderate numbers
American CootFulica americana VVagrant
Baillon’s CrakeZapornia pusilla VVagrant
Little CrakeZapornia parva VVagrant
Common CraneGrus grus RRare
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis FFairly common resident and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps VVagrant
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena SScarce winter visitor
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus FFairly common resident and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritus SScarce winter visitor
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis VVagrant
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus VVagrant
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus AAbundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Black-winged StiltHimantopus Himantopus VVagrant
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta UUncommon summer visitor Breeds in very small numbers
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola FFairly common winter visitor and passage migrant
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria F/AFairly common resident and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva VVagrant
American Golden PloverPluvialis dominica VVagrant
Dotterel Eudromias morinellus U/RUncommon passage migrant and rare summer visitor Breeds occasionally
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
 ‒ ‒ psammodromusSScarce passage migrant
 ‒ ‒ hiaticulaF/CFairly common resident, common winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius UUncommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
Lapwing Vanellus Vanellus AAbundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Greater Sand PloverAnarhynchus leschenaultia VVagrant
Kentish PloverAnarhynchus alexandrines VVagrant
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus FFairly common passage migrant
Hudsonian WhimbrelNumenius hudsonicus VVagrant
Curlew Numenius arquata C/ACommon resident, summer visitor and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica FFairly common winter visitor and passage migrant
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa
 ‒ ‒ islandicaF/UFairly common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceus RRare visitor
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus UUncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
WoodcockScolopax rusticola FFairly common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Great SnipeGallinago media VVagrant
Snipe Gallinago gallinago CCommon resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Wilson’s PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor VVagrant
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius RRare passage migrant
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus RRare passage migrant
Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus VVagrant
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant, scarce in winter Breeds in moderate numbers
Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius VVagrant
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus UUncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilisVVagrant
Wood SandpiperTringa glareola SScarce passage migrant
Redshank Tringa totanus F/AFairly common resident, summer visitor and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
 ‒ ‒ totanus
 ‒ ‒ robusta
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes VVagrant
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus U/SUncommon passage migrant, scarce in winter
Greenshank Tringa nebularia F/UFairly common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleuca VVagrant
Turnstone Arenaria interpres C/FCommon winter visitor and passage migrant, fairly common in summer
Knot Calidris canutus AAbundant winter visitor and passage migrant, uncommon in summer
RuffCalidris pugnax U/SUncommon passage migrant and scarce winter visitor
Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellus VVagrant
Stilt SandpiperCalidris Himantopus VVagrant
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferruginea UUncommon passage migrant
Temminck’s StintCalidris temminckii VVagrant
Long-toed StintCalidris subminutaVVagrant
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollis RRare visitor
SanderlingCalidris alba CCommon winter visitor and passage migrant
DunlinCalidris alpina U/AUncommon resident and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
 ‒ ‒ schinziiUncommon resident and abundant winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
 ‒ ‒ alpinaScarce passage migrant
 ‒ ‒ articaScarce passage migrant
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima UUncommon winter visitor
Baird’s SandpiperCalidris bairdii VVagrant
Little StintCalidris minuta U/SUncommon passage migrant and scarce winter visitor
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollis VVagrant
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos SScarce passage migrant
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusilla VVagrant
Cream-coloured CourserCursorius cursor VVagrant
Black-winged PratincoleGlareola nordmanni VVagrant
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus VVagrant
Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetus VVagrant
Little TernSternula albifrons FFairly common summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia VVagrant
Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida VVagrant
Black TernChlidonias niger SScarce passage migrant
White-winged Black TernChlidonias leucopterus VVagrant
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea FFairly common summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
Common TernSterna hirundo FFairly common summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
Roseate TernSterna dougallii RRare passage migrant Former breeder
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Elegant TernThalasseus elegansVVagrant
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus UUncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
Ross’s GullRhodostethia rosea VVagrant
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Ivory GullPagophila eburnean VVagrant
Sabine’s GullXema sabini RRare passage migrant
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus AAbundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla VVagrant
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus FFairly common passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds occasionally
Common Gull Larus canus AAbundant winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis VVagrant
Caspian GullLarus cachinnans VVagrant
Herring Gull Larus argentatus AAbundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
 ‒ ‒ argenteus
 ‒ ‒ argentatus
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis RRare passage migrant and winter visitor
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus FFairly common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus SScarce winter visitor
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus AAbundant summer visitor and passage migrant and overwintering bird Breeds in large numbers
 ‒ ‒ graellsii
 ‒ ‒ intermediusPassage migrant
Iceland GullLarus glaucoides SScarce winter visitor and passage migrant
Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus SScarce passage migrant
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus UUncommon passage migrant, scarce in winter
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus UUncommon passage migrant, rare in winter
Great SkuaStercorarius skua UUncommon passage migrant, scarce in winter
Little AukAlle alle RRare winter visitor
Common GuillemotUria aalge A/FAbundant summer visitor and fairly common passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in large numbers
     ‒ ‒ aalge
 ‒ ‒ albionis
RazorbillAlca torda F/C/UFairly common summer visitor, common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle U/SUncommon summer visitor and passage migrant, scarce in winter Breeds in very small numbers
Puffin Fratercula arctica U/F/SUncommon breeder, fairly common passage migrant and scarce winter visitor
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata FFairly common winter visitor and passage migrant
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica RRare winter visitor and passage migrant
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer UUncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii VVagrant
Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus VVagrant
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus SScarce summer visitor and passage migrant
Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa SScarce passage migrant
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis UUncommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
Cory’s ShearwaterCalonectris borealis VVagrant
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna grisea VVagrant
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravis VVagrant
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus FFairly common offshore summer visitor and passage migrant
Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicus VVagrant
Black StorkCiconia nigra VVagrant
White StorkCiconia Ciconia V/EVagrant and escape
GannetMorus bassanus CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo CCommon resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
 ‒ ‒ carbo
 ‒ ‒ sinensis
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis UUncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus RRare visitor
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia SScarce passage migrant Has bred
Bittern Botaurus stellaris SScarce passage migrant and winter visitor
Little BitternBotaurus minutus VVagrant
Night-heron Nycticorax Nycticorax VVagrant
Little EgretEgretta garzetta FFairly common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides VVagrant
Great White Egret Ardea alba UUncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Cattle Egret Ardea ibis SScarce visitor
Grey HeronArdea cinerea FFairly common resident Breeds in small numbers
Purple HeronArdea purpurea VVagrant
Osprey Pandion haliaetus UUncommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus SScarce summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos RRare visitor Former breeder
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus CCommon resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Goshawk Astur gentilis UUncommon resident Breeds in very small numbers
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus U/SUncommon passage migrant, scarce resident and rare breeder
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus UUncommon resident, winter visitor Breeds in very small numbers
Pallid HarrierCircus macrourus VVagrant
Montagu’s HarrierCircus pygargus VVagrant
Red KiteMilvus milvus FFairly common resident, re-introduced Breeds in very small numbers
Black KiteMilvus migrans VVagrant
White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla RRare visitor
Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus VVagrant
BuzzardButeo buteo CCommon resident Breeds in large numbers
Barn Owl Tyto alba FFairly common resident Breeds in small numbers
Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus VVagrant
Little OwlAthene noctua UUncommon resident Breeds in small numbers
Scops Owl Otus scops VVagrant
Long-eared OwlAsio otus UUncommon resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus UUncommon resident, fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in small numbers
Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus VVagrant
Tawny OwlStrix aluco CCommon resident Breeds in large numbers
Hoopoe Upupa epops RRare visitor
Roller Coracias garrulus VVagrant
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis UUncommon resident Breeds in small numbers
Bee-eater Merops apiaster RRare passage migrant Bred in 2015
Wryneck Jynx torquilla VVagrant
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor RRare visitor Former breeder
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major CCommon resident Breeds in large numbers
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis FFairly common resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus CCommon resident and winter visitor Breeds in moderate numbers
Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinus VVagrant
MerlinFalco columbarius UUncommon resident, passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Hobby Falco subbuteo UUncommon summer visitor and passage migrant Has bred
Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus VVagrant
Peregrine Falco peregrinus FFairly common resident Breeds in small numbers
Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus VVagrant
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus RRare passage migrant
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitor
 ‒ ‒ excubitor SScarce winter visitor
 ‒ ‒ pallidirostris VVagrant
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senator VVagrant
Daurian Shrike Lanius isabellinus VVagrant
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio VVagrant
Jay Garrulus glandarius CCommon resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Magpie Pica pica AAbundant resident Breeds in large numbers
Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes VVagrant
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax VVagrant
Jackdaw Coloeus monedula AAbundant resident Breeds in very large numbers
RookCorvus frugilegus AAbundant resident Breeds in very large numbers
Carrion CrowCorvus corone AAbundant resident Breeds in very large numbers
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix UUncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
Raven Corvus corax FFairly common resident Breeds in small numbers
Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus IIrruptive winter visitor
Coal TitPeriparus ater AAbundant resident Breeds in large numbers
Marsh TitPoecile palustris FFairly common resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Willow TitPoecile montanus SScarce resident Breeds in very small numbers
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus AAbundant resident Breeds in very large numbers
Great TitParus major AAbundant resident Breeds in very large numbers
Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus VVagrant
WoodlarkLullula arborea VVagrant
Skylark Alauda arvensis AAbundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris VVagrant
Sand MartinRiparia riparia CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Swallow Hirundo rustica AAbundant summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
House Martin Delichon urbicum AAbundant summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
Red-rumped SwallowCecropis rufula VVagrant
Cetti’s WarblerCettia cetti UUncommon visitor and resident
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus AAbundant resident Breeds in large numbers
 ‒ ‒ rosaceus
 ‒ ‒ caudatus
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrix UUncommon summer visitor Breeds in small numbers
Western Bonelli’s WarblerPhylloscopus bonelli VVagrant
Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei VVagrant
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus UUncommon autumn passage migrant, has wintered
Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus VVagrant
Dusky WarblerPhylloscopus fuscatus VVagrant
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus AAbundant summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
 ‒ ‒ collybita AAbundant summer visitor and passage migrant, scarce in winter Breeds in very large numbers
 ‒ ‒ tristis VVagrant
Greenish WarblerPhylloscopus trochiloides VVagrant
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Paddyfield WarblerAcrocephalus Agricola VVagrant
Blyth’s Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorum VVagrant
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus UUncommon summer visitor Breeds in small numbers
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustris VVagrant
Booted WarblerIduna caligata VVagrant
Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta VVagrant
Icterine WarblerHippolais icterina VVagrant
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia FFairly common summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla AAbundant summer visitor, passage migrant and scarce winter visitor Breeds in large numbers
Garden WarblerSylvia borin AAbundant summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Barred WarblerCurruca nisoria VVagrant
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca FFairly common summer visitor Breeds in moderate numbers
Curruca curruca blythiVVagrant
Eastern Subalpine WarblerCurruca cantillans VVagrant
WhitethroatCurruca communis AAbundant summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Dartford WarblerCurruca undata VVagrant
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla SScarce winter visitor and passage migrant
GoldcrestRegulus regulus AAbundant resident and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes AAbundant resident Breeds in very large numbers
Nuthatch Sitta europaea CCommon resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Treecreeper Certhia familiaris CCommon resident Breeds in large numbers
Rose-coloured Starling Pastor roseus RRare passage migrant
Starling Sturnus vulgaris AAbundant resident, summer visitor and winter visitor Breeds in very large numbers
 ‒ ‒ vulgaris
 ‒ ‒ zetlandicus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos AAbundant resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
 ‒ ‒ clarkei
 ‒ ‒ philomelos
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus CCommon resident, summer visitor, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
RedwingTurdus iliacus AAbundant winter visitor and passage migrant
BlackbirdTurdus merula AAbundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
FieldfareTurdus pilaris AAbundant winter visitor and passage migrant
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus FFairly comon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate mumbers
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Robin Erithacus rubecula AAbundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos VVagrant
BluethroatLuscinia svecica VVagrant
Red-breasted FlycatcherFicedula parva VVagrant
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca CCommon summer visitor Breeds in large numbers
Collared FlycatcherFicedula albicollis VVagrant
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros SScarce passage migrant and scarce winter visitor
RedstartPhoenicurus Phoenicurus CCommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra FFairly common summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Stonechat Saxicola rubicola FFairly common resident, summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in moderate numbers
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
 ‒ ‒ oenantheCCommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
 ‒ ‒ leucorhoaSscarce passage migrant
Isabelline WheatearOenanthe isabelline VVagrant
Desert WheatearOenanthe deserti VVagrant
Dipper Cinclus cinclus CCommon resident Breeds in moderate numbers
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus CCommon resident and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Spanish SparrowPasser hispaniolensis VVagrant
House SparrowPasser domesticus AAbundant resident Breeds in very large numbers
DunnockPrunella modularis AAbundant resident Breeds in very large numbers
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
 ‒ ‒ flavissimaUUncommon summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
 ‒ ‒ flavaRRare visitor
Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola VVagrant
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea CCommon resident, summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in large numbers
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba
 ‒ ‒ yarrelliiAAbundant resident, summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
 ‒ ‒ albaFFairly common passage migrant
Richard’s PipitAnthus richardi RRare visitor
Tawny PipitAnthus campestris VVagrant
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis AAbundant resident, summer visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
Tree PipitAnthus trivialis CCommon summer visitor Breeds in large numbers
Olive-backed PipitAnthus hodgsoniVVagrant
Water PipitAnthus spinoletta RRare winter visitor and passage migrant
Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus
 ‒ ‒ petrosusUUncommon resident and fairly common winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
 ‒ ‒ littoralisVVagrant
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs AAbundant resident, winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very large numbers
 ‒ ‒ gengleri
 ‒ ‒ coelebs
BramblingFringilla montfringilla FFairly common winter visitor and passage migrant
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes UUncommon resident and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula CCommon resident and uncommon winter visitor Breeds in moderate numbers
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrina VVagrant
Greenfinch Chloris chloris AAbundant resident, summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in very large numbers
TwiteLinaria flavirostris SScarce resident, fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant Breeds in very small numbers
Linnet Linaria cannabina AAbundant resident, summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in very large numbers
RedpollAcanthis flammea
A.f.flammeaVVagrant
A.f.cabaretCCommon resident, summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in large numbers
A.f.hornemanniVVagrant
Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacus VVagrant
Crossbill Loxia curvirostra UUncommon resident, irruptive passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in small numbers
Two-barred CrossbillLoxia leucoptera VVagrant
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis AAbundant resident and summer visitor Breeds in very large numbers
Serin Serinus serinus VVagrant
SiskinSpinus spinus CCommon resident, summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor Breeds in large numbers
Lapland BuntingCalcarius lapponicus RRare winter visitor and passage migrant
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis UUncommon winter visitor and passage migrant
 ‒ ‒ nivalis
 ‒ ‒ insulae
Corn BuntingMiliaria calandra RRare visitor Former widespread breeder
YellowhammerEmberiza citronella CCommon resident Breeds in large numbers
Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulana VVagrant
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus VVagrant
Little BuntingEmberiza pusilla VVagrant
Rustic BuntingEmberiza rustica VVagrant
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus CCommon resident Breeds in moderate numbers
White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis VVagrant

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