Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Oxyura
Sharp or pointed tail (Greek)
jamaicensis
From Jamaica (Toponym)
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Cygnus
From specific name for Whooper swan (Linnaeus)
olor
Swan (Latin)
Bewick's Swan
Cygnus columbianus
Cygnus
From specific name for Whooper swan (Linnaeus)
columbianus
From Colombia (Toponym)
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnus
Iceland, 2016
Cygnus
From specific name for Whooper swan (Linnaeus)
cygnus
Swan (Latin)
Brent Goose
Branta bernicla
Iceland, 2016
Branta
Type of goose (Latin)
bernicla
Barnacle (Latin)
Red-breasted Goose
Branta ruficollis
Branta
Type of goose (Latin)
ruficollis
Red- or ruddy-necked (Latin)
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Verulamium Park, St Albans
Branta
Type of goose (Latin)
canadensis
Canada (Toponym)
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsis
Iceland, 2016
Branta
Type of goose (Latin)
leucopsis
White-faced (Greek)
Cackling Goose
Branta hutchinsii
Branta
Type of goose (Latin)
hutchinsii
Thoma Hutchins, 19th Century English surgeon (Eponym)
Ross's Goose
Anser rossii
Anser
From specific name for Greylag Goose (Linnaeus)
rossii
James Clark Ross, British arctic explorer, or Bernard Ross, Irish naturalist (Eponym)
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
Anser
From specific name for Greylag Goose (Linnaeus)
caerulescens
Bluish (Latin)
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Willows Farm, St Albans
Anser
From specific name for Greylag Goose (Linnaeus)
anser
Goose (Latin)
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Anser erythropus
Anser
From specific name for Greylag Goose (Linnaeus)
erythropus
Red-footed (Greek)
White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons
Anser
From specific name for Greylag Goose (Linnaeus)
albifrons
White forehead or front (Latin)
Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostris
Anser
From specific name for Greylag Goose (Linnaeus)
serrirostris
Saw-billed (Latin)
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchus
Anser
From specific name for Greylag Goose (Linnaeus)
brachyrhynchus
Short bill (Greek)
Taiga Bean Goose
Anser fabalis
Anser
From specific name for Greylag Goose (Linnaeus)
fabalis
Of beans (broad bean) (Latin)
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulata
Monken Hadley Common, January 2022
Aix
Unknown diving bird mentioned by Aristotle, possibly a small goose, grebe or duck (Greek)
galericulata
Wig (Latin)
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Alopochen
Fox-like goose (Greek)
aegyptiaca
Egyptian (Latin)
Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna
Tadorna
From specific name for Common Shelduck (Linnaeus)
tadorna
Common duck (French)
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferruginea
Tadorna
From specific name for Common Shelduck (Linnaeus)
ferruginea
Rusty-coloured, ferruginous (Latin)
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
Clangula
To resound (Latin)
hyemalis
Of winter (Latin)
Steller's Eider
Polysticta stelleri
Polysticta
Much spotted (Greek)
stelleri
Georg Wilhelm Steller, 17th Century German naturalist (Eponym)
King Eider
Somateria spectabilis
Somateria
Body wool (Greek)
spectabilis
Remarkable, showy (Latin)
Eider
Somateria mollissima
Iceland, 2016
Somateria
Body wool (Greek)
mollissima
Very soft (Latin)
Harlequin Duck
Histrionicus histrionicus
Histrionicus
From specific name for Harlequin Duck (Linnaeus)
histrionicus
Like a harlequin (Latin)
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigra
Melanitta
Black duck (Greek)
nigra
Black, dark-coloured, shining black (Latin)
Black Scoter
Melanitta americana
Melanitta
Black duck (Greek)
americana
America (Toponym)
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
Melanitta
Black duck (Greek)
perspicillata
Spectacled (Latin)
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fusca
Melanitta
Black duck (Greek)
fusca
Dusky, black, brown (Latin)
White-winged Scoter
Melanitta deglandi
Melanitta
Black duck (Greek)
deglandi
Degland, 19th Century French ornithologist (Eponym)
Stejneger's Scoter
Melanitta stejnegeri
Melanitta
Black duck (Greek)
stejnegeri
Leonhard Hess Stejneger, Norwegian zoologist (Eponym)
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Bucephala
From specific name for Bufflehead (Linnaeus)
albeola
Diminuitive from white (Latin)
Barrow's Goldeneye
Bucephala islandica
Bucephala
From specific name for Bufflehead (Linnaeus)
islandica
Iceland (Toponym)
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
Bucephala
From specific name for Bufflehead (Linnaeus)
clangula
Diminuitive from to resound (Latin)
Smew
Mergellus albellus
Mergellus
From genus Mergus (Linnaeus)
albellus
Diminuitive of white (Latin)
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Lophodytes
Crest diver (Greek)
cucullatus
Hooded (Latin)
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Mergus
Unidentified type of waterbird (Latin)
serrator
Sawyer (Latin)
Goosander
Mergus merganser
Arnside, Cumbria, June 2021
Mergus
Unidentified type of waterbird (Latin)
merganser
Waterbird goose (Latin)
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina
Netta
Duck (Greek)
rufina
Golden, golden red (Latin)
Ferruginous Duck
Aythya nyroca
Aythya
Unidentified seabird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
nyroca
Name for a duck (Russian)
Pochard
Aythya ferina
Aythya
Unidentified seabird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
ferina
Wild, game (Latin)
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
Aythya
Unidentified seabird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
valisineria
Antonio Vallisnieri de Valisneri18th Century Italian botanist (Eponym)
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Aythya
Unidentified seabird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
collaris
Of the neck (Latin)
Redhead
Aythya americana
Aythya
Unidentified seabird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
americana
America (Toponym)
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Aythya
Unidentified seabird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
fuligula
Soot throat (Latin)
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Aythya
Unidentified seabird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
affinis
Related, allied (Latin)
Scaup
Aythya marila
Aythya
Unidentified seabird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
marila
Charcoal embers, coal dust (Greek)
Baikal Teal
Sibirionetta formosa
Sibirionetta
Siberian duck (Greek)
formosa
Beautiful (Latin)
Garganey
Spatula querquedula
Spatula
Spoon, spatula (Latin)
querquedula
Duck mentioned by Varro, possibly onomatopoeic (Onomatopoeic)
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
Spatula
Spoon, spatula (Latin)
discors
Different, at variance (Latin)
Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
RSPB Minsmere, January 2017
Spatula
Spoon, spatula (Latin)
clypeata
Shield-bearing (Latin)
Falcated Duck
Mareca falcata
Mareca
Small types of duck (Brazilian Portuguese)
falcata
Sickle-shaped (Latin)
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Mareca
Small types of duck (Brazilian Portuguese)
strepera
Noisy (Latin)
Wigeon
Mareca penelope
Mareca
Small types of duck (Brazilian Portuguese)
penelope
Duck with purple stripes said to have rescued Penelope (Greek)
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
Mareca
Small types of duck (Brazilian Portuguese)
americana
America (Toponym)
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Anas
Duck (Latin)
platyrhynchos
Broad-billed, broad-beaked (Latin)
Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Anas
Duck (Latin)
rubripes
Red foot (Latin)
Pintail
Anas acuta
Anas
Duck (Latin)
acuta
Sharp-pointed tail (Latin)
Teal
Anas crecca
RSPB Minsmere, January 2017
Anas
Duck (Latin)
crecca
Teal (Kricka) (Swedish)
Ptarmigan
Lagopus muta
Iceland, 2016
Lagopus
From specific name for Willow Grouse (Linnaeus)
muta
Silent, dumb (Latin)
Red Grouse
Lagopus scotica
Loch Muich, Deeside, August 2017
Lagopus
From specific name for Willow Grouse (Linnaeus)
scotica
Scottish (Toponym)
Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallus
Tetrao
Gamebird, probably the Black Grouse (Latin)
urogallus
Partial homophonic rensering of mountain cock (German)
Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrix
Lyrurus
Lyre-tailed (Greek)
tetrix
Ground-nesting bird mentioned by Aristotle (Greek)
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdix
Perdix
From specific name for Grey Partridge (Linnaeus)
perdix
Partridge (Latin)
Golden Pheasant
Chrysolophus pictus
Chrysolophus
With a golden crest (Greek)
pictus
Painted (Latin)
Lady Amherst's Pheasant
Chrysolophus amherstiae
Chrysolophus
With a golden crest (Greek)
amherstiae
Sarah Countes Amherst (Eponym)
Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
RSPB Minsmere, January 2017
Phasianus
Pheasant (Latin)
colchicus
From Colchis on the eastern shores of the Black Sea (Latin)
Quail
Coturnix coturnix
Coturnix
From specific name for Common Quail (Linnaeus)
coturnix
Quail (Latin)
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufa
Highfield Park, St Albans, April 2015
Alectoris
Farmyard fowl, chicken (Greek)
rufa
Red, ruddy, rufous (Latin)
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Tachybaptus
To sink under fast (Greek)
ruficollis
Red- or ruddy-necked (Latin)
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Podilymbus
From genus Podiceps (Latham)
podiceps
Vent foot (Latin)
Slavonian Grebe
Podiceps auritus
Iceland, 2016
Podiceps
Vent foot (Latin)
auritus
Long-eared (Latin)
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena
Podiceps
Vent foot (Latin)
grisegena
Grey cheek (Latin)
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
Tyttenhanger GP, May 2026
Podiceps
Vent foot (Latin)
cristatus
Crested, plumed (Latin)
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
Podiceps
Vent foot (Latin)
nigricollis
Black-necked (Latin)
Great Bustard
Otis tarda
Otis
Bustard with ear-feathers (probably the Great Bustard) (Greek)
tarda
Great bustard (Hispanic)
Asian Houbara
Chlamydotis macqueenii
Chlamydotis
Horseman's cloak bustard (Greek)
macqueenii
From an unknown person named MacQueen (Eponym)
Little Bustard
Tetrax tetrax
Tetrax
From specific name for Little Bustard (Linnaeus)
tetrax
Edible gamebird mentioned by Aristophanes and others (Greek)
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius
Clamator
Shouter (Latin)
glandarius
Of acorns (Latin)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
Coccyzus
To cry cuckoo (Greek)
americanus
America (Toponym)
Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Coccyzus
To cry cuckoo (Greek)
erythropthalmus
Red eye (Greek)
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
Cuculus
Cuckoo (Latin)
canorus
Melodious (Latin)
Pallas's Sandgrouse
Syrrhaptes paradoxus
Syrrhaptes
Sewn together (Greek)
paradoxus
Strange, extraordinary (Greek)
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Zenaida
From specific name for Zenaida Dove (Bonaparte)
macroura
Long-tailed (Greek)
Oriental Turtle Dove
Streptopelia orientalis
Streptopelia
Collar or neck-chain dove (Greek)
orientalis
Eastern (Latin)
Turtle Dove
Streptopelia turtur
Streptopelia
Collar or neck-chain dove (Greek)
turtur
Turtle dove (Latin)
Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Highfield Park, St Albans
Streptopelia
Collar or neck-chain dove (Greek)
decaocto
Eighteen (Latin)
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus
Columba
Pigeon, dove (Latin)
palumbus
Woodpigeon (Latin)
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Columba
Pigeon, dove (Latin)
livia
Rock dove (Latin)
Stock Dove
Columba oenas
Highfield Park, St Albans
Columba
Pigeon, dove (Latin)
oenas
Pigeon (Greek)
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
Antigone
From specific name for Sarus Crane (Linnaeus)
canadensis
Canada (Toponym)
Common Crane
Grus grus
Grus
From specific name for Common Crane (Linnaeus)
grus
Crane (Latin)
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticus
Rallus
From several possible sources relating to Water Rail (Unknown)
aquaticus
Aquatic, water-living (Latin)
Corncrake
Crex crex
Crex
From specific name for Corncrake (Linnaeus)
crex
Long-legged bird mentioned in Greek literature, possibly the Corncrake (Greek)
Sora
Porzana carolina
Porzana
Local name for small crake (Venetian)
carolina
Carolina or Carolina Colonies (Toponym)
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzana
Porzana
Local name for small crake (Venetian)
porzana
Local name for small crake (Venetian)
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Gallinula
Little hen, chicken (Latin)
chloropus
Green foot (Greek)
Coot
Fulica atra
Fulica
Coot (Latin)
atra
Black, dark, dull black (Latin)
American Coot
Fulica americana
Fulica
Coot (Latin)
americana
America (Toponym)
Allen's Gallinule
Porphyrio alleni
Porphyrio
From specific name for Purple Swamphen (Linnaeus)
alleni
Allen (Eponym)
American Purple Gallinule
Porphyrio martinica
Porphyrio
From specific name for Purple Swamphen (Linnaeus)
martinica
Martinique, West Indies (Toponym)
Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio
Porphyrio
From specific name for Purple Swamphen (Linnaeus)
porphyrio
Swamphen (Latin)
Little Crake
Zapornia parva
Zapornia
Anagram of genus Porzana (Anagram)
parva
Small (Latin)
Baillon's Crake
Zapornia pusilla
Zapornia
Anagram of genus Porzana (Anagram)
pusilla
Tiny (Latin)
Stone-curlew
Burhinus oedicnemus
Burhinus
Ox-nose (Greek)
oedicnemus
Swelling leg (Greek)
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosetta
RSPB Minsmere, January 2017
Recurvirostra
Bent or curved backwards bill (Latin)
avosetta
Venetian name for Pied Avocet (Venetian)
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Himantopus
From specific name for Black-winged Stilt (Linnaeus)
himantopus
Wading bird now generally identified as the Black-winged Stilt (Latin)
Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus
Tyttenhanger GP, May 2026
Haematopus
Blood foot (Latin)
ostralegus
Oyster gatherer (Latin)
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Pluvialis
From specific name for Eurasian Golden Plover (Linnaeus)
squatarola
Local name for a type of plover (Venetian)
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricaria
Balranald, North Uist, August 2018
Pluvialis
From specific name for Eurasian Golden Plover (Linnaeus)
apricaria
To bask in the sun (Latin)
American Golden Plover
Pluvialis dominica
Pluvialis
From specific name for Eurasian Golden Plover (Linnaeus)
dominica
Santo Domingo (Hispaniola), West Indies (Toponym)
Pacific Golden Plover
Pluvialis fulva
Pluvialis
From specific name for Eurasian Golden Plover (Linnaeus)
fulva
Tawny, yellowish-brown, brown (Latin)
Dotterel
Eudromias morinellus
Eudromias
Swiftness (Greek)
morinellus
Diminuitive of foolish (Greek)
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Charadrius
Yellowish bird mentioned in 4th Century Vulgate Bible (Latin)
vociferus
Clamorous, noisy (Latin)
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
Sligo, Ireland, May 2018
Charadrius
Yellowish bird mentioned in 4th Century Vulgate Bible (Latin)
hiaticula
Cleft-dweller (Latin)
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Charadrius
Yellowish bird mentioned in 4th Century Vulgate Bible (Latin)
semipalmatus
Half-palmate (Latin)
Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubius
Thinornis
Beach bird (Greek)
dubius
Doubtful, dubious (Latin)
Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
Vanellus
From specific name for Northern Lapwing (Linnaeus)
vanellus
Diminuitive of winnowing-fan (Latin)
Grey-headed Lapwing
Vanellus cinereus
Vanellus
From specific name for Northern Lapwing (Linnaeus)
cinereus
Ash-grey, ash-coloured (Latin)
Sociable Lapwing
Vanellus gregarius
Vanellus
From specific name for Northern Lapwing (Linnaeus)
gregarius
Sociable (Latin)
White-tailed Lapwing
Vanellus leucurus
Vanellus
From specific name for Northern Lapwing (Linnaeus)
leucurus
White-tailed (Greek)
Caspian Plover
Anarhynchus asiaticus
Anarhynchus
Backwards bill (Greek)
asiaticus
Asiatic (mainly referring to India) (Latin)
Tibetan Sand Plover
Anarhynchus atrifrons
Anarhynchus
Backwards bill (Greek)
atrifrons
Black forehead (Latin)
Siberian Sand Plover
Anarhynchus mongolus
Anarhynchus
Backwards bill (Greek)
mongolus
Mongolia (Toponym)
Greater Sand Plover
Anarhynchus leschenaultii
Anarhynchus
Backwards bill (Greek)
leschenaultii
Jean Lescheenault de la Tour, 18th Century French naturalist (Eponym)
Kentish Plover
Anarhynchus alexandrinus
Anarhynchus
Backwards bill (Greek)
alexandrinus
From Alexandria, Egypt (Toponym)
Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda
Bartramia
From specific name for Upland Sandpiper (Wilson)
longicauda
Long tail (Latin)
Eskimo Curlew
Numenius borealis
Numenius
Bird mentioned by Hesychius, probably the Curlew with its crescent-shaped bill (derived from new moon). (Greek)
borealis
Northern (Latin)
Little Whimbrel
Numenius minutus
Numenius
Bird mentioned by Hesychius, probably the Curlew with its crescent-shaped bill (derived from new moon). (Greek)
minutus
Small (Latin)
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
Numenius
Bird mentioned by Hesychius, probably the Curlew with its crescent-shaped bill (derived from new moon). (Greek)
hudsonicus
Hudson Bay, Canada (Toponym)
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Portstewart, Northern Ireland, May 2025
Numenius
Bird mentioned by Hesychius, probably the Curlew with its crescent-shaped bill (derived from new moon). (Greek)
phaeopus
Whimbrel (from Greek brown foot) (Latin)
Curlew
Numenius arquata
Burghead, Moray, August 2023
Numenius
Bird mentioned by Hesychius, probably the Curlew with its crescent-shaped bill (derived from new moon). (Greek)
arquata
Curlew (from bow-shaped) (Latin)
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica
Limosa
From specific name for Black-tailed Godwit (Linnaeus)
lapponica
Lapland (Toponym)
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa
Balranald, North Uist, August 2018
Limosa
From specific name for Black-tailed Godwit (Linnaeus)
limosa
Muddy (Latin)
Hudsonian Godwit
Limosa haemastica
Limosa
From specific name for Black-tailed Godwit (Linnaeus)
haemastica
Bloody (Greek)
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Limnodromus
March-runner (Greek)
scolopaceus
Snipe, woodcock (Latin)
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Limnodromus
March-runner (Greek)
griseus
Grey (Latin)
Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimus
Lymnocryptes
Marsh hidden (Greek)
minimus
Smallest (Latin)
Woodcock
Scolopax rusticola
Scolopax
Snipe, woodcock (Latin)
rusticola
Gamebird mentioned by Pliny, possibly a grouse (Latin)
Great Snipe
Gallinago media
Gallinago
From specific name for Common Snipe (Linnaeus)
media
Intermediate (Latin)
Wilson's Snipe
Gallinago delicata
Gallinago
From specific name for Common Snipe (Linnaeus)
delicata
Dainty, delicate (Latin)
Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Gallinago
From specific name for Common Snipe (Linnaeus)
gallinago
Woodcock, snipe (Latin)
Terek Sandpiper
Xenus cinereus
Xenus
Stranger (Greek)
cinereus
Ash-grey, ash-coloured (Latin)
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Actitis
Coast dweller (Greek)
hypoleucos
Beneath white (Greek)
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Actitis
Coast dweller (Greek)
macularius
Spot (Latin)
Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor
Phalaropus
Coot foot (Greek)
tricolor
Tri-coloured (Latin)
Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicarius
Phalaropus
Coot foot (Greek)
fulicarius
Coot (Latin)
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus
Phalaropus
Coot foot (Greek)
lobatus
Lobed (Latin)
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus
RSPB Rye Meads, September 2023
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
ochropus
Pale yellow foot (Greek)
Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
solitaria
Solitary (Latin)
Grey-tailed Tattler
Tringa brevipes
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
brevipes
Short foot (Latin)
Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
stagnatilis
Belonging to pools or ponds (Latin)
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
glareola
Diminuitive of gravel (Latin)
Redshank
Tringa totanus
Orford, Suffolk, December 2016
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
totanus
Common Redshank (Italian)
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
flavipes
Yellow foot (Latin)
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropus
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
erythropus
Red-footed (Greek)
Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
nebularia
Mist (Latin)
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Tringa
Name given to the Green Sandpiper (Aldrovandus)
melanoleuca
Black and white (Greek)
Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Burghead, Moray, August 2023
Arenaria
Relating to sand (Latin)
interpres
Messenger (Latin)
Knot
Calidris canutus
RSPB Leighton Moss, May 2025
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
canutus
King Canute, who is said to have considered the Red Knot as a delicacy (Eponym)
Great Knot
Calidris tenuirostris
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
tenuirostris
Slender-billed (Latin)
Ruff
Calidris pugnax
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
pugnax
Fond of fighting (Latin)
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Calidris acuminata
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
acuminata
Pointed (Latin)
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Calidris falcinellus
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
falcinellus
Glossy Ibis (Italian)
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
ferruginea
Rusty-coloured, ferruginous (Latin)
Stilt Sandpiper
Calidris himantopus
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
himantopus
Wading bird now generally identified as the Black-winged Stilt (Latin)
Red-necked Stint
Calidris ruficollis
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
ruficollis
Red- or ruddy-necked (Latin)
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckii
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
temminckii
Coenraad Temminck, Dutch 19th Century ornithologist (Eponym)
Long-toed Stint
Calidris subminuta
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
subminuta
Near to a Little Stint (Latin)
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Calidris subruficollis
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
subruficollis
Reddish-necked (Latin)
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
alba
White, dull white (Latin)
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
alpina
Alpine, of high mountains (Latin)
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritima
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
maritima
Maritime, of the sea (Latin)
Baird's Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
bairdii
Spencer Fullerton Baird, 19th Century American collector (Eponym)
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
melanotos
Black-backed (Greek)
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
pusilla
Tiny (Latin)
Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
mauri
Ernesto Mauri, 19th Century Italian botanist (Eponym)
Little Stint
Calidris minuta
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
minuta
Small (Latin)
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
minutilla
Very small (Latin)
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis
Calidris
From specific name for Red Knot (Gmelin)
fuscicollis
Dusky, brown (Latin)
Cream-coloured Courser
Cursorius cursor
Cursorius
Runner (Latin)
cursor
Runner (Latin)
Oriental Pratincole
Glareola maldivarum
Glareola
Diminuitive from gravel (Latin)
maldivarum
Maldive Islands (Toponym)
Black-winged Pratincole
Glareola nordmanni
Glareola
Diminuitive from gravel (Latin)
nordmanni
Alexander von Nordmann, 19th Century Finnish zoologist (Eponym)
Collared Pratincole
Glareola pratincola
Glareola
Diminuitive from gravel (Latin)
pratincola
Meadow inhabitant (Latin)
Arctic Skua
Stercorarius parasiticus
Stercorarius
Relating to dung (Latin)
parasiticus
Parasitic (Latin)
Long-tailed Skua
Stercorarius longicaudus
Stercorarius
Relating to dung (Latin)
longicaudus
Long tail (Latin)
Pomarine Skua
Stercorarius pomarinus
Stercorarius
Relating to dung (Latin)
pomarinus
Cover nostrils (Greek)
Great Skua
Stercorarius skua
Iceland, 2016
Stercorarius
Relating to dung (Latin)
skua
Great Skua (Old Norse)
South Polar Skua
Stercorarius maccormicki
Stercorarius
Relating to dung (Latin)
maccormicki
Robert McCormick, British naturalist and polar explorer (Eponym)
Tufted Puffin
Fratercula cirrhata
Fratercula
Friar (Latin)
cirrhata
Curly-headed (Latin)
Puffin
Fratercula arctica
Herma Ness, Unst, Shetland, August 2013
Fratercula
Friar (Latin)
arctica
Northern arctic (Toponym)
Ancient Murrelet
Synthliboramphus antiquus
Synthliboramphus
Compressed bill (Greek)
antiquus
Ancient (Latin)
Long-billed Murrelet
Brachyramphus perdix
Brachyramphus
Short bill (Greek)
perdix
Partridge (Latin)
Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylle
Belfast Harbour, May 2023
Cepphus
Pale waterbird mentioned by Aristotle and others (Greek)
grylle
Dialect name for Black Guillemot (Gotland)
Razorbill
Alca torda
Alca
Razorbill (Norwegian)
torda
From Gotland dialect name for Razorbill (Gotland)
Great Auk
Pinguinus impennis
Pinguinus
Penguin, as applied to the Great Auk in Newfoundland (Unknown)
impennis
Without wings (Latin)
Little Auk
Alle alle
Alle
From specific name for Little Auk (Linnaeus)
alle
Lomg-tailed Duck (Lapp)
Br�nnich's Guillemot
Uria lomvia
Uria
Waterfowl mentioned by Athenaeus (Greek)
lomvia
Auk or diver (Swedish)
Common Guillemot
Uria aalge
Uria
Waterfowl mentioned by Athenaeus (Greek)
aalge
Auk (Danish)
Aleutian Tern
Onychoprion aleuticus
Onychoprion
Claw- or nail-saw (Greek)
aleuticus
Aleutian Island,s North Pacific (Toponym)
Sooty Tern
Onychoprion fuscatus
Onychoprion
Claw- or nail-saw (Greek)
fuscatus
Dark (Latin)
Bridled Tern
Onychoprion anaethetus
Onychoprion
Claw- or nail-saw (Greek)
anaethetus
Stupid, senseless (Greek)
Little Tern
Sternula albifrons
Sternula
From genus Sterna (Linnaeus)
albifrons
White forehead or front (Latin)
Least Tern
Sternula antillarum
Sternula
From genus Sterna (Linnaeus)
antillarum
Antilles in the West Indies (Toponym)
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
Hydroprogne
Water swallow (Greek)
caspia
Of the Caspian Sea (Toponym)
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica
Gelochelidon
Laughing swallow (Greek)
nilotica
Of the River Nile (Toponym)
Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Chlidonias
Swallow-like (Greek)
hybrida
Hybrid (Latin)
White-winged Black Tern
Chlidonias leucopterus
Chlidonias
Swallow-like (Greek)
leucopterus
White-winged (Greek)
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
Chlidonias
Swallow-like (Greek)
niger
Black, dark-coloured, shining black (Latin)
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensis
Thalasseus
Fisherman (Greek)
sandvicensis
Various geographical locations named Sandwich, including Sandwich in Kent and the Sandwich Islands, now Hawaii. (Toponym)
Elegant Tern
Thalasseus elegans
Thalasseus
Fisherman (Greek)
elegans
Elegant, fine (Latin)
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
Thalasseus
Fisherman (Greek)
maximus
Greatest (Latin)
Lesser Crested Tern
Thalasseus bengalensis
Thalasseus
Fisherman (Greek)
bengalensis
Bengal (Toponym)
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Sterna
Black Tern (Old English)
forsteri
Johann Reinhold Forster or Johann Georg Adam Forster (Eponym)
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea
Iceland, 2016
Sterna
Black Tern (Old English)
paradisaea
Paradise (Latin)
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Tyttenhanger GP, May 2026
Sterna
Black Tern (Old English)
hirundo
Swallow (Latin)
Roseate Tern
Sterna dougallii
Sterna
Black Tern (Old English)
dougallii
Dr Peter McDougall, Scottish 18th Century physician (Eponym)
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutus
Hydrocoloeus
Water web-footed bird (perhaps a Cormorant) (Greek)
minutus
Small (Latin)
Ross's Gull
Rhodostethia rosea
Rhodostethia
Rose breast (Greek)
rosea
Rosy, rose-coloured (Latin)
Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla
Rissa
From specific name for Black-legged Kittiwake (Brunnich)
tridactyla
Three-toed (Greek)
Sabine's Gull
Xema sabini
Xema
Name given to Sabine's Gull (Leach)
sabini
Joseph Sabine and Sir Edward Sabine, 19th Century scientists (Eponym)
Ivory Gull
Pagophila eburnea
Pagophila
Sea-ice loving (Greek)
eburnea
Ivory-coloured, ivory-white (Latin)
Slender-billed Gull
Chroicocephalus genei
Chroicocephalus
Coloured or stained head (Greek)
genei
Giuseppe Gene, 19th Century Italian naturalist (Eponym)
Bonaparte's Gull
Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Chroicocephalus
Coloured or stained head (Greek)
philadelphia
Philadelphia (Toponym)
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Broxbourne, Herts, January 2021
Chroicocephalus
Coloured or stained head (Greek)
ridibundus
Laughing (Latin)
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
Leucophaeus
Whitish-grey, ash coloured (Greek)
atricilla
Black tail (Latin)
Franklin's Gull
Leucophaeus pipixcan
Leucophaeus
Whitish-grey, ash coloured (Greek)
pipixcan
Native name for a gull (Mexican Indian)
Great Black-headed Gull
Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
Ichthyaetus
From specific name for Great Black-headed Gull (Pallas)
ichthyaetus
Fish eagle (Greek)
Audouin's Gull
Ichthyaetus audouinii
Ichthyaetus
From specific name for Great Black-headed Gull (Pallas)
audouinii
Jean Victoire Audouin, French 19th Century ornithologist (Eponym)
Mediterranean Gull
Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Ichthyaetus
From specific name for Great Black-headed Gull (Pallas)
melanocephalus
Black-headed (Greek)
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
delawarensis
Delaware River (Toponym)
Common Gull
Larus canus
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
canus
Grey (Latin)
Caspian Gull
Larus cachinnans
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
cachinnans
Laughing (Latin)
Kelp Gull
Larus dominicanus
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
dominicanus
Dominican, Jacobin or Black friars (Eponym)
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
smithsonianus
James Smithson, 18th Century Philosopher (Eponym)
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
argentatus
Ornamented with silver (Latin)
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellis
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
michahellis
Misspelling of specific name for Yellow-legged Gull (Misspelling)
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
marinus
Marine (Latin)
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreus
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
hyperboreus
Northern (Latin)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
fuscus
Brown, dusky (Latin)
Glaucous-winged Gull
Larus glaucescens
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
glaucescens
Glaucous, bluish-grey (Latin)
Slaty-backed Gull
Larus schistisagus
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
schistisagus
Slate cloak (Latin)
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides
Larus
Rapacious seabird, probably a gull (Latin)
glaucoides
From specific name for Glaucous Gull (Brunnich)
Red-billed Tropicbird
Phaethon aethereus
Phaethon
Sun (Greek)
aethereus
Of the air, heavenly (Greek)
Red-throated Diver
Gavia stellata
Gavia
Unidentified seabird, perhaps some sort of gull (Latin)
stellata
Starry, starred, set with stars (Latin)
Great Northern Diver
Gavia immer
Iceland, 2016
Gavia
Unidentified seabird, perhaps some sort of gull (Latin)
immer
Great Northern Diver (Norwegian)
White-billed Diver
Gavia adamsii
Gavia
Unidentified seabird, perhaps some sort of gull (Latin)
adamsii
Adams (Eponym)
Pacific Diver
Gavia pacifica
Gavia
Unidentified seabird, perhaps some sort of gull (Latin)
pacifica
Pacific Ocean (Toponym)
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
Gavia
Unidentified seabird, perhaps some sort of gull (Latin)
arctica
Northern arctic (Toponym)
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
Thalassarche chlororhynchos
Thalassarche
Sea power (Greek)
chlororhynchos
Yrllow bill (Greek)
Black-browed Albatross
Thalassarche melanophris
Thalassarche
Sea power (Greek)
melanophris
Black-browed (Greek)
Wilson's Storm-petrel
Oceanites oceanicus
Oceanites
Mythological sea-nymphs (Greek)
oceanicus
Oceanic (Latin)
White-faced Storm-petrel
Pelagodroma marina
Pelagodroma
Sea-running (Greek)
marina
Marine (Latin)
European Storm-petrel
Hydrobates pelagicus
Hydrobates
Water-walker (Greek)
pelagicus
Marine, pelagic (Latin)
Band-rumped Storm-petrel
Hydrobates castro
Hydrobates
Water-walker (Greek)
castro
Possibly onomatopoeic representation of breeding calls (Onomatopoeic)
Swinhoe's Storm-petrel
Hydrobates monorhis
Hydrobates
Water-walker (Greek)
monorhis
Single nostril (Greek)
Leach's Storm-petrel
Hydrobates leucorhous
Hydrobates
Water-walker (Greek)
leucorhous
White rump (Greek)
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
Orkney, August 2013
Fulmarus
Northern Fulmar (Old Norse)
glacialis
Icy (Latin)
White-chinned Petrel
Procellaria aequinoctialis
Procellaria
Storm, gale (Latin)
aequinoctialis
Equinoctial (Latin)
Scopoli's Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea
Calonectris
Noble bird of shearwater genus (Greek)
diomedea
Mythological warrior king (Mythology)
Cory's Shearwater
Calonectris borealis
Calonectris
Noble bird of shearwater genus (Greek)
borealis
Northern (Latin)
Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna grisea
Ardenna
Bird from the Diomedes (Reichenbach)
grisea
Grey (Latin)
Great Shearwater
Ardenna gravis
Ardenna
Bird from the Diomedes (Reichenbach)
gravis
Heavy, weighty (Latin)
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
Puffinus
Based on Puffin of the Isle Of Man (Willughby)
puffinus
From genus of shearwater (Manx)
Mediterranean Shearwater
Puffinus yelkouan
Puffinus
Based on Puffin of the Isle Of Man (Willughby)
yelkouan
Wind-chaser (Turkish)
Barolo Shearwater
Puffinus baroli
Puffinus
Based on Puffin of the Isle Of Man (Willughby)
baroli
Carlo Tencredi Falletti Marchese di Barolo, 19th Century Italian philanthropist (Eponym)
Soft-plumaged Petrel
Pterodroma mollis
Pterodroma
Wing runner (Greek)
mollis
Soft, gentle (Latin)
Black-capped Petrel
Pterodroma hasitata
Pterodroma
Wing runner (Greek)
hasitata
Faltering, hesitating (Latin)
Zino's Petrel
Pterodroma madeira
Pterodroma
Wing runner (Greek)
madeira
Madeira (Toponym)
Black Stork
Ciconia nigra
Ciconia
From specific name for White Stork (Linnaeus)
nigra
Black, dark-coloured, shining black (Latin)
White Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Ciconia
From specific name for White Stork (Linnaeus)
ciconia
Stork (Latin)
Ascension Frigatebird
Fregata aquila
Fregata
Mariners, Nme for the swift and rapacious frigatebirds (French)
aquila
Eagle (Latin)
Magnificent Frigatebird
Fregata magnificens
Fregata
Mariners, Nme for the swift and rapacious frigatebirds (French)
magnificens
Splendidly (Latin)
Gannet
Morus bassanus
Herma Ness, Unst, Shetland, August 2013
Morus
Silly, foolish (Greek)
bassanus
Bass Rock (Toponym)
Red-footed Booby
Sula sula
Sula
Gannet (Norwegian)
sula
Name for a gannet (Norwegian)
Brown Booby
Sula leucogaster
Sula
Gannet (Norwegian)
leucogaster
White belly (Greek)
Shag
Gulosus aristotelis
Gulosus
Gluttonous (Latin)
aristotelis
Aristotle (Eponym)
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
Nannopterum
Dwarf wing (Greek)
auritum
Long-eared (Latin)
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
Phalacrocorax
Cormorant (from Greek bald-headed raven) (Latin)
carbo
Charcoal (Latin)
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Plegadis
Sickle (Greek)
falcinellus
Glossy Ibis (Italian)
Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodia
RSPB Leighton Moss, May 2025
Platalea
Spoonbill (Latin)
leucorodia
Spoonbill (white heron) (Greek)
Dalmatian Pelican
Pelecanus crispus
Pelecanus
Pelican (Greek)
crispus
Curly-headed (Latin)
Least Bittern
Botaurus exilis
Botaurus
Bittern (Latin)
exilis
Little, slender (Latin)
Bittern
Botaurus stellaris
Botaurus
Bittern (Latin)
stellaris
Starred (Latin)
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Botaurus
Bittern (Latin)
lentiginosus
Freckled, dotted (Latin)
Little Bittern
Botaurus minutus
Botaurus
Bittern (Latin)
minutus
Small (Latin)
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Egretta
Egret (French)
thula
Araucano name for Black-necked swan (Araucano)
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Berkhamsted, Herts, November 2020
Egretta
Egret (French)
garzetta
Name for the Little Egret (Italian)
Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Nycticorax
From specific name for Black-crowned Night Heron (Linnaeus)
nycticorax
Night raven (Greek)
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Butorides
From genus Butor (bittern) (Swainson)
virescens
Greenish (Latin)
Chinese Pond Heron
Ardeola bacchus
Ardeola
Little heron (Latin)
bacchus
Wine-coloured (Latin)
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
Ardeola
Little heron (Latin)
ralloides
From genus for Rail (Linnaeus)
Great White Egret
Ardea alba
Tyttenhanger GP, September 2023
Ardea
Heron (Latin)
alba
White, dull white (Latin)
Cattle Egret
Ardea ibis
Willows Farm, December 2025
Ardea
Heron (Latin)
ibis
Ibis (Latin)
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
Ardea
Heron (Latin)
purpurea
Purple-coloured (Latin)
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
River Colne, Radlett
Ardea
Heron (Latin)
cinerea
Ash-grey, ash-coloured (Latin)
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Ardea
Heron (Latin)
herodias
Heron (Greek)
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Chordeiles
Music in the evening (Greek)
minor
Smaller (Latin)
Red-necked Nightjar
Caprimulgus ruficollis
Caprimulgus
Goat milker (Latin)
ruficollis
Red- or ruddy-necked (Latin)
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus
Caprimulgus
Goat milker (Latin)
europaeus
European (Toponym)
Egyptian Nightjar
Caprimulgus aegyptius
Caprimulgus
Goat milker (Latin)
aegyptius
Egyptian (Latin)
White-throated Needletail
Hirundapus caudacutus
Hirundapus
From genus for Swallow (Linnaeus)
caudacutus
Sharp-pointed tail (Latin)
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Chaetura
Hair tail (Greek)
pelagica
Of the sea (Latin)
Alpine Swift
Tachymarptis melba
Cappadocia, Turkey, March 2025
Tachymarptis
Fast seizer (Greek)
melba
Possibly from a Chinese word or place (Unknown)
Fork-tailed Swift
Apus pacificus
Apus
From specific name for Common Swift (Linnaeus)
pacificus
Pacific Ocean (Toponym)
White-rumped Swift
Apus caffer
Apus
From specific name for Common Swift (Linnaeus)
caffer
South African (Latin)
Little Swift
Apus affinis
Apus
From specific name for Common Swift (Linnaeus)
affinis
Related, allied (Latin)
Swift
Apus apus
Apus
From specific name for Common Swift (Linnaeus)
apus
Swift, type of swallow said to have no feet (from Greek without feet) (Latin)
Pallid Swift
Apus pallidus
Apus
From specific name for Common Swift (Linnaeus)
pallidus
Pallid, pale (Latin)
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Tyto
Night owl (Greek)
alba
White, dull white (Latin)
Tengmalm's Owl
Aegolius funereus
Aegolius
Screech owl (bird of ill omen) (Greek)
funereus
Funereal (Latin)
Little Owl
Athene noctua
Tyttenhanger GP, June 2021
Athene
Goddess of wisdom, war and the liberal arts (Greek)
noctua
Owl sacred to the goddess Minerva (Latin)
Hawk Owl
Surnia ulula
Surnia
No explanation (Unknown)
ulula
Screech owl (Latin)
Scops Owl
Otus scops
Otus
Small-eared owl (Latin)
scops
Little eared owl (Greek)
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Asio
From specific name for Long-eared Owl (Brisson)
flammeus
Fiery, flaming, flame-coloured (Latin)
Long-eared Owl
Asio otus
Asio
From specific name for Long-eared Owl (Brisson)
otus
Eared owl (Latin)
Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus
Bubo
From specific name for Great Eagle Owl (Linnaeus)
scandiacus
Scandinavian (Toponym)
Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
Highfield Park, St Albans, June 2021
Strix
Owl (Latin)
aluco
From names for Tawny Owl (Italian)
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Arnside, Cumbria, June 2021
Pandion
King of Athens in Greek mythology (Greek)
haliaetus
Osprey, sea-eagle (Greek)
Black-winged Kite
Elanus caeruleus
Elanus
Kite (Greek)
caeruleus
Dark blue, cerulean (Latin)
Egyptian Vulture
Neophron percnopterus
Neophron
Mythological trickster metamorphosed into a vulture (Greek)
percnopterus
Vulture-winged (Greek)
Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorus
Pernis
Hawk mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius (Greek)
apivorus
Bee-eating (Latin)
Short-toed Eagle
Circaetus gallicus
Circaetus
Type of hawk, associated with the harrier (Greek)
gallicus
Of Gaul (Toponym)
Spotted Eagle
Clanga clanga
Clanga
From specific name for Greater Spotted Eagle (Pallas)
clanga
Eagle (Greek)
Booted Eagle
Hieraaetus pennatus
Hieraaetus
Hawk eagle (Greek)
pennatus
Feathered (Latin)
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Aquila
Eagle (Latin)
chrysaetos
Golden eagle (Greek)
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Highfield Park, St Albans, April 2020
Accipiter
Hawk (Latin)
nisus
Sparrowhawk (Latin)
Goshawk
Astur gentilis
Astur
Hawk (Latin)
gentilis
Noble, gentle (Latin)
Pallid Harrier
Circus macrourus
Circus
Circle (Greek)
macrourus
Long-tailed (Greek)
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneus
Circus
Circle (Greek)
cyaneus
Dark-blue, sea-blue (Latin)
Northern Harrier
Circus hudsonius
Circus
Circle (Greek)
hudsonius
Hudson Bay, Canada (Toponym)
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargus
Circus
Circle (Greek)
pygargus
Hen Harrier (from Greek white-rumped) (Latin)
Marsh Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
RSPB Leighton Moss, May 2025
Circus
Circle (Greek)
aeruginosus
Rusty (from copper rust) (Latin)
Red Kite
Milvus milvus
Tyttenhanger GP, August 2021
Milvus
From specific name for Red Kite (Linnaeus)
milvus
Kite (Latin)
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Milvus
From specific name for Red Kite (Linnaeus)
migrans
Migrating (Latin)
White-tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Harris, Outer Hebrides, August 2018
Haliaeetus
Sea eagle (Latin)
albicilla
White-tailed (Latin)
Rough-legged Buzzard
Buteo lagopus
Buteo
From specific name for Common Buzzard (Linnaeus)
lagopus
Hare foot (Greek)
Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Buteo
From specific name for Common Buzzard (Linnaeus)
buteo
Buzzard (Latin)
Long-legged Buzzard
Buteo rufinus
Buteo
From specific name for Common Buzzard (Linnaeus)
rufinus
Golden, golden red (Latin)
Hoopoe
Upupa epops
Maun, Botswana, August 2019
Upupa
Hoopoe (Latin)
epops
Hoopoe (Greek)
Roller
Coracias garrulus
Coracias
Type of crow or daw, possibly a chough (Greek)
garrulus
Chattering, babbling, noisy (Latin)
Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
Merops
Bee-eater (Greek)
apiaster
Bee-eater (Latin)
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Merops persicus
Merops
Bee-eater (Greek)
persicus
Persian (Toponym)
Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Alcedo
Kingfisher (Latin)
atthis
Mythological handsome richly-dressed Indian youth (Greek)
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Megaceryle
Great bird of the Ceryle genus (Greek)
alcyon
Kingfisher (Latin)
Wryneck
Jynx torquilla
Jynx
Wryneck (Greek)
torquilla
Diminuitive from to twist (Latin)
Green Woodpecker
Picus viridis
Highfield Park, St Albans, May 2020
Picus
Woodpecker (Latin)
viridis
Green (Latin)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Sphyrapicus
Hammer woodpecker (Greek)
varius
Various, diverse, variegated (Latin)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
Highfield Park, St Albans, June 2025
Dendrocopos
Tree striking (Greek)
major
Greater (Latin)
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minor
Dryobates
Woodland walker (Greek)
minor
Smaller (Latin)
Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
naumanni
Johann Naumann, two separate German naturalists (Eponym)
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Heartwood Forest, St Albans, September 2020
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
tinnunculus
Kestrel (from shrill-sounding) (Latin)
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
sparverius
Sparrowhawk (Latin)
Red-footed Falcon
Falco vespertinus
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
vespertinus
Of the evening, of twilight (Latin)
Amur Falcon
Falco amurensis
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
amurensis
Amurland or Amuria, Siberia (Toponym)
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
columbarius
Pertasining to doves (Latin)
Eleonora's Falcon
Falco eleonorae
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
eleonorae
Giudicessa Eleonora d'Arborea, 14th Century Sardinian heroine (Eponym)
Hobby
Falco subbuteo
Tyttenhanger GP, September 2021
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
subbuteo
Near to a buzzard (Latin)
Peregrine
Falco peregrinus
St Albans Abbey, May 2023
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
peregrinus
Peregrine (from wanderer) (Latin)
Gyr Falcon
Falco rusticolus
Falco
Falcon (from sickle) (Latin)
rusticolus
Countryman (Latin)
Ring-necked Parakeet
Psittacula krameri
Highfield Park, St Albans, May 2026
Psittacula
Little parrot (Latin)
krameri
Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer, 18th Century Austrian naturalist (Eponym)
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Tyrannus
From specific name for Eastern Kingbird (Linnaeus)
tyrannus
Tyrant (Latin)
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Sayornis
From specific name for Say's Phoebe (Bonaparte)
phoebe
A name for the goddess Diana (Mythology)
Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Empidonax
Gnat- or mosquito- lord or master (Greek)
virescens
Greenish (Latin)
Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Empidonax
Gnat- or mosquito- lord or master (Greek)
alnorum
Of the alder trees (Latin)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Empidonax flaviventris
Empidonax
Gnat- or mosquito- lord or master (Greek)
flaviventris
Yellow belly (Latin)
Philadelphia Vireo
Vireo philadelphicus
Vireo
Small green bird, possibly the Golden Oriole or Greenfinch (Latin)
philadelphicus
Philadelphia, United States (Toponym)
Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus
Vireo
Small green bird, possibly the Golden Oriole or Greenfinch (Latin)
olivaceus
Olive-green (Latin)
Yellow-throated Vireo
Vireo flavifrons
Vireo
Small green bird, possibly the Golden Oriole or Greenfinch (Latin)
flavifrons
Yellow forehead or front (Latin)
Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolus
Oriolus
From specific name for European Golden Oriole (Linnaeus)
oriolus
Golden oriole (Latin)
Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
excubitor
Sentinel (Latin)
Masked Shrike
Lanius nubicus
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
nubicus
Nubian (Toponym)
Lesser Grey Shrike
Lanius minor
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
minor
Smaller (Latin)
Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senator
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
senator
Senator (Latin)
Daurian Shrike
Lanius isabellinus
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
isabellinus
Fawn, greyish-yellow (probably from Queen Isabel of Spain) (Eponym)
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurio
Cluj, Romania, July 2017
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
collurio
Bird mentioned by Aristotle and Hesychius, possibly a Shrike or Fieldfare (Greek)
Turkestan Shrike
Lanius phoenicuroides
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
phoenicuroides
Resembling the Rufous-Tailed Lark (Greek)
Long-tailed Shrike
Lanius schach
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
schach
Onomatopoeic name for Long-tailed shrike (Onomatopoeic)
Brown Shrike
Lanius cristatus
Lanius
Butcher (Latin)
cristatus
Crested, plumed (Latin)
Chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Pyrrhocorax
From specific name for Red-billed Chough (Linnaeus)
pyrrhocorax
Chough (from Greek flame-coloured raven) (Latin)
Jay
Garrulus glandarius
Highfield Park, St Albans
Garrulus
Chattering, babbling, noisy (Latin)
glandarius
Of acorns (Latin)
Magpie
Pica pica
Highfield Park, St Albans
Pica
From specific name for Common Magpie (Linnaeus)
pica
Magpie (Latin)
Nutcracker
Nucifraga caryocatactes
Nucifraga
Name given to Spotted Nutcracker as a translation from German for nut-breaker (Latin)
caryocatactes
Nut-shatterer (Greek)
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedula
Coloeus
Jackdaw (Greek)
monedula
Jackdaw (from money-eater) (Latin)
Rook
Corvus frugilegus
Therfield Heath, Royston, October 2020
Corvus
Raven (Latin)
frugilegus
Crop-picking (Latin)
Raven
Corvus corax
Corvus
Raven (Latin)
corax
Raven (from to croak) (Greek)
Carrion Crow
Corvus corone
Corvus
Raven (Latin)
corone
Crow (Greek)
Penduline Tit
Remiz pendulinus
Remiz
European Penduline tit (Polish)
pendulinus
Hanging down (Latin)
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
Highfield Park, St Albans
Cyanistes
Dark blue (Greek)
caeruleus
Dark blue, cerulean (Latin)
Great Tit
Parus major
Highfield Park, St Albans
Parus
Tit (Latin)
major
Greater (Latin)
Coal Tit
Periparus ater
Highfield Park, St Albans
Periparus
Very like the tit genus Parus (Greek)
ater
Black, dark, dull black (Latin)
Crested Tit
Lophophanes cristatus
Lophophanes
Crest showing (Greek)
cristatus
Crested, plumed (Latin)
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustris
Poecile
Unknown small bird (Greek)
palustris
Marshy (Latin)
Willow Tit
Poecile montanus
Poecile
Unknown small bird (Greek)
montanus
Of the mountains (Latin)
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicus
Panurus
Exceedingly tailed (Greek)
biarmicus
Possibly related to bearded (Uncertain)
Woodlark
Lullula arborea
Lullula
Based on French onomatopoeic name for Wood Lark (French)
arborea
Arboreal, of a tree (Latin)
White-winged Lark
Alauda leucoptera
Alauda
Lark (from great songstress) (Latin)
leucoptera
White-winged (Greek)
Skylark
Alauda arvensis
Ellenbrook Fields, June 2023
Alauda
Lark (from great songstress) (Latin)
arvensis
Of the field (Latin)
Crested Lark
Galerida cristata
Galerida
Lark with a crest (Crested Lark or Skylark), from cap, bonnet (Latin)
cristata
Crested, plumed (Latin)
Shore Lark
Eremophila alpestris
Eremophila
Desert-loving (Greek)
alpestris
Of the high mountains (Latin)
Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactyla
Calandrella
Diminuitive of Calendra Lark (Greek)
brachydactyla
Short-toed (Greek)
Bimaculated Lark
Melanocorypha bimaculata
Melanocorypha
Black unidentified bird mentioned by Hesychius, possibly a lark (Greek)
bimaculata
Two-spotted (Latin)
Black Lark
Melanocorypha yeltoniensis
Melanocorypha
Black unidentified bird mentioned by Hesychius, possibly a lark (Greek)
yeltoniensis
Lake Yelton, Astrakhan (Toponym)
Calandra Lark
Melanocorypha calandra
Melanocorypha
Black unidentified bird mentioned by Hesychius, possibly a lark (Greek)
calandra
Lark (Greek)
Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola juncidis
Cisticola
From specific name for Zitting Cisticola (Temminck)
juncidis
Little reed (Latin)
Icterine Warbler
Hippolais icterina
Hippolais
From specific name for Icterine Warbler (Linnaeus)
icterina
Jaundice-yellow (Greek)
Melodious Warbler
Hippolais polyglotta
Hippolais
From specific name for Icterine Warbler (Linnaeus)
polyglotta
Loud-voiced, harmonius (many tongues) (Greek)
Olive-tree Warbler
Hippolais olivetorum
Hippolais
From specific name for Icterine Warbler (Linnaeus)
olivetorum
Of the olive groves (Latin)
Thick-billed Warbler
Arundinax aedon
Arundinax
Reed master (L/G)
aedon
Nightingale (L/G)
Booted Warbler
Iduna caligata
Iduna
Perhaps a phonetic rendering of aedonis (nightingale) (Unknown)
caligata
Booted (Latin)
Sykes's Warbler
Iduna rama
Iduna
Perhaps a phonetic rendering of aedonis (nightingale) (Unknown)
rama
Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu (Mythology)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Iduna pallida
Iduna
Perhaps a phonetic rendering of aedonis (nightingale) (Unknown)
pallida
Pallid, pale (Latin)
Western Olivaceous Warbler
Iduna opaca
Iduna
Perhaps a phonetic rendering of aedonis (nightingale) (Unknown)
opaca
Dark, obscure (Latin)
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Acrocephalus
Topmost or highest head (Greek)
schoenobaenus
Reed-treader (Greek)
Aquatic Warbler
Acrocephalus paludicola
Acrocephalus
Topmost or highest head (Greek)
paludicola
Marsh-dweller (Latin)
Paddyfield Warbler
Acrocephalus agricola
Acrocephalus
Topmost or highest head (Greek)
agricola
Farmer, tiller of the fields (Latin)
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus dumetorum
Acrocephalus
Topmost or highest head (Greek)
dumetorum
Of the thickets (Latin)
Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustris
Acrocephalus
Topmost or highest head (Greek)
palustris
Marshy (Latin)
Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Acrocephalus
Topmost or highest head (Greek)
scirpaceus
Rush, reed (Latin)
Great Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Acrocephalus
Topmost or highest head (Greek)
arundinaceus
Reed-like (Latin)
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler
Helopsaltes certhiola
Helopsaltes
(Not listed) (Unknown)
certhiola
Diminuitive from treecreeper genus (Linnaeus)
Lanceolated Warbler
Locustella lanceolata
Locustella
From specific name for Common Grasshopper Warbler (Latham)
lanceolata
Spear-shaped (Latin)
River Warbler
Locustella fluviatilis
Locustella
From specific name for Common Grasshopper Warbler (Latham)
fluviatilis
Riverine, of a river (Latin)
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioides
Locustella
From specific name for Common Grasshopper Warbler (Latham)
luscinioides
Nightingale-resembling (Latin)
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naevia
Locustella
From specific name for Common Grasshopper Warbler (Latham)
naevia
Spotted, marked (Latin)
Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
Riparia
From specific name for Sand martin (Linnaeus)
riparia
riverbank-nesting (Latin)
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Tachycineta
Moving quickly (Greek)
bicolor
Bicoloured (Latin)
Purple Martin
Progne subis
Progne
Swallow (Latin)
subis
Bird that breaks eagle's eggs (Latin)
Crag Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Ptyonoprogne
Fan swallow (L/G)
rupestris
Rock-dwelling (Latin)
Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Hale, Hampshire
Hirundo
Swallow (Latin)
rustica
Rural, rustic, plain, simple (Latin)
House Martin
Delichon urbicum
Arnside, Cumbria, June 2021
Delichon
Anagram of genus Chelidon (martin) (Anagram)
urbicum
Urban, frequenting towns (Latin)
Red-rumped Swallow
Cecropis rufula
Cecropis
Athenian woman (Greek)
rufula
Reddish (Latin)
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow
Cecropis daurica
Cecropis
Athenian woman (Greek)
daurica
Dauria, south-eastern Siberia (Toponym)
American Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Petrochelidon
Rock swalow (Greek)
pyrrhonota
Flame- or red-backed (Greek)
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus
Highfield Park, St Albans
Aegithalos
Tit (Greek)
caudatus
Having a tail (Latin)
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cetti
Cettia
From specific name for Cetti's Warbler (Temminck)
cetti
Father Francesco Cetti, 18th Century Italian mathematician and zoologist (Eponym)
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
sibilatrix
Whistler (Latin)
Western Bonelli's Warbler
Phylloscopus bonelli
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
bonelli
Franco Andrea Bonelli, Italian 19th Century naturalist (Eponym)
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Phylloscopus orientalis
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
orientalis
Eastern (Latin)
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
inornatus
Plain, unadorned (Latin)
Hume's Warbler
Phylloscopus humei
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
humei
Allan Octavian Hume, 19th Century British ornithologist (Eponym)
Pallas's Warbler
Phylloscopus proregulus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
proregulus
Close to a Goldcrest (Greek)
Radde's Warbler
Phylloscopus schwarzi
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
schwarzi
Ludwig Schwarz, German astronomer (Eponym)
Sulphur-bellied Warbler
Phylloscopus griseolus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
griseolus
Grey (Latin)
Dusky Warbler
Phylloscopus fuscatus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
fuscatus
Dark (Latin)
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
trochilus
Wren (Greek)
Iberian Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus ibericus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
ibericus
Iberian (Toponym)
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
Highfield Park, St Albans
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
collybita
Money-changer (Latin)
Eastern Crowned Warbler
Phylloscopus coronatus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
coronatus
Crowned (Latin)
Green Warbler
Phylloscopus nitidus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
nitidus
Shining, glittering (Latin)
Two-barred Greenish Warbler
Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
plumbeitarsus
Plumbeous flat of the foot (L/G)
Greenish Warbler
Phylloscopus trochiloides
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
trochiloides
Resembling a bow (Greek)
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler
Phylloscopus tenellipes
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
tenellipes
Delicate foot (Latin)
Arctic Warbler
Phylloscopus borealis
Phylloscopus
Leaf seeker (Greek)
borealis
Northern (Latin)
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borin
Sylvia
From specific name of unknown bird, possibly Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
borin
Local Genoese name for a type of warbler (Italian)
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla
Sylvia
From specific name of unknown bird, possibly Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
atricapilla
Black-haired (Latin)
Barred Warbler
Curruca nisoria
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
nisoria
Sparrowhawk (Latin)
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca curruca
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
curruca
Unidentified bird mentioned by Juvenal, possibly the Dunnock (Latin)
Western Orphean Warbler
Curruca hortensis
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
hortensis
Of a garden (Latin)
Eastern Orphean Warbler
Curruca crassirostris
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
crassirostris
Thick- or heavy-billed (Latin)
Asian Desert Warbler
Curruca nana
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
nana
Dwarf (Latin)
Whitethroat
Curruca communis
Highfield Park, St Albans
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
communis
Common (Latin)
Spectacled Warbler
Curruca conspicillata
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
conspicillata
A place to look from (implying spectacled) (Latin)
Marmora's Warbler
Curruca sarda
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
sarda
Sardinian woman (Latin)
Dartford Warbler
Curruca undata
Dunwich Heath, Suffolk, January 2017
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
undata
Wavy, with wave-like markings (Latin)
R�ppell's Warbler
Curruca ruppeli
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
ruppeli
Wilhelm Peter Eduadr Simon Ruppell, 19th Century German naturalist (Eponym)
Sardinian Warbler
Curruca melanocephala
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
melanocephala
Black-headed (Greek)
Moltoni's Warbler
Curruca subalpina
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
subalpina
Subalpine (Latin)
Western Subalpine Warbler
Curruca iberiae
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
iberiae
Spanish, Iberian (Toponym)
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Curruca cantillans
Curruca
From specific name for Lesser Whitethroat (Linnaeus)
cantillans
Warbling (Latin)
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Bombycilla
Silk tail (G/L)
cedrorum
Of the cedars (Latin)
Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulus
Fleetville, St Albans, April 2024
Bombycilla
Silk tail (G/L)
garrulus
Chattering, babbling, noisy (Latin)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
Corthylio
Small wren-like bird mentioned by Hesychius (Greek)
calendula
Diminuitive from lark (Latin)
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapilla
Regulus
From specific name for Goldcrest (Linnaeus)
ignicapilla
Fire-capped (Latin)
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
River Colne, Radlett
Regulus
From specific name for Goldcrest (Linnaeus)
regulus
Prince, kinglet (Latin)
Wallcreeper
Tichodroma muraria
Tichodroma
Wall runner (Greek)
muraria
Of walls (Latin)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Sitta
Bird like a woodpecker mentioned by Aristotle, Callimachus and Hesychius (Greek)
canadensis
Canada (Toponym)
Nuthatch
Sitta europaea
Highfield Park, St Albans
Sitta
Bird like a woodpecker mentioned by Aristotle, Callimachus and Hesychius (Greek)
europaea
European (Toponym)
Treecreeper
Certhia familiaris
Stanborough Park, Welwyn Garden City
Certhia
Small bird mentioned by Aristotle, perhaps the treecreeper (Greek)
familiaris
Familiar, friendly (from family, household) (Latin)
Short-toed Treecreeper
Certhia brachydactyla
Certhia
Small bird mentioned by Aristotle, perhaps the treecreeper (Greek)
brachydactyla
Short-toed (Greek)
Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
Troglodytes
From specific name for Wren (Linnaeus)
troglodytes
Cave-dweller (Greek)
Grey Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
Dumetella
Diminuitive of thicket (Latin)
carolinensis
Carolina or the Caroline Colonies (Toponym)
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Toxostoma
Bow or arch mouth (Greek)
rufum
Red, ruddy, rufous (Latin)
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Mimus
Mimic (Latin)
polyglottos
Loud-voiced, harmonius (many tongues) (Greek)
Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Highfield Park, St Albans
Sturnus
Starling (Latin)
vulgaris
Common (Latin)
Rose-coloured Starling
Pastor roseus
Pastor
Shepherd (Latin)
roseus
Rosy (Latin)
Dipper
Cinclus cinclus
Cinclus
From specific name for White-fronted Dipper (Linnaeus)
cinclus
Small tail-wagging, unidentifed waterside bird mentioned by Aristitle and others (Greek)
White's Thrush
Zoothera aurea
Zoothera
Animal hunter (Greek)
aurea
Golden (Latin)
Varied Thrush
Ixoreus naevius
Ixoreus
Mistletoe (Greek)
naevius
Spotted, marked (Latin)
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Hylocichla
Woodland or forest thrush (Greek)
mustelina
Like a weasel (Latin)
Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Catharus
Pure, clean (derived from Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush) (Greek)
ustulatus
Burnt (Latin)
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Catharus
Pure, clean (derived from Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush) (Greek)
fuscescens
Blackish (Latin)
Grey-cheeked Thrush
Catharus minimus
Catharus
Pure, clean (derived from Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush) (Greek)
minimus
Smallest (Latin)
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Catharus
Pure, clean (derived from Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush) (Greek)
guttatus
Spotted, speckled (Latin)
Siberian Thrush
Geokichla sibirica
Geokichla
Ground thrush (Greek)
sibirica
From Siberia or Asiatic Russia (Toponym)
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorus
Highfield Park, St Albans
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
viscivorus
Mistletoe-eating (Latin)
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
philomelos
Nightingale (Latin)
Redwing
Turdus iliacus
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
iliacus
Of the flanks (Latin)
Blackbird
Turdus merula
Highfield Park, St Albans
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
merula
Blackbird (Latin)
Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
pilaris
To deprive of hair (Latin)
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatus
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
torquatus
Collared (Latin)
Red-throated Thrush
Turdus ruficollis
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
ruficollis
Red- or ruddy-necked (Latin)
Black-throated Thrush
Turdus atrogularis
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
atrogularis
Black-throated (Latin)
Naumann's Thrush
Turdus naumanni
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
naumanni
Johann Naumann, two separate German naturalists (Eponym)
Dusky Thrush
Turdus eunomus
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
eunomus
Orderly (Greek)
Eyebrowed Thrush
Turdus obscurus
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
obscurus
Dark, dusky (Latin)
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Turdus
Thrush (Latin)
migratorius
Migrant, wanderer (Latin)
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin
Cercotrichas galactotes
Cercotrichas
Tail thrush (Greek)
galactotes
Resembling milk (Greek)
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Muscicapa dauurica
Muscicapa
Fly catcher (Latin)
dauurica
Dauria, south-eastern Siberia (Toponym)
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata
Redwell Wood Farm, August 2023
Muscicapa
Fly catcher (Latin)
striata
Striated (Latin)
Robin
Erithacus rubecula
Erithacus
Unknown bird thought to turn into the redstart in summer (Greek)
rubecula
Redbreast or robin (Latin)
White-throated Robin
Irania gutturalis
Irania
From Iran (Toponym)
gutturalis
Of the throat (Latin)
Thrush Nightingale
Luscinia luscinia
Luscinia
Nightingale (Latin)
luscinia
Nightingale (Latin)
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
Luscinia
Nightingale (Latin)
megarhynchos
Great bill (Greek)
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecica
Luscinia
Nightingale (Latin)
svecica
Swedish (Toponym)
Siberian Rubythroat
Calliope calliope
Calliope
Beautiful-voiced Muse of eloquence and lyric poetry (Greek)
calliope
Beautiful-voiced Muse of eloquence and lyric poetry (Greek)
Siberian Blue Robin
Larvivora cyane
Larvivora
Caterpillar-eating (Latin)
cyane
Dark-blue, sea-blue (Latin)
Rufous-tailed Robin
Larvivora sibilans
Larvivora
Caterpillar-eating (Latin)
sibilans
Hissing, whistling (Latin)
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Ficedula parva
Ficedula
Small fig-eating bird that changed into the Blackcap in winter (Latin)
parva
Small (Latin)
Taiga Flycatcher
Ficedula albicilla
Ficedula
Small fig-eating bird that changed into the Blackcap in winter (Latin)
albicilla
White-tailed (Latin)
Collared Flycatcher
Ficedula albicollis
Ficedula
Small fig-eating bird that changed into the Blackcap in winter (Latin)
albicollis
White-necked (Latin)
Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleuca
Ficedula
Small fig-eating bird that changed into the Blackcap in winter (Latin)
hypoleuca
Beneath white (Greek)
Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurus
Tarsiger
Flat-foot bearing (G/L)
cyanurus
Dark-blue tailed (Greek)
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
Phoenicurus
From specific name for Common Redstart (Linnaeus)
ochruros
Pale yellow tailed (Greek)
Moussier's Redstart
Phoenicurus moussieri
Phoenicurus
From specific name for Common Redstart (Linnaeus)
moussieri
Jean Moussier, French 19th Century naturalist (Eponym)
Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Cappadocia, Turkey, March 2025
Phoenicurus
From specific name for Common Redstart (Linnaeus)
phoenicurus
Crimson-, red-, purple-tailed (Greek)
Rock Thrush
Monticola saxatilis
Monticola
Mountain dweller, mountaineer (Latin)
saxatilis
Rock-frequenting (Latin)
Blue Rock Thrush
Monticola solitarius
Cappadocia, Turkey, March 2025
Monticola
Mountain dweller, mountaineer (Latin)
solitarius
Solitary (Latin)
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetra
Saxicola
Stone-dweller (Latin)
rubetra
Whinchat (Albin)
Siberian Stonechat
Saxicola maurus
Saxicola
Stone-dweller (Latin)
maurus
African, Moorish (Toponym)
Stonechat
Saxicola rubicola
Saxicola
Stone-dweller (Latin)
rubicola
Bramble-bush dweller (Latin)
Desert Wheatear
Oenanthe deserti
Oenanthe
From specific name for Northern Wheatear (Linnaeus)
deserti
Desert, waste, solitude (Latin)
Western Black-eared Wheatear
Oenanthe hispanica
Oenanthe
From specific name for Northern Wheatear (Linnaeus)
hispanica
Spanish (Toponym)
Pied Wheatear
Oenanthe pleschanka
Oenanthe
From specific name for Northern Wheatear (Linnaeus)
pleschanka
Pied Wheatear (Russian)
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Oenanthe melanoleuca
Oenanthe
From specific name for Northern Wheatear (Linnaeus)
melanoleuca
Black and white (Greek)
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Shetland, August 2013
Oenanthe
From specific name for Northern Wheatear (Linnaeus)
oenanthe
Unidentified bird mentioned by Aristotle, possibly the wheatear (Greek)
Isabelline Wheatear
Oenanthe isabellina
Oenanthe
From specific name for Northern Wheatear (Linnaeus)
isabellina
Fawn, greyish-yellow (probably from Queen Isabel of Spain) (Eponym)
White-crowned Black Wheatear
Oenanthe leucopyga
Oenanthe
From specific name for Northern Wheatear (Linnaeus)
leucopyga
With a white rump (Greek)
Alpine Accentor
Prunella collaris
Prunella
Dunnock (diminutive of brown) (German)
collaris
Of the neck (Latin)
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Bury Green, February 2023
Prunella
Dunnock (diminutive of brown) (German)
modularis
Melody (Latin)
Siberian Accentor
Prunella montanella
Prunella
Dunnock (diminutive of brown) (German)
montanella
Of the mountains (Latin)
Rock Sparrow
Petronia petronia
Petronia
From specific name for Rock Sparrow (Linnaeus)
petronia
Local Bolgnese name for Rock Sparrow (Italian)
Tree Sparrow
Passer montanus
Cluj, Romania, July 2017
Passer
Sparrow (Latin)
montanus
Of the mountains (Latin)
Spanish Sparrow
Passer hispaniolensis
Passer
Sparrow (Latin)
hispaniolensis
Spanish or Hispaniolan (Toponym)
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Passer
Sparrow (Latin)
domesticus
Domestic (Latin)
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Tyttenhanger GP
Motacilla
Pied wagtail (Latin)
cinerea
Ash-grey, ash-coloured (Latin)
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Coopers Green Lane, May 2026
Motacilla
Pied wagtail (Latin)
flava
Golden-yellow (Latin)
Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola
Motacilla
Pied wagtail (Latin)
citreola
Lemon-coloured (Latin)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla tschutschensis
Motacilla
Pied wagtail (Latin)
tschutschensis
Chukhotski Peninsula, Siberia (Toponym)
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Tewinbury, Herts
Motacilla
Pied wagtail (Latin)
alba
White, dull white (Latin)
Blyth's Pipit
Anthus godlewskii
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
godlewskii
Wiktor Witold Godlewski, 19th Century Polish naturalist (Eponym)
Tawny Pipit
Anthus campestris
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
campestris
Of the fields or plains (Latin)
Richard's Pipit
Anthus richardi
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
richardi
Richard, a French 19th Century collector (Eponym)
Pechora Pipit
Anthus gustavi
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
gustavi
Gustaff Schlegel or Gustav Garlepp (Eponym)
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialis
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
trivialis
Common, of the cross-roads (Latin)
Olive-backed Pipit
Anthus hodgsoni
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
hodgsoni
Brian Houghton Hodgson, 19th Century English diplomat (Eponym)
Red-throated Pipit
Anthus cervinus
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
cervinus
Pertaining to a stag, stag-coloured (Latin)
American Pipit
Anthus rubescens
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
rubescens
Reddish, blushed (Latin)
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
Loch Muich, Deeside, August 2017
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
pratensis
Of a meadow (Latin)
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosus
Portishead, April 2022
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
petrosus
Rocky, full of stones (Latin)
Water Pipit
Anthus spinoletta
Anthus
Smal bird mentioned by Pliny, possibly the Yellow Wagtail (Latin)
spinoletta
Local name for a pipit (Florentine)
Brambling
Fringilla montifringilla
Highfield Park, March 2023
Fringilla
Finch (Latin)
montifringilla
Mountain finch, brambling (Latin)
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Fort William, August 2021
Fringilla
Finch (Latin)
coelebs
Unmarried, single (Latin)
Evening Grosbeak
Hesperiphona vespertina
Hesperiphona
Evening sound (Greek)
vespertina
Of the evening, of twilight (Latin)
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Coccothraustes
From specific name for Hawfinch (Linnaeus)
coccothraustes
Seedbreaker (Greek)
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinus
Carpodacus
Fruit biter (Greek)
erythrinus
Red (Latin)
Pine Grosbeak
Pinicola enucleator
Pinicola
Pine tree dweller (Latin)
enucleator
To remove the kernel (Latin)
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Highfield Park, St Albans
Pyrrhula
From specific name for Northern Bullfinch (Linnaeus)
pyrrhula
Worm-eating bird metioned by Aristotle, probably the robin or bullfinch (Greek)
Trumpeter Finch
Bucanetes githagineus
Bucanetes
Trumpeter (Greek)
githagineus
Corn cockle (from coriander-resembling) (Latin)
Greenfinch
Chloris chloris
Highfield Park, St Albans
Chloris
From specific name for European Greenfinch (Linnaeus)
chloris
Greenfinch (Greek)
Twite
Linaria flavirostris
Balranald, North Uist, August 2018
Linaria
From specific name for Mealy Redpoll (Linnaeus)
flavirostris
Yellow-billed (Latin)
Linnet
Linaria cannabina
Coopers Green Lane, May 2026
Linaria
From specific name for Mealy Redpoll (Linnaeus)
cannabina
Made of hemp (Latin)
Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Watercress LNR, St Albans, March 2022
Acanthis
Small bird mentioned by Aristotle, probably some sort of finch. (Greek)
flammea
Flame-coloured (Latin)
Two-barred Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera
Loxia
Crosswise, slanting (Greek)
leucoptera
White-winged (Greek)
Parrot Crossbill
Loxia pytyopsittacus
Loxia
Crosswise, slanting (Greek)
pytyopsittacus
Pine-tree parrot (Greek)
Scottish Crossbill
Loxia scotica
Loxia
Crosswise, slanting (Greek)
scotica
Scottish (Toponym)
Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
Loxia
Crosswise, slanting (Greek)
curvirostra
Curve-billed (Latin)
Citril Finch
Carduelis citrinella
Carduelis
From specific name for European Goldfinch (Linnaeus)
citrinella
Name for small yellow bird (Italian)
Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Highfield Park, St Albans
Carduelis
From specific name for European Goldfinch (Linnaeus)
carduelis
Goldfinch (Latin)
Serin
Serinus serinus
Serinus
From specific name for European Serin (Linnaeus)
serinus
Canary, serin (French)
Siskin
Spinus spinus
Watercress LNR, St Albans, March 2022
Spinus
From specific name for Eurasian Siskin (Linnaeus)
spinus
Unidentified bird mentioned by Aristotle and others (Greek)
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis
Iceland, 2016
Plectrophenax
From genus for bunting plus imposter (Greek)
nivalis
Snowy, snow white (Latin)
Lapland Bunting
Calcarius lapponicus
Calcarius
Spurs (Latin)
lapponicus
Lapland (Toponym)
Pallas's Reed Bunting
Emberiza pallasi
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
pallasi
Pterus Simon Pallas, 18th Century German naturalist (Eponym)
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus
Tyttenhanger GP, May 2026
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
schoeniclus
Small waterside bird mentioned by Aristotle (Greek)
Yellow-browed Bunting
Emberiza chrysophrys
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
chrysophrys
Golden-browed (Greek)
Chestnut Bunting
Emberiza rutila
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
rutila
Golden, red, auburn (Latin)
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Emberiza aureola
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
aureola
Golden, brilliant (Latin)
Little Bunting
Emberiza pusilla
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
pusilla
Tiny (Latin)
Rustic Bunting
Emberiza rustica
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
rustica
Rural, rustic, plain, simple (Latin)
Black-faced Bunting
Emberiza spodocephala
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
spodocephala
Ash-headed (Greek)
Black-headed Bunting
Emberiza melanocephala
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
melanocephala
Black-headed (Greek)
Red-headed Bunting
Emberiza bruniceps
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
bruniceps
Brown headed (Latin)
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandra
Balranald, North Uist, August 2018
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
calandra
Lark (Greek)
Chestnut-eared Bunting
Emberiza fucata
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
fucata
Painted (Latin)
Rock Bunting
Emberiza cia
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
cia
Local name for Rock Bunting (Italian)
Ortolan Bunting
Emberiza hortulana
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
hortulana
Ortolan Bunting (Italian)
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Emberiza caesia
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
caesia
Bluish-grey, grey-eyed (Latin)
Cirl Bunting
Emberiza cirlus
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
cirlus
Local name for a type of bunting (Italian)
Pine Bunting
Emberiza leucocephalos
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
leucocephalos
White-headed (Greek)
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella
Emberiza
Bunting (Old German)
citrinella
Name for small yellow bird (Italian)
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
Chondestes
Coarse grain eater (Greek)
grammacus
Lined (Latin)
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Junco
Reed Bunting (Latin)
hyemalis
Of winter (Latin)
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Zonotrichia
Girdle hair (Greek)
albicollis
White-necked (Latin)
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Zonotrichia
Girdle hair (Greek)
leucophrys
White-browed (Greek)
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Passerculus
Little sparrow (Latin)
sandwichensis
From various places called Sandwich (Toponym)
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Melospiza
Song finch (Greek)
melodia
Singing (Greek)
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Pipilo
To chirp or peep (Latin)
erythrophthalmus
Red eye (Greek)
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Dolichonyx
Long claw (Greek)
oryzivorus
Rice-eating (Latin)
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Icterus
Yellow bird, perhaps the Golden Oriole (Greek)
galbula
Small yellowish bird (Latin)
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Agelaius
Gregarious (Greek)
phoeniceus
Crimson, red, purple (Greek)
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Molothrus
Struggle to impregnate (Greek)
ater
Black, dark, dull black (Latin)
Ovenbird
Seiurus aurocapilla
Seiurus
Wag-tail (Greek)
aurocapilla
Gold-crowned (Latin)
Northern Waterthrush
Parkesia noveboracensis
Parkesia
Dr Kenneth Carroll Parkes, US 20th Century ornothologist (Eponym)
noveboracensis
New York, United States (Toponym)
Black-and-white Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Mniotilta
Seaweed plucker (Greek)
varia
Various, diverse, variegated (Latin)
Golden-winged Warbler
Vermivora chrysoptera
Vermivora
Worm-eating (Latin)
chrysoptera
Golden-winged (Greek)
Tennessee Warbler
Leiothlypis peregrina
Leiothlypis
Plain unknonw small bird (Greek)
peregrina
Wanderer, stranger (Latin)
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Geothlypis
Unknown ground bird, probably a finch or warbler (Greek)
trichas
Type of thrush (Greek)
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
ruticilla
Red tail (Latin)
Hooded Warbler
Setophaga citrina
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
citrina
Citrine (Latin)
Northern Parula
Setophaga americana
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
americana
America (Toponym)
Magnolia Warbler
Setophaga magnolia
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
magnolia
From Magnolia plan genus (after Pierre Magnol, 17th Century French botanist) (Eponym)
Blackburnian Warbler
Setophaga fusca
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
fusca
Dusky, black, brown (Latin)
Blackpoll Warbler
Setophaga striata
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
striata
Striated (Latin)
Bay-breasted Warbler
Setophaga castanea
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
castanea
Chestnut-coloured, chectnut-brown (Latin)
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Setophaga pensylvanica
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
pensylvanica
Pennsylvania, United States (Toponym)
Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
aestiva
Summery (Latin)
Cape May Warbler
Setophaga tigrina
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
tigrina
Striped like a tiger (Latin)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Setophaga
Moth-eating (Greek)
coronata
Crowned (Latin)
Canada Warbler
Cardellina canadensis
Cardellina
Diminuitive of Goldfinch (Italian)
canadensis
Canada (Toponym)
Wilson's Warbler
Cardellina pusilla
Cardellina
Diminuitive of Goldfinch (Italian)
pusilla
Tiny (Latin)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Pheucticus
Shy, inclined to avoid (Greek)
ludovicianus
Louis (Eponym)
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
Passerina
Sparrow-sized (Latin)
cyanea
Dark-blue, sea-blue (Latin)
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
Piranga
Unknown smal bird (Tupi)
rubra
Red (Latin)
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Piranga
Unknown smal bird (Tupi)
olivacea
Olive-green (Latin)