Membership

The Bedfordshire List

Discover the Bedfordshire Bird List, a comprehensive guide to all the bird species recorded in Bedfordshire, perfect for enhancing your birdwatching adventures.

In 2025, a new unified global checklist of birds was published, a collaboration between BirdLife International, the IOC World Bird List, the eBird/Clements Checklist and the North and South American Classification Committees, plus other taxonomic experts. 

Called AviList, this new checklist replaces the other checklists and will be updated annually. As the BOU has formally accepted this new list for the basis of the British List, the Bedfordshire List will follow it from now onwards.

The Bedfordshire List currently stands at 304 species.

Last edit: 26th March 2026

For sightings of rarities, please fill out this:
rarities description form and send to raritiessecretary@bedsbirdclub.org.uk.

Key

– Breeding records only

– National BBRC rarity

– Local BBC rarity

– Suspected wild origin only

– From Nov-Feb only

– Away from known sites (currently unused)

– Away from The Lodge

– Spring passage only

Common name

Scientific name

Rarities status

  • 1

    Ruddy Duck

    Oxyura jamaicensis

    L

  • 2

    Mute Swan

    Cygnus olor

    –

  • 3

    Bewick’s Swan

    Cygnus columbianus

    L

  • 4

    Whooper Swan

    Cygnus cygnus

    –

  • 5

    Brent Goose

    Branta bernicla

    –

  • 6

    Canada Goose

    Branta canadensis

    –

  • 7

    Barnacle Goose

    Branta leucopsis

    1, B, L

  • 8

    Greylag Goose

    Anser anser

    –

  • 9

    White-fronted Goose

    Anser albifrons

    –

  • 10

    Tundra Bean Goose

    Anser serrirostris

    L

  • 11

    Pink-footed Goose

    Anser brachyrhynchus

    –

  • 12

    Taiga Bean Goose

    Anser fabalis

    L

  • 13

    Mandarin Duck

    Aix galericulata

    –

  • 14

    Egyptian Goose

    Alopochen aegyptiaca

    B

  • 15

    Shelduck

    Tadorna tadorna

    –

  • 16

    Long-tailed Duck

    Clangula hyemalis

    L

  • 17

    Eider

    Somateria mollissima

    L

  • 18

    Scoter

    Melanitta nigra

    –

  • 19

    Velvet Scoter

    Melanitta fusca

    L

  • 20

    Goldeneye

    Bucephala clangula

    B

  • 21

    Smew

    Mergellus albellus

    –

  • 22

    Red-breasted Merganser

    Mergus serrator

    L

  • 23

    Goosander

    Mergus merganser

    –

  • 24

    Red-crested Pochard

    Netta rufina

    B

  • 25

    Ferruginous Duck

    Aythya nyroca

    N

  • 26

    Pochard

    Aythya ferina

    B

  • 27

    Ring-necked Duck

    Aythya collaris

    L

  • 28

    Tufted Duck

    Aythya fuligula

    –

  • 29

    Lesser Scaup

    Aythya affinis

    N

  • 30

    Scaup

    Aythya marila

    –

  • 31

    Garganey

    Spatula querquedula

    2, B

  • 32

    Blue-winged Teal

    Spatula discors

    N

  • 33

    Shoveler

    Spatula clypeata

    B

  • 34

    Gadwall

    Mareca strepera

    –

  • 35

    Wigeon

    Mareca penelope

    B

  • 36

    American Wigeon

    Mareca americana

    L

  • 37

    Mallard

    Anas platyrhynchos

    –

  • 38

    Pintail

    Anas acuta

    B

  • 39

    Teal

    Anas crecca

    –

  • 40

    Grey Partridge

    Perdix perdix

    –

  • 41

    Golden Pheasant

    Chrysolophus pictus

    L

  • 42

    Lady Amherst’s Pheasant

    Chrysolophus amherstiae

    L

  • 43

    Pheasant

    Phasianus colchicus

    –

  • 44

    Quail

    Coturnix coturnix

    B

  • 45

    Red-legged Partridge

    Alectoris rufa

    –

  • 46

    Little Grebe

    Tachybaptus ruficollis

    –

  • 47

    Slavonian Grebe

    Podiceps auritus

    L

  • 48

    Red-necked Grebe

    Podiceps grisegena

    L

  • 49

    Great Crested Grebe

    Podiceps cristatus

    –

  • 50

    Black-necked Grebe

    Podiceps nigricollis

    L

  • 51

    Great Bustard

    Otis tarda

    N

  • 52

    Yellow-billed Cuckoo

    Coccyzus americanus

    N

  • 53

    Cuckoo

    Cuculus canorus

    B

  • 54

    Pallas’s Sandgrouse

    Syrrhaptes paradoxus

    N

  • 55

    Turtle Dove

    Streptopelia turtur

    B

  • 56

    Collared Dove

    Streptopelia decaocto

    –

  • 57

    Woodpigeon

    Columba palumbus

    –

  • 58

    Rock Dove

    Columba livia

    –

  • 59

    Stock Dove

    Columba oenas

    –

  • 60

    Common Crane

    Grus grus

    L

  • 61

    Water Rail

    Rallus aquaticus

    B

  • 62

    Corncrake

    Crex crex

    L

  • 63

    Spotted Crake

    Porzana porzana

    L

  • 64

    Moorhen

    Gallinula chloropus

    –

  • 65

    Coot

    Fulica atra

    –

  • 66

    American Purple Gallinule

    Porphyrio martinica

    N

  • 67

    Little Crake

    Zapornia parva

    N

  • 68

    Stone-curlew

    Burhinus oedicnemus

    L

  • 69

    Avocet

    Recurvirostra avosetta

    B

  • 70

    Black-winged Stilt

    Himantopus himantopus

    N

  • 71

    Oystercatcher

    Haematopus ostralegus

    –

  • 72

    Grey Plover

    Pluvialis squatarola

    –

  • 73

    Golden Plover

    Pluvialis apricaria

    –

  • 74

    American Golden Plover

    Pluvialis dominica

    L

  • 75

    Dotterel

    Eudromias morinellus

    L

  • 76

    Ringed Plover

    Charadrius hiaticula

    –

  • 77

    Little Ringed Plover

    Thinornis dubius

    –

  • 78

    Lapwing

    Vanellus vanellus

    –

  • 79

    Kentish Plover

    Anarhynchus alexandrinus

    L

  • 80

    Whimbrel

    Numenius phaeopus

    –

  • 81

    Curlew

    Numenius arquata

    –

  • 82

    Bar-tailed Godwit

    Limosa lapponica

    –

  • 83

    Black-tailed Godwit

    Limosa limosa

    –

  • 84

    Jack Snipe

    Lymnocryptes minimus

    –

  • 85

    Woodcock

    Scolopax rusticola

    –

  • 86

    Great Snipe

    Gallinago media

    N

  • 87

    Snipe

    Gallinago gallinago

    –

  • 88

    Common Sandpiper

    Actitis hypoleucos

    –

  • 89

    Wilson’s Phalarope

    Phalaropus tricolor

    N

  • 90

    Grey Phalarope

    Phalaropus fulicarius

    L

  • 91

    Red-necked Phalarope

    Phalaropus lobatus

    L

  • 92

    Green Sandpiper

    Tringa ochropus

    –

  • 93

    Wood Sandpiper

    Tringa glareola

    –

  • 94

    Redshank

    Tringa totanus

    –

  • 95

    Spotted Redshank

    Tringa erythropus

    –

  • 96

    Greenshank

    Tringa nebularia

    –

  • 97

    Turnstone

    Arenaria interpres

    –

  • 98

    Red Knot

    Calidris canutus

    L

  • 99

    Ruff

    Calidris pugnax

    –

  • 100

    Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

    Calidris acuminata

    N

  • 101

    Curlew Sandpiper

    Calidris ferruginea

    L

  • 102

    Temminck’s Stint

    Calidris temminckii

    L

  • 103

    Sanderling

    Calidris alba

    –

  • 104

    Dunlin

    Calidris alpina

    –

  • 105

    Purple Sandpiper

    Calidris maritima

    L

  • 106

    Baird’s Sandpiper

    Calidris bairdii

    N

  • 107

    Pectoral Sandpiper

    Calidris melanotos

    L

  • 108

    Little Stint

    Calidris minuta

    L

  • 109

    Collared Pratincole

    Glareola pratincola

    N

  • 110

    Arctic Skua

    Stercorarius parasiticus

    L

  • 111

    Long-tailed Skua

    Stercorarius longicaudus

    L

  • 112

    Pomarine Skua

    Stercorarius pomarinus

    L

  • 113

    Great Skua

    Stercorarius skua

    L

  • 114

    Puffin

    Fratercula arctica

    L

  • 115

    Razorbill

    Alca torda

    L

  • 116

    Little Auk

    Alle alle

    L

  • 117

    Guillemot

    Uria aalge

    L

  • 118

    Little Tern

    Sternula albifrons

    L

  • 119

    Caspian Tern

    Hydroprogne caspia

    N

  • 120

    Whiskered Tern

    Chlidonias hybrida

    N

  • 121

    White-winged Black Tern

    Chlidonias leucopterus

    L

  • 122

    Black Tern

    Chlidonias niger

    –

  • 123

    Sandwich Tern

    Thalasseus sandvicensis

    –

  • 124

    Arctic Tern

    Sterna paradisaea

    –

  • 125

    Common Tern

    Sterna hirundo

    –

  • 126

    Roseate Tern

    Sterna dougallii

    L

  • 127

    Little Gull

    Hydrocoloeus minutus

    –

  • 128

    Kittiwake

    Rissa tridactyla

    –

  • 129

    Sabine’s Gull

    Xema sabini

    L

  • 130

    Black-headed Gull

    Chroicocephalus ridibundus

    –

  • 131

    Laughing Gull

    Leucophaeus atricilla

    N

  • 132

    Mediterranean Gull

    Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

    B

  • 133

    Ring-billed Gull

    Larus delawarensis

    L

  • 134

    Common Gull

    Larus canus

    –

  • 135

    Caspian Gull

    Larus cachinnans

    –

  • 136

    Herring Gull

    Larus argentatus

    –

  • 137

    Yellow-legged Gull

    Larus michahellis

    –

  • 138

    Great Black-backed Gull

    Larus marinus

    –

  • 139

    Glaucous Gull

    Larus hyperboreus

    L

  • 140

    Lesser Black-backed Gull

    Larus fuscus

    –

  • 141

    Iceland Gull

    Larus glaucoides

    L

  • 142

    Red-throated Diver

    Gavia stellata

    L

  • 143

    Great Northern Diver

    Gavia immer

    L

  • 144

    Black-throated Diver

    Gavia arctica

    L

  • 145

    European Storm-petrel

    Hydrobates pelagicus

    L

  • 146

    Leach’s Storm-petrel

    Oceanodroma leucorhoa

    L

  • 147

    Fulmar

    Fulmarus glacialis

    L

  • 148

    Manx Shearwater

    Puffinus puffinus

    L

  • 149

    White Stork

    Ciconia ciconia

    L

  • 150

    Gannet

    Morus bassanus

    L

  • 151

    Shag

    Gulosus aristotelis

    L

  • 152

    Cormorant

    Phalacrocorax carbo

    –

  • 153

    Glossy Ibis

    Plegadis falcinellus

    L

  • 154

    Spoonbill

    Platalea leucorodia

    L

  • 155

    Bittern

    Botaurus stellaris

    B

  • 156

    American Bittern

    Botaurus lentiginosus

    N

  • 157

    Little Bittern

    Botaurus minutus

    N

  • 158

    Little Egret

    Egretta garzetta

    B

  • 159

    Night Heron

    Nycticorax nycticorax

    L

  • 160

    Great White Egret

    Ardea alba

    B

  • 161

    Cattle Egret

    Ardea ibis

    B

  • 162

    Purple Heron

    Ardea purpurea

    L

  • 163

    Grey Heron

    Ardea cinerea

    –

  • 164

    Nightjar

    Caprimulgus europaeus

    B

  • 165

    Alpine Swift

    Tachymarptis melba

    N

  • 166

    Swift

    Apus apus

    –

  • 167

    Barn Owl

    Tyto alba

    –

  • 168

    Little Owl

    Athene noctua

    B

  • 169

    Short-eared Owl

    Asio flammeus

    –

  • 170

    Long-eared Owl

    Asio otus

    L

  • 171

    Tawny Owl

    Strix aluco

    –

  • 172

    Osprey

    Pandion haliaetus

    –

  • 173

    Honey-buzzard

    Pernis apivorus

    L

  • 174

    Sparrowhawk

    Accipiter nisus

    –

  • 175

    Goshawk

    Astur gentilis

    L

  • 176

    Pallid Harrier

    Circus macrourus

    N

  • 177

    Hen Harrier

    Circus cyaneus

    L

  • 178

    Montagu’s Harrier

    Circus pygargus

    L

  • 179

    Marsh Harrier

    Circus aeruginosus

    B

  • 180

    Red Kite

    Milvus milvus

    –

  • 181

    Black Kite

    Milvus migrans

    L

  • 182

    White-tailed Eagle

    Haliaeetus albicilla

    L

  • 183

    Rough-legged Buzzard

    Buteo lagopus

    L

  • 184

    Buzzard

    Buteo buteo

    –

  • 185

    Hoopoe

    Upupa epops

    L

  • 186

    European Roller

    Coracias garrulus

    N

  • 187

    Bee-eater

    Merops apiaster

    L

  • 188

    Kingfisher

    Alcedo atthis

    –

  • 189

    Wryneck

    Jynx torquilla

    L

  • 190

    Green Woodpecker

    Picus viridis

    –

  • 191

    Great Spotted Woodpecker

    Dendrocopos major

    –

  • 192

    Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

    Dryobates minor

    L

  • 193

    Kestrel

    Falco tinnunculus

    –

  • 194

    Red-footed Falcon

    Falco vespertinus

    L

  • 195

    Merlin

    Falco columbarius

    –

  • 196

    Hobby

    Falco subbuteo

    B

  • 197

    Peregrine

    Falco peregrinus

    B

  • 198

    Ring-necked Parakeet

    Psittacula krameri

    –

  • 199

    Golden Oriole

    Oriolus oriolus

    L

  • 200

    Great Grey Shrike

    Lanius excubitor

    L

  • 201

    Lesser Grey Shrike

    Lanius minor

    N

  • 202

    Woodchat Shrike

    Lanius senator

    L

  • 203

    Red-backed Shrike

    Lanius collurio

    L

  • 204

    Jay

    Garrulus glandarius

    –

  • 205

    Magpie

    Pica pica

    –

  • 206

    Jackdaw

    Coloeus monedula

    –

  • 207

    Rook

    Corvus frugilegus

    –

  • 208

    Raven

    Corvus corax

    –

  • 209

    Carrion Crow

    Corvus corone

    –

  • 210

    Penduline Tit

    Remiz pendulinus

    L

  • 211

    Blue Tit

    Cyanistes caeruleus

    –

  • 212

    Great Tit

    Parus major

    –

  • 213

    Coal Tit

    Periparus ater

    –

  • 214

    Marsh Tit

    Poecile palustris

    B

  • 215

    Willow Tit

    Poecile montanus

    L

  • 216

    Bearded Tit

    Panurus biarmicus

    B

  • 217

    Woodlark

    Lullula arborea

    4, B, L

  • 218

    Skylark

    Alauda arvensis

    –

  • 219

    Shore Lark

    Eremophila alpestris

    L

  • 220

    Sedge Warbler

    Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

    –

  • 221

    Marsh Warbler

    Acrocephalus palustris

    L

  • 222

    Reed Warbler

    Acrocephalus scirpaceus

    –

  • 223

    Great Reed Warbler

    Acrocephalus arundinaceus

    L

  • 224

    Savi‘s Warbler

    Locustella luscinioides

    L

  • 225

    Grasshopper Warbler

    Locustella naevia

    –

  • 226

    Sand Martin

    Riparia riparia

    –

  • 227

    Swallow

    Hirundo rustica

    –

  • 228

    House Martin

    Delichon urbicum

    –

  • 229

    Red-rumped Swallow

    Cecropis rufula

    L

  • 230

    Long-tailed Tit

    Aegithalos caudatus

    –

  • 231

    Cetti’s Warbler

    Cettia cetti

    B

  • 232

    Wood Warbler

    Phylloscopus sibilatrix

    L

  • 233

    Yellow-browed Warbler

    Phylloscopus inornatus

    L

  • 234

    Hume’s Warbler

    Phylloscopus humei

    N

  • 235

    Radde’s Warbler

    Phylloscopus schwarzi

    L

  • 236

    Willow Warbler

    Phylloscopus trochilus

    –

  • 237

    Chiffchaff

    Phylloscopus collybita

    –

  • 238

    Garden Warbler

    Sylvia borin

    –

  • 239

    Blackcap

    Sylvia atricapilla

    –

  • 240

    Barred Warbler

    Curruca nisoria

    L

  • 241

    Lesser Whitethroat

    Curruca curruca

    –

  • 242

    Whitethroat

    Curruca communis

    –

  • 243

    Dartford Warbler

    Curruca undata

    B, L

  • 244

    Waxwing

    Bombycilla garrulus

    –

  • 245

    Firecrest

    Regulus ignicapilla

    B

  • 246

    Goldcrest

    Regulus regulus

    –

  • 247

    Nuthatch

    Sitta europaea

    –

  • 248

    Treecreeper

    Certhia familiaris

    –

  • 249

    Wren

    Troglodytes troglodytes

    –

  • 250

    Starling

    Sturnus vulgaris

    –

  • 251

    Rose-coloured Starling

    Pastor roseus

    L

  • 252

    Dipper

    Cinclus cinclus

    –

  • 253

    Mistle Thrush

    Turdus viscivorus

    –

  • 254

    Song Thrush

    Turdus philomelos

    –

  • 255

    Redwing

    Turdus iliacus

    –

  • 256

    Blackbird

    Turdus merula

    –

  • 257

    Fieldfare

    Turdus pilaris

    –

  • 258

    Ring Ouzel

    Turdus torquatus

    –

  • 259

    Black-throated Thrush

    Turdus atrogularis

    N

  • 260

    Spotted Flycatcher

    Muscicapa striata

    –

  • 261

    Robin

    Erithacus rubecula

    –

  • 262

    Nightingale

    Luscinia megarhynchos

    –

  • 263

    Bluethroat

    Luscinia svecica

    L

  • 264

    Red-breasted Flycatcher

    Ficedula parva

    L

  • 265

    Pied Flycatcher

    Ficedula hypoleuca

    L

  • 266

    Red-flanked Bluetail

    Tarsiger cyanurus

    L

  • 267

    Black Redstart

    Phoenicurus ochruros

    B

  • 268

    Redstart

    Phoenicurus phoenicurus

    –

  • 269

    Whinchat

    Saxicola rubetra

    –

  • 270

    Stonechat

    Saxicola rubicola

    –

  • 271

    Wheatear

    Oenanthe oenanthe

    –

  • 272

    Dunnock

    Prunella modularis

    –

  • 273

    Tree Sparrow

    Passer montanus

    L

  • 274

    House Sparrow

    Passer domesticus

    –

  • 275

    Grey Wagtail

    Motacilla cinerea

    –

  • 276

    Yellow Wagtail

    Motacilla flava

    –

  • 277

    Pied Wagtail

    Motacilla alba

    –

  • 278

    Richard’s Pipit

    Anthus richardi

    L

  • 279

    Tree Pipit

    Anthus trivialis

    5, L

  • 280

    Meadow Pipit

    Anthus pratensis

    –

  • 281

    Rock Pipit

    Anthus petrosus

    –

  • 282

    Water Pipit

    Anthus spinoletta

    L

  • 283

    Brambling

    Fringilla montifringilla

    –

  • 284

    Chaffinch

    Fringilla coelebs

    –

  • 285

    Hawfinch

    Coccothraustes coccothraustes

    B, L, N

  • 286

    Common Rosefinch

    Carpodacus erythrinus

    L

  • 287

    Bullfinch

    Pyrrhula pyrrhula

    –

  • 288

    Greenfinch

    Chloris chloris

    –

  • 289

    Twite

    Linaria flavirostris

    L

  • 290

    Linnet

    Linaria cannabina

    –

  • 291

    Redpoll

    Acanthis flammea

    –

  • 292

    Two-barred Crossbill

    Loxia leucoptera

    N

  • 293

    Crossbill

    Loxia curvirostra

    –

  • 294

    Goldfinch

    Carduelis carduelis

    –

  • 295

    Serin

    Serinus serinus

    L

  • 296

    Siskin

    Spinus spinus

    –

  • 297

    Snow Bunting

    Plectrophenax nivalis

    L

  • 298

    Lapland Bunting

    Calcarius lapponicus

    L

  • 299

    Reed Bunting

    Emberiza schoeniclus

    –

  • 300

    Little Bunting

    Emberiza pusilla

    L

  • 301

    Corn Bunting

    Emberiza calandra

    –

  • 302

    Ortolan Bunting

    Emberiza hortulana

    L

  • 303

    Cirl Bunting

    Emberiza cirlus

    L

  • 304

    Yellowhammer

    Emberiza citrinella

    –

For sightings of rarities, please fill out this:
rarities description form and send to raritiessecretary@bedsbirdclub.org.uk.