Leicestershire & Rutland County Checklist

Checklist of Leicestershire & Rutland Birds

This VC55 list follows the sequence and scientific nomenclature recommended by the British Ornithologists’ Union in The British List published in 2018.

English vernacular names are those currently in common usage.

Categories:

A – recorded in the County in an apparently wild state at least once since 1941
B – recorded in the County in an apparently wild state, but not since 1941
C – introduced species with a self-sustaining population in the County
E – human assisted species – not included in the county total.

Description:

BBRC – full description required by British Birds Rarities Committee
LRRC – description always required by LROS Records Committee
3 obs – description not normally required if seen and submitted by three or more observers

Latest species count:

Total species: 320
Total Cat A: 302
Total Cat B: 8
Total Cat C: 10
Total Cat E: 2 (E not included in total)

Exotics - Click to show

Species in this appendix are not included in the official British List and are considered to be of captive origin. The list generally follows the order and nomenclature of Howard and Moore (1984), A Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World.

Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis
Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
Black Swan Cygnus atratus
Swan Goose Anser cygnoides
Ross’s Goose Anser rossi
Emperor Goose Anser canagicus
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
Cape Shelduck Tadorna cana
Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys
Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix
Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris
Cape Teal Anas capensis
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea
African Yellowbill Anas undulata
Philippine Duck Anas luzonica
Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica
White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis
Red Shoveler Anas platalea
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
Harris’ Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera
Reeves’ Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii
Common Peafowl Pavo cristatus
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo
Blacksmith Plover Anitibyx armatus
Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata
Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus
Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus
Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus
Peach-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis
Fischer’s Lovebird Agapornis fischeri
Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
Scarlet Macaw Ara macao
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
Chestnut Bulbul Hemixos castanonotus
White-capped Redstart Phoenicurus leucocephalus
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
Red-crested Cardinal Paroria coronata
Canary Serinus canaria
Zebra Finch Poephila guttata
White-backed Munia Lonchura striata
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Jackson’s Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
Red Bishop Euplectes orix
Blue-eared Glossy Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus/chloropterus

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Scientific name	Vernacular name	Category	Description required?
Branta bernicla	Brent Goose	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Branta canadensis	Canada Goose	C
Branta leucopsis	Barnacle Goose	A
Anser anser	Greylag Goose	C
Anser brachyrhynchus	Pink-footed Goose	A
Anser serrirostris	Tundra Bean Goose	A	LRRC
Anser albifrons	White-fronted Goose	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Cygnus olor	Mute Swan	A
Cygnus columbianus	Bewick's Swan	A
Cygnus cygnus	Whooper Swan	A
Alopochen aegyptiaca	Egyptian Goose	C
Tadorna tadorna	Shelduck	A
Aix galericulata	Mandarin Duck	C
Spatula querquedula	Garganey	A
Spatula discors	Blue-winged Teal	A	BBRC
Spatula clypeata	Shoveler	A
Mareca strepera	Gadwall	A
Mareca penelope	Wigeon	A
Mareca americana	American Wigeon	A	LRRC
Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard	A
Anas acuta	Pintail	A
Anas crecca	Teal	A
Netta rufina	Red-crested Pochard	A
Aythya americana	Redhead	A	BBRC
Aythya ferina	Pochard	A
Aythya nyroca	Ferruginous Duck	A	BBRC
Aythya collaris	Ring-necked Duck	A	LRRC
Aythya fuligula	Tufted Duck	A
Aythya marila	Scaup	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Aythya affinis	Lesser Scaup	A	BBRC
Somateria mollissima	Eider	A	LRRC
Melanitta perspicillata	Surf Scoter	A	LRRC
Melanitta fusca	Velvet Scoter	A	LRRC
Melanitta nigra	Common Scoter	A
Clangula hyemalis	Long-tailed Duck	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Bucephala clangula	Goldeneye	A
Mergellus albellus	Smew	A
Lophodytes cucullatus	Hooded Merganser	E	BBRC
Mergus merganser	Goosander	A
Mergus serrator	Red-breasted Merganser	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Oxyura jamaicensis	Ruddy Duck	C
Lyrurus tetrix	Black Grouse	B	LRRC
Lagopus lagopus	Red Grouse	B	LRRC
Alectoris rufa	Red-legged Partridge	C
Perdix perdix	Grey Partridge	A
Coturnix coturnix	Quail	A
Phasianus colchicus	Pheasant	C
Gavia stellata	Red-throated Diver	A	LRRC
Gavia arctica	Black-throated Diver	A	LRRC
Gavia immer	Great Northern Diver	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Hydrobates pelagicus	Storm Petrel	A	LRRC
Oceanodroma leucorhoa	Leach's Petrel	A	LRRC
Fulmarus glacialis	Fulmar	A	LRRC
Calonectris borealis	Cory's Shearwater	A	LRRC
Puffinus puffinus	Manx Shearwater	A	LRRC
Tachybaptus ruficollis	Little Grebe	A
Podilymbus podiceps	Pied-billed Grebe	A	BBRC
Podiceps grisegena	Red-necked Grebe	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Podiceps cristatus	Great Crested Grebe	A
Podiceps auritus	Slavonian Grebe	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Podiceps nigricollis	Black-necked Grebe	A
Ciconia nigra	Black Stork	A	BBRC
Ciconia ciconia	White Stork	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Plegadis falcinellus	Glossy Ibis	A	LRRC
Platalea leucorodia	Spoonbill	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Botaurus stellaris	Bittern	A
Ixobrychus minutus	Little Bittern	A	BBRC
Nycticorax nycticorax	Night-heron	A	LRRC
Ardeola ralloides	Squacco Heron	A	BBRC
Bubulcus ibis	Cattle Egret	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Ardea cinerea	Grey Heron	A
Ardea purpurea	Purple Heron	A	LRRC
Ardea alba	Great White Egret	A
Egretta garzetta	Little Egret	A
Morus bassanus	Gannet	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Phalacrocorax aristotelis	Shag	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Phalacrocorax carbo	Cormorant	A
Gypaetus barbatus	Bearded Vulture	E	BBRC
Pandion haliaetus	Osprey	A
Pernis apivorus	Honey-buzzard	A	LRRC
Aquila chrysaetos	Golden Eagle	B	LRRC
Accipiter nisus	Sparrowhawk	A
Accipiter gentilis	Goshawk	A	LRRC
Circus aeruginosus	Marsh Harrier	A
Circus cyaneus	Hen Harrier	A	LRRC
Circus macrourus	Pallid Harrier	A	BBRC
Circus pygargus	Montagu's Harrier	A	LRRC
Milvus milvus	Red Kite	A
Milvus migrans	Black Kite	A	LRRC
Haliaeetus albicilla	White-tailed Eagle	B	LRRC
Buteo lagopus	Rough-legged Buzzard	A	LRRC
Buteo buteo	Buzzard	A
Rallus aquaticus	Water Rail	A
Crex crex	Corncrake	A	LRRC
Porzana pusilla	Baillon's Crake	A	BBRC
Porzana porzana	Spotted Crake	A	LRRC
Gallinula chloropus	Moorhen	A
Fulica atra	Coot	A
Grus grus	Crane	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Burhinus oedicnemus	Stone-curlew	A	LRRC
Haematopus ostralegus	Oystercatcher	A
Himantopus himantopus	Black-winged Stilt	A	LRRC
Recurvirostra avosetta	Avocet	A
Vanellus vanellus	Lapwing	A
Pluvialis apricaria	Golden Plover	A
Pluvialis fulva	Pacific Golden Plover	A	BBRC
Pluvialis dominica	American Golden Plover	A	LRRC
Pluvialis squatarola	Grey Plover	A
Charadrius hiaticula	Ringed Plover	A
Charadrius dubius	Little Ringed Plover	A
Charadrius vociferus	Killdeer	A	BBRC
Charadrius alexandrinus	Kentish Plover	A	BBRC
Charadrius morinellus	Dotterel	A	LRRC
Numenius phaeopus	Whimbrel	A
Numenius arquata	Curlew	A
Limosa lapponica	Bar-tailed Godwit	A
Limosa limosa	Black-tailed Godwit	A
Arenaria interpres	Turnstone	A
Calidris canutus	Knot	A
Calidris pugnax	Ruff	A
Calidris falcinellus	Broad-billed Sandpiper	A	BBRC
Calidris himantopus	Stilt Sandpiper	A	BBRC
Calidris ferruginea	Curlew Sandpiper	A
Calidris temminckii	Temminck's Stint	A	LRRC
Calidris alba	Sanderling	A
Calidris alpina	Dunlin	A
Calidris maritima	Purple Sandpiper	A	LRRC
Calidris bairdii	Baird's Sandpiper	A	BBRC
Calidris minuta	Little Stint	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Calidris fuscicollis	White-rumped Sandpiper	A	LRRC
Calidris subruficollis	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	A	LRRC
Calidris melanotos	Pectoral Sandpiper	A	LRRC
Limnodromus scolopaceus	Long-billed Dowitcher	A	BBRC
Scolopax rusticola	Woodcock	A
Lymnocryptes minimus	Jack Snipe	A
Gallinago media	Great Snipe	B	BBRC
Gallinago gallinago	Snipe	A
Phalaropus tricolor	Wilson's Phalarope	A	BBRC
Phalaropus lobatus	Red-necked Phalarope	A	LRRC
Phalaropus fulicarius	Grey Phalarope	A	LRRC
Actitis hypoleucos	Common Sandpiper	A
Actitis macularius	Spotted Sandpiper	A	BBRC
Tringa ochropus	Green Sandpiper	A
Tringa flavipes	Lesser Yellowlegs	A	LRRC
Tringa totanus	Redshank	A
Tringa stagnatilis	Marsh Sandpiper	A	BBRC
Tringa glareola	Wood Sandpiper	A
Tringa erythropus	Spotted Redshank	A
Tringa nebularia	Greenshank	A
Cursorius cursor	Cream-coloured Courser	B	BBRC
Glareola pratincola	Collared Pratincole	A	BBRC
Glareola nordmanni	Black-winged Pratincole	A	BBRC
Rissa tridactyla	Kittiwake	A
Xema sabini	Sabine's Gull	A	LRRC
Chroicocephalus philadelphia	Bonaparte's Gull	A	BBRC
Chroicocephalus ridibundus	Black-headed Gull	A
Hydrocoloeus minutus	Little Gull	A
Leucophaeus atricilla	Laughing Gull	A	BBRC
Leucophaeus pipixcan	Franklin's Gull	A	BBRC
Ichthyaetus melanocephalus	Mediterranean Gull	A
Larus canus	Common Gull	A
Larus delawarensis	Ring-billed Gull	A	LRRC
Larus marinus	Great Black-backed Gull	A
Larus hyperboreus	Glaucous Gull	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Larus glaucoides	Iceland Gull	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Larus argentatus	Herring Gull	A
Larus cachinnans	Caspian Gull	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Larus michahellis	Yellow-legged Gull	A
Larus fuscus	Lesser Black-backed Gull	A
Hydroprogne caspia	Caspian Tern	A	BBRC
Sterna sandvicensis	Sandwich Tern	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Sternula albifrons	Little Tern	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Onychoprion anaethetus	Bridled Tern	A	BBRC
Sterna dougallii	Roseate Tern	A	LRRC
Sterna hirundo	Common Tern	A
Sterna paradisaea	Arctic Tern	A
Chlidonias hybrida	Whiskered Tern	A	BBRC
Chlidonias leucopterus	White-winged Black Tern	A	LRRC
Chlidonias niger	Black Tern	A
Stercorarius skua	Great Skua	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Stercorarius pomarinus	Pomarine Skua	A	LRRC
Stercorarius parasiticus	Arctic Skua	A	LRRC
Stercorarius longicaudus	Long-tailed Skua	A	LRRC
Alle alle	Little Auk	A	LRRC
Uria aalge	Guillemot	A	LRRC
Alca torda	Razorbill	A	LRRC
Fratercula arctica	Puffin	A	LRRC
Syrrhaptes paradoxus	Pallas's Sandgrouse	B	BBRC
Columba livia	Feral Pigeon	C
Columba oenas	Stock Dove	A
Columba palumbus	Woodpigeon	A
Streptopelia turtur	Turtle Dove	A
Streptopelia decaocto	Collared Dove	A
Cuculus canorus	Cuckoo	A
Tyto alba	Barn Owl	A
Strix aluco	Tawny Owl	A
Athene noctua	Little Owl	C
Asio otus	Long-eared Owl	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Asio flammeus	Short-eared Owl	A
Caprimulgus europaeus	Nightjar	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Apus apus	Swift	A
Tachymarptis melba	Alpine Swift	A	LRRC
Coracias garrulus	Roller	A	BBRC
Alcedo atthis	Kingfisher	A
Merops apiaster	Bee-eater	A	LRRC
Upupa epops	Hoopoe	A	LRRC
Jynx torquilla	Wryneck	A	LRRC
Dryobates minor	Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	A
Dendrocopos major	Great Spotted Woodpecker	A
Picus viridis	Green Woodpecker	A
Falco tinnunculus	Kestrel	A
Falco vespertinus	Red-footed Falcon	A	LRRC
Falco columbarius	Merlin	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Falco subbuteo	Hobby	A
Psittacula krameri	Ring-necked Parakeet	C
Falco peregrinus	Peregrine	A
Lanius collurio	Red-backed Shrike	A	LRRC
Lanius excubitor	Great Grey Shrike	A	LRRC
Lanius senator	Woodchat Shrike	A	LRRC
Oriolus oriolus	Golden Oriole	A	LRRC
Garrulus glandarius	Jay	A
Pica pica	Magpie	A
Nucifraga caryocatactes	Nutcracker	A	BBRC
Coloeus monedula	Jackdaw	A
Corvus frugilegus	Rook	A
Corvus corone	Carrion Crow	A
Corvus corax	Raven	A
Bombycilla garrulus	Waxwing	A
Periparus ater	Coal Tit	A
Poecile palustris	Marsh Tit	A
Poecile montana	Willow Tit	A
Cyanistes caeruleus	Blue Tit	A
Parus major	Great Tit	A
Panurus biarmicus	Bearded Tit	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Lullula arborea	Woodlark	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Alauda arvensis	Skylark	A
Eremophila alpestris	Shore Lark	A	LRRC
Riparia riparia	Sand Martin	A
Hirundo rustica	Swallow	A
Ptyonoprogne rupestris	Crag Martin	A	BBRC
Delichon urbicum	House Martin	A
Cecropis daurica	Red-rumped Swallow	A	LRRC
Cettia cetti	Cetti's Warbler	A
Aegithalos caudatus	Long-tailed Tit	A
Phylloscopus trochilus	Willow Warbler	A
Phylloscopus collybita	Chiffchaff	A
Phylloscopus bonelli/orientalis	Bonelli's Warbler sp	A	BBRC
Phylloscopus sibilatrix	Wood Warbler	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Phylloscopus schwarzi	Radde's Warbler	A	LRRC
Phylloscopus fuscatus	Dusky Warbler	A	LRRC
Phylloscopus inornatus	Yellow-browed Warbler	A	LRRC
Phylloscopus trochiloides	Greenish Warbler	A	LRRC
Acrocephalus arundinaceus	Great Reed Warbler	A	BBRC
Acrocephalus paludicola	Aquatic Warbler	B	BBRC
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	Sedge Warbler	A
Acrocephalus scirpaceus	Reed Warbler	A
Acrocephalus palustris	Marsh Warbler	A	LRRC
Hippolais icterina	Icterine Warbler	A	LRRC
Locustella naevia	Grasshopper Warbler	A
Locustella luscinioides	Savi's Warbler	A	BBRC
Sylvia atricapilla	Blackcap	A
Sylvia borin	Garden Warbler	A
Sylvia nisoria	Barred Warbler	A	LRRC
Sylvia curruca	Lesser Whitethroat	A
Sylvia communis	Whitethroat	A
Regulus ignicapilla	Firecrest	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Regulus regulus	Goldcrest	A
Troglodytes troglodytes	Wren	A
Sitta europaea	Nuthatch	A
Certhia familiaris	Treecreeper	A
Pastor roseus	Rose-coloured Starling	A	LRRC
Sturnus vulgaris	Starling	A
Turdus torquatus	Ring Ouzel	A
Turdus merula	Blackbird	A
Turdus pilaris	Fieldfare	A
Turdus iliacus	Redwing	A
Turdus philomelos	Song Thrush	A
Turdus viscivorus	Mistle Thrush	A
Muscicapa striata	Spotted Flycatcher	A
Erithacus rubecula	Robin	A
Luscinia svecica	Bluethroat	A	LRRC (White-spotted BBRC)
Luscinia megarhynchos	Nightingale	A
Tarsiger cyanurus	Red-flanked Bluetail	A	LRRC
Ficedula hypoleuca	Pied Flycatcher	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Phoenicurus ochruros	Black Redstart	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Redstart	A
Saxicola rubetra	Whinchat	A
Saxicola rubicola	Stonechat	A
Oenanthe oenanthe	Wheatear	A
Cinclus cinclus	Dipper	A	LRRC
Passer domesticus	House Sparrow	A
Passer montanus	Tree Sparrow	A
Prunella modularis	Dunnock	A
Motacilla flava	Yellow Wagtail	A
Motacilla citreola	Citrine Wagtail	A	LRRC
Motacilla cinerea	Grey Wagtail	A
Motacilla alba	Pied Wagtail	A
Anthus richardi	Richard's Pipit	A	LRRC
Anthus pratensis	Meadow Pipit	A
Anthus trivialis	Tree Pipit	A
Anthus cervinus	Red-throated Pipit	A	BBRC
Anthus spinoletta	Water Pipit	A	LRRC
Anthus petrosus	Rock Pipit	A
Fringilla coelebs	Chaffinch	A
Fringilla montifringilla	Brambling	A
Coccothraustes coccothraustes	Hawfinch	A	LRRC - 3 obs
Pyrrhula pyrrhula	Bullfinch	A
Carpodacus erythrinus	Common Rosefinch	A	LRRC
Chloris Chloris	Greenfinch	A
Linaria flavirostris	Twite	A	LRRC
Linaria cannabina	Linnet	A
Acanthis flammea	Redpoll	A
Loxia curvirostra	Crossbill	A
Carduelis carduelis	Goldfinch	A
Spinus spinus	Siskin	A
Emberiza calandra	Corn Bunting	A
Emberiza citrinella	Yellowhammer	A
Emberiza cirlus	Cirl Bunting	A	LRRC
Emberiza melanocephala	Black-headed Bunting	A	BBRC
Emberiza schoeniclus	Reed Bunting	A
Calcarius lapponicus	Lapland Bunting	A	LRRC
Plectrophenax nivalis	Snow Bunting	A	LRRC - 3 obs