The Herts List

Welcome to the official Herts List of all the bird species recorded in Hertfordshire to 31 December 2023. Here you will find what species have been recorded, their status in the County and, if rare, how many previous records there have been. For rarities the location and date of the last sighting are also included. The status column indicates national rarities (BBRC), Hertfordshire rarities (HBRC) and Hertfordshire scarce species (Scarce).

The list will be updated annually to reflect all confirmed changes, including new species and taxonomic changes in the year. Where a species remains unconfirmed – e.g. a National Rarity awaiting approval by BBRC (British Birds Rarities Committee) – that species will be shown in italics.

The Herts List is a list of all full, wild (Category A, B & C) species at the time of publication and, as such, sub-species, escapes, and birds in Categories D, E & F are not included. Details of these latter birds can however be found in the Herts Bird Club Annual Bird Report.

The Herts List can also be downloaded as a PDF file or as an Excel spreadsheet.

Species details (total 312)

Last accepted record
NameScientific nameStatusRecordsYearLocation
Brent GooseBranta berniclaScarce
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusHBRC10+2023Amwell NR
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisHBRC42011Tyttenhanger GPs
White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsScarce
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianusScarce
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusScarce
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
MandarinAix galericulata
GarganeySpatula querquedulaScarce
Blue-winged TealSpatula discorsBBRC42000Wilstone Res
ShovelerSpatula clypeata
GadwallMareca strepera
Falcated DuckMareca falcataBBRC11999Wilstone Res
WigeonMareca penelope
American WigeonMareca americanaHBRC42023Wilstone Res
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
PintailAnas acuta
TealAnas crecca
Green-winged TealAnas carolinensisHBRC52022Wilstone Res
Red-crested PochardNetta rufina
PochardAythya ferina
Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaBBRC10+2021Hilfield Park Res
Ring-necked DuckAythya collarisHBRC10+2021Cheshunt GPs
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
ScaupAythya marilaScarce
Lesser ScaupAythya affinisHBRC32003Stocker's Lake
EiderSomateria mollissimaHBRC92019Hilfield Park Res
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaHBRC81991Startop's End Res
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraScarce
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisHBRC10+2023Tringford Res
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
SmewMergellus albellusScarce
GoosanderMergus merganser
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorHBRC10+2021Wilstone Res
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisScarce
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
QuailCoturnix coturnixScarce
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Lady Amherst's PheasantChrysolophus amherstiaeHBRC10+1995Wigginton
Red-throated DiverGavia stellataHBRC10+2012near Tring
Black-throated DiverGavia arcticaHBRC10+1996Cheshunt GPs
Great Northern DiverGavia immerHBRC10+2023Stanstead Innings
Storm PetrelHydrobates pelagicusHBRC82016Spellbrook
Leach's PetrelHydrobates leucorhousHBRC10+2009Wilstone Res
FulmarFulmarus glacialisHBRC92020near Baldock
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusHBRC10+2011Hitchin
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaHBRC10+2023Hilfield Park Res
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritusHBRC10+2017Hilfield Park Res
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisScarce
Black StorkCiconia nigraBBRC42008Tring
White StorkCiconia ciconiaHBRC10+2023Wilstone Res
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusHBRC62023Rye Meads
SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaHBRC10+2023Wilstone Res
BitternBotaurus stellarisScarce
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusBBRC82019Amwell NR
Night HeronNycticorax nycticoraxHBRC62023Hilfield Park Res
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesBBRC11979Rye Meads
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibisScarce
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Purple HeronArdea purpureaHBRC10+2021Amwell NR
Great White EgretArdea albaScarce
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
GannetMorus bassanusHBRC10+2021Hilfield Park Res
ShagGulosus aristotelisHBRC10+2019Tring Res
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
OspreyPandion haliaetusScarce
Honey BuzzardPernis apivorusHBRC10+2017Wilstone Res
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
GoshawkAccipiter gentilisHBRC10+2023Rye Meads
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosusScarce
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusScarce
Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusBBRC12018Therfield
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusHBRC10+2015Cottered
Red KiteMilvus milvus
Black KiteMilvus migransHBRC32012Brookmans Park
White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicillaHBRC62023Wilstone Res
Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopusHBRC10+2015Therfield
Common BuzzardButeo buteo
Great BustardOtis tardaBBRC10+1808Therfield
Water RailRallus aquaticus
CorncrakeCrex crexHBRC10+2014Rye Meads
Little CrakeZapornia parvaBBRC21953Oughtonhead Common
Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusillaBBRC11891Cheshunt
Spotted CrakePorzana porzanaHBRC10+2018Wilstone Res
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
CootFulica atra
Common CraneGrus grusHBRC10+2022Wilstone Res
Stone CurlewBurhinus oedicnemusHBRC10+2022near Baldock
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopusHBRC31998Park Street GP
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaScarce
LapwingVanellus vanellus
Sociable PloverVanellus gregariusBBRC11961Wilstone Res
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaScarce
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusHBRC32017Pitstone
DotterelCharadrius morinellusHBRC10+2023Ashwell
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusScarce
CurlewNumenius arquataScarce
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaScarce
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa
TurnstoneArenaria interpresScarce
KnotCalidris canutusScarce
RuffCalidris pugnaxScarce
Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellusBBRC11946Wilstone Res
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaHBRC10+2022Wilstone Res
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiHBRC10+2020Amwell NR
SanderlingCalidris albaScarce
DunlinCalidris alpina
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaHBRC31968Tring Res
Little StintCalidris minutaScarce
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaBBRC12003Startop's End Res
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosHBRC10+2015Startop's End Res
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusBBRC11977Tring Res
WoodcockScolopax rusticolaScarce
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusScarce
Great SnipeGallinago mediaBBRC10+2001Hollingson Meads
Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusHBRC82020Wilstone Res
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusHBRC10+2021Amwell NR
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Spotted SandpiperActitis maculariusBBRC22012Hilfield Park Res
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaBBRC42002Rye Meads
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesHBRC22002Amwell NR
RedshankTringa totanus
Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilisBBRC11984Broxbourne GP
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaScarce
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusScarce
GreenshankTringa nebularia
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaScarce
Sabine's GullXema sabiniHBRC72022Amwell NR
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaBBRC12016Wilstone Res
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusScarce
Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricillaBBRC22006Amwell GP
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanBBRC12016Amwell NR
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusScarce
Common GullLarus canus
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusScarce
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusHBRC10+2020Hilfield Park Res
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesHBRC10+2023Tyttenhanger GPs
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Caspian GullLarus cachinnansScarce
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaBBRC11998Wilstone Res
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisScarce
Little TernSternula albifronsScarce
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiHBRC32016Wilstone Res
Common TernSterna hirundo
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaScarce
White-winged Black TernChlidonias leucopterusHBRC10+2017Tyttenhanger GPs
Black TernChlidonias nigerScarce
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaHBRC92019Wilstone Res
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinusHBRC21928Tringford Res
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticusHBRC10+2018Amwell NR
Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudusHBRC52020Startop's End Res
Little AukAlle alleHBRC10+2016Amwell NR
GuillemotUria aalgeHBRC42002Berkhamsted
RazorbillAlca tordaHBRC11934Easneye
PuffinFratercula arcticaHBRC10+1996Cuffley
Pallas's SandgrouseSyrrhaptes paradoxusBBRC81888Various locations
Feral PigeonColumba livia
Stock DoveColumba oenas
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturScarce
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
CuckooCuculus canorus
Barn Owl
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
Little OwlAthene noctua
Long-eared OwlAsio otusScarce
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusScarce
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusHBRC10+2023Berkhamsted
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaHBRC82023Hemel Hempstead
SwiftApus apus
RollerCoracias garrulusBBRC11852Chipperfield Common
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
Bee-eaterMerops apiasterHBRC52017Bayford
HoopoeUpupa epopsHBRC10+2023Croxley Green
WryneckJynx torquillaHBRC10+2022Symondshyde Farm
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorScarce
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusHBRC52020Panshanger
MerlinFalco columbariusScarce
HobbyFalco subbuteo
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioHBRC10+2008Therfield Heath
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorHBRC10+2022Redbournbury
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorHBRC21873Hertford
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusHBRC10+2022Wilstone Res
JayGarrulus glandarius
MagpiePica pica
NutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactesBBRC10+1968Digswell
JackdawColoeus monedula
RookCorvus frugilegus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixHBRC10+1985High Wych
RavenCorvus corax
WaxwingBombycilla garrulusScarce
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisScarce
Willow TitPoecile montanusHBRC10+2007Widford
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
Penduline TitRemiz pendulinusHBRC32023Rye Meads
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusScarce
WoodlarkLullula arboreaHBRC10+2023nr Baldock
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaHBRC11991Tyttenhanger GPs
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
SwallowHirundo rustica
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Red-rumped SwallowCecropis dauricaHBRC10+2018Broxbourne GPs
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixHBRC10+2023Wilstone Res
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusHBRC10+2023Berkhamsted
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Eastern Crowned WarblerPhylloscopus coronatusBBRC12011Hilfield Park Res
Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceusBBRC22008Amwell NR
Aquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicolaBBRC21976Wilstone Res
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
Paddyfield WarblerAcrocephalus agricolaBBRC11981Wilstone Res
Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisHBRC10+2020Stocker's Lake
Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglottaHBRC22019Therfield Heath
Icterine WarblerHippolais icterinaHBRC12008Wilstone Res
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaScarce
Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioidesBBRC52012Wilstone Res
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Garden WarblerSylvia borin
Barred WarblerCurruca nisoriaHBRC32012Bengeo
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Dartford WarblerCurruca undataHBRC10+2022Harpenden
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaScarce
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
NuthatchSitta europaea
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
Rose-coloured StarlingPastor roseusHBRC51978Cheshunt
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Grey-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusBBRC12005Northaw Great Wood
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusScarce
BlackbirdTurdus merula
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
RedwingTurdus iliacus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
RobinErithacus rubecula
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaHBRC72015Amwell NR
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosScarce
Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaScarce
Red-breasted FlycatcherFicedula parvaHBRC11996Wheathampstead
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosScarce
RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusScarce
Rock ThrushMonticola saxatilisBBRC21983Graveley
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
DipperCinclus cinclusHBRC10+2019Hilfield Park Res
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Tree SparrowPasser montanusScarce
DunnockPrunella modularis
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
Richard's PipitAnthus richardiHBRC22019Wilstone Res
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisScarce
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaHBRC10+2023Stanborough GP and Rye Meads
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusScarce
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
BramblingFringilla montifringilla
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesScarce
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusHBRC31997Wilstone Res
GreenfinchChloris chloris
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisHBRC10+2011Wilstone Res
LinnetLinaria cannabina
RedpollAcanthis flammea
Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacusHBRC12018Broxbourne Woods
CrossbillLoxia curvirostraScarce
Two-barred CrossbillLoxia leucopteraBBRC31966Bramfield Forest
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
SerinSerinus serinusHBRC62022Woodoaks Farm
SiskinSpinus spinus
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisHBRC10+2022Knebworth
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulanaHBRC22004Temple End
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlusHBRC10+1981Bricket Wood
Little BuntingEmberiza pusillaHBRC52023Stanborough Reedmarsh
Rustic BuntingEmberiza rusticaBBRC11882Aldenham Res
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus