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Stowe's bird guide
Birdwatching is
one of your
50 Things to do
before you're 11 ¾
Which birds can you spot when you're out and
about?
You might want to use some binoculars; there
are some in our shop if you'd like to buy a pair.
Here's a list of some of the birds you might spot.
Barn Owl
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Its heart-shaped face
collects sound in the
same way as human ears,
making its hearing one of
the most sensitive of any
creature tested.
They arguably have the
most beautiful song of all
the birds. They especially
like to sing after rain.
These are easy to spot,
with their blue caps and
yellow chests. Look out
for younger blue tits in
spring and summer-these
have yellow cheeks rather
than white.
Blackcap
The male has a black cap
while the female has a
chestnut one. The
blackcap has a beautiful
song, earning it the name
the 'northern
nightingale'.
Buzzard
The UK's most common
bird of prey. It flies in a
shallow V shape with a
fanned tail.
Canada Goose
These often form noisy
flocks and can be seen all
year round.
Photography © northeastwildlife.co.uk
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
These are very clever
birds and can be quite
fearless. They generally
like being on their own.
This colourful bird has a
loud song and you're
unlikely to see it on a bird
feeder. It prefers
gathering the seeds from
the ground.
These are beautiful olivebrown coloured birds
which can catch flies
while flying.
Coal Tit
Collared Dove
Cuckoo
Carrion Crow
This is not as colourful as
its relatives. It tends to
gather food to store for
later.
Spot their black collar.
They also have bright red
eyes and feet.
Dunnock
Garden Warbler
Goldcrest
These are often seen on
their own and tend to be
quite quiet.
Quite a plain bird that has
a song which is long and
mellow.
They have thin beaks
which allow them to pick
insects out from between
pine needles.
These are only around in
the summer. They lay
eggs in other nests,
leaving other birds to
raise their young.
Photography © northeastwildlife.co.uk
Goldfinch
These have long, thin
beaks to access seeds
from thistles and teasel.
Green
Woodpecker
They love to eat ants and
you can often see them
feeding on the ground.
Grey Wagtail
Not as grey as the name
suggests! These are
summer residents of the
UK.
Great Tit
It is the UK's largest tit
and has a distinct twosyllable song.
Greenfinch
These have a wheezing
song and are decreasing
in number.
Greylag Goose
These are the UK's
largest goose. They are
ancestors of the
domestic goose.
Great Spotted
Woodpecker
These are roughly the
size of a blackbird and
you can spot them in
trees, often trying to
hide.
Grey Heron
These gangly birds are
very distinct and you can
spot them near lakes or
ponds.
House Martin
They make their nests from
mud, often on houses, as
the name suggests!
Photography © northeastwildlife.co.uk
House Sparrow
These are noisy and
sociable birds and are
also in decline.
Kestrel
They have pointed wings
and long tails. They're
often seen hovering by
roadsides.
Magpie
They look black and
white, but actually their
tails have a green gloss
and their wings a purpleblue sheen.
Jackdaw
These have a silver sheen
and pale eyes, making
them distinguishable
from crows.
Kingfisher
They hunt fish in slow
moving or still water.
They are very bright, but
fly very quickly so you'll
be lucky to spot one!
Mallard
The male has a green
head with yellow beak,
while the females are
mainly brown.
Jay
These are colourful, shy
birds. They eat acorns
and even bury them for
the winter like squirrels.
Long-tailed Tit
As the name suggests,
they have very long tails!
They're even longer than
their bodies!
Marsh Tit
Despite the name, these
are actually found in
parks, gardens and
woodland.
Photography © northeastwildlife.co.uk
Mistle Thrush
These are large,
aggressive and powerful
and have fluty songs.
Pheasant
These are game birds,
introduced to the UK for
shooting.
Red Kite
These have reddishbrown bodies and have
been saved from
extinction by longrunning breeding
programmes.
Moorhen
These can be seen any
time of day or year and
like ponds and lakes.
Pied Wagtail
You can often spot these
wagging their tails up
and down.
Nuthatch
These have a striking
colour and are generally
found near or in
woodland.
Raven
Ravens are the largest
member of the crow
family.
Robin
Rook
A classic Christmas bird,
but actually they are
around all year. The
males and females have
the same colouring.
These look different from
carrion crows as they
have thicker beaks which
are a grey-white colour.
Photography © northeastwildlife.co.uk
Song Thrush
They like to eat snails,
bashing them against
rocks to break their
shells. They repeat the
same note in their songs.
Swallow
They spend most of their
time flying and have
striking tails.
Treecreeper
These are small birds that
live in trees. They have
beaks shaped like frowns.
Sparrowhawk
Like most birds of prey,
the females are larger
than the males. They like
hunting in thick
woodland.
Starling
These have beautiful
green and purple
coloured feathers.
Swan
Swift
The mute swan (above)
lives here all year round. In
winter you might see
Whooper or Bewick
Swans.
These are superb fliers they even sleep while they
fly!
Wood Pigeon
Wren
A very common bird. It
has a distinct cooing and
also makes a familiar
clattering sound when it
flies off.
For such a small bird, it
certainly has a loud
voice! It is dumpy and
rounded.
Photography © northeastwildlife.co.uk