Skip to content

British Bird Guide

Find the bird you saw

Explore practical profiles for British birds, with clear identification clues, habitat notes and seasonal guidance.

Browse every bird

Start with what you noticed

Bird identification works best one clue at a time

Shape, colour, habitat and season can quickly narrow down an unfamiliar bird. Use the searchable guide below, then open a profile for markings, range notes and similar species.

Use the visual bird finder

Featured profiles

A few birds to begin with

Open a profile to see field notes, key facts, habitat guidance and similar birds.

Arctic skua Sea Bird Arctic skua Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic tern Arctic tern Atlantic Puffin Sea Bird Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica Barn owl Barn owl

Explore by habitat

Where did you see it?

Habitat is one of the fastest ways to narrow down a sighting.

9 profiles Garden Woodland Parks Hedgerows 5 profiles Garden Woodland Parks Hedgerows Urban 5 profiles Woodland 4 profiles Coast 2 profiles Sea 2 profiles Urban Coast Woodland Farmland Mountains

Complete A-Z

Browse British bird profiles

65 profiles shown

Explore through the year

Bird watching changes with the seasons

SpringNesting activity AutumnMigration guides WinterGarden feeding
Bird Watching UK