British Avifauna - Resident Species

Resident Species

About 120 species occur in the UK all year round. Some of these are permanent populations of sedentary non-migrants such as Tawny Owl or Red Grouse, whereas others have their numbers augmented by winter visitors from the continent (for example Common Starling), or depleted by winter hard-weather movements to Ireland or southern Europe (for example European Goldfinch).

Several species, particularly waders such as Ringed Plover and Dunlin, both breed and winter in Britain, whereas these areas are separate for most other populations of those birds.

The Black-tailed Godwit is an interesting case. Although it is present all year, the breeding population actually migrates south, and is replaced by wintering birds of the Icelandic race.