For both the beginner and the experienced twitcher, nothing beats the thrill of spotting a rare bird. It makes the early starts and long waits worth it to catch a glimpse of a bird that is rarely seen.
There are rare birds found across the world, but what about here in the UK? Here, we talk about four of the UK’s birds that are either reducing in numbers or are simply elusive.
Capercaillie
This bird is a red list species, as it is declining in numbers so rapidly that it is close to extinction for the second time. It is a large grouse and has a very specific habitat supplied by the Strathspey region of Scotland. The males are particularly distinctive due to their size and dark colouring, and the capercaillie’s wingspan can reach over a metre long. These birds need a unique combination of pine trees of varying ages and boggy ground abundant with insects, along with open space for the males to perform their courtship ritual, which is known as “lekking”.
Nightingale
The nightingale is a bird that can still be found in the southeast corner of England. These birds are slightly larger than robins, and while rather plain in appearance, they are anything but plain in song. Nightingales have a distinctive birdsong of rich high and low notes that few species can match. They like thick vegetation and coppiced woodland – a habitat that is being eroded in the UK.
Willow Tit
The willow tit is another red list species, with numbers declining by 91% since the 1970s. This could be due to increased predation, changes in habitat or increased competition – experts are unclear about the exact reason for this little bird’s steady disappearance. In terms of size, it is between a blue and great tit, and its colouring has no yellow, green or blue. They do, however, have black caps over their heads to the back of their necks, along with a small black bib. To try and catch a glimpse of this bird, head to willow thickets by damp places, like marshes and peat bogs. They have been spotted around England, Wales and some parts of southern Scotland.
Nightjar
These rarely seen birds are on the amber list, just one level down from the most critical red category. This almost mythical bird has a bit of a supernatural reputation, as it is allegedly able to steal milk from goats. As their name suggests, they are nocturnal and feed around dusk and dawn. Their shape is similar to a kestrel, and they have a distinctive chirring call. They are incredibly well-camouflaged in the daytime, and you would be very lucky to spot one.
There are many more birds on the RSPB protected list, and much work is needed to both protect the birds we have left and encourage recovery of the ones in decline. As always, when heading out to bird spot, stick to the birdwatcher’s code so that we have a chance of preserving these increasingly rare species for as long as possible.
