List of birds of Leicestershire and Rutland
[1] Since 1 January 1941, the date of the foundation of the LROS, 290 bird species have been recorded in the counties in an apparently natural wild state at least once.
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae The swans, ducks and geese are medium to large birds that are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet and bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent.
Order: Galliformes Family: Tetraonidae Grouse are sturdy, medium-sized terrestrial birds of the Northern Hemisphere.
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae Pheasants and allies are terrestrial species, feeding and nesting on the ground.
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae Divers are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated.
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae Grebes are small to medium-large diving birds with lobed toes and pointed bills.
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae These are highly pelagic birds with long, narrow wings and tube-shaped nostrils.
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on plankton and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering.
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants are medium to large aquatic birds with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face.
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs.
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans.
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae Rails and allies mainly occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, marshes or rivers.
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy wading birds with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae Small to medium-sized wading birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings.
Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae Medium to large seabirds with mainly grey or brown plumage, sharp claws and a hooked tip to the bill.
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae Medium to large seabirds with grey, white and black plumage, webbed feet and strong bills.
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae Auks are seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins with their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, but the living species are able to fly.
Order: Pterocliformes Family: Pteroclidae Sturdy, medium-sized birds with a small head and long, pointed wings.
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey.
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae A group of near-passerine birds characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers.
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterised by soft, silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae Dark, dumpy, aquatic birds that are able to forage for food on the beds of rivers.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae The thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae The flycatchers are small birds that fly out from a perch to catch insects in the air or from the ground.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae Tits are mainly small, stocky, woodland species with short stout bills.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae The crows and their relatives are fairly large birds with strong bills and are usually intelligent and adaptable.
