Britain’s countryside is home to a rich variety of game birds. These birds have been hunted for centuries, both for food and sport, and their presence is deeply woven into the fabric of rural life. Many are still hunted today, even though gamekeepers, hunters, and pest controllers struggle to even give away their kills.
Some of these birds are common and easy to spot, while others are more elusive, hiding in woodlands, moorlands, and marshes. Some people will be upset that I’ve included pheasant and others will be shocked to learn that pheasants, although very much iconic and closely associated with rural life in Britain are, in fact, not a native species.
1. Red Grouse
The red grouse is a true British native, found mainly on heather moorlands across Scotland, northern England, and Wales. Its reddish-brown feathers blend perfectly with the surrounding heather, making it difficult to spot. Known for its rapid, low flight, the red grouse is a popular target during the shooting season. Its population is carefully managed through moorland management and controlled burning to maintain suitable habitats.
2. Pheasant
Originally introduced from Asia, the pheasant is now one of the most widespread game birds in the UK. Recognizable by its iridescent plumage and long tail, male pheasants are especially colorful, while females are more muted in tone. Pheasants can be found in woodlands and farmland, often seen strutting across fields or along hedgerows. They are frequently released on estates before the shooting season to ensure a plentiful population for sport.
3. Partridge
The partridge is another popular game bird in Britain, with two main species: the grey partridge and the red-legged partridge. The grey partridge, native to the UK, is more elusive, while the red-legged partridge, introduced from Europe, is more commonly seen. These birds prefer open farmland, and they’re often spotted in coveys, or small groups, foraging on the ground. The grey partridge’s numbers have drastically declined due to modern farming practices, making it a focus for conservation efforts.
4. Woodcock
Woodcocks are secretive, woodland-dwelling birds known for their incredible camouflage. They are often found in dense forests, where they use their long, sensitive bills to probe for worms and insects. The woodcock is a prized bird for shooting due to its unpredictable flight pattern, and it is most active at dawn and dusk. Woodcocks are migratory, and the UK population swells during winter as birds arrive from Scandinavia and Russia.
5. Snipe
Snipe are small, wading birds typically found in wetlands and marshes. With their long bills, they feed by probing the soft ground for invertebrates. Known for their zigzagging flight when startled, snipes are a challenge to shoot. Their drumming display flight during breeding season is a distinctive sound in wetlands and moorlands.
6. Mallard
The mallard is the most common wild duck in the UK, found on lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshes. Males, or drakes, are easily recognizable by their glossy green heads, while females are more camouflaged in brown. Mallards are a familiar sight, and their adaptability allows them to thrive in both rural and urban settings. They are dabbling ducks, meaning they feed on the water’s surface rather than diving.
7. Teal
Teal are one of the smallest species of wild ducks in the UK. They’re often found in freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and lakes, where they forage for seeds and insects. Males have a striking green and chestnut-colored head, making them easy to distinguish. Teal migrate to the UK for winter from breeding grounds in Iceland and northern Europe.
8. Wigeon
Wigeon are medium-sized ducks with distinctive whistling calls, commonly found in wetlands and coastal areas. Male wigeons are marked by a chestnut head with a cream-colored crown, while females are more subdued in appearance. Wigeon are often seen grazing on grasses and aquatic plants, sometimes in large flocks during the winter. Large numbers of wigeon migrate to the UK from Scandinavia and Russia to escape the harsh winter.
9. Golden Plover
Golden plovers are medium-sized wading birds, often found in upland areas during the breeding season and on coastal mudflats in winter. They’re known for their beautiful, golden-speckled plumage and their high, melodic calls. These birds tend to flock together, and their rapid, twisting flight makes them difficult to track. Golden plovers often form mixed flocks with lapwings during the winter months.
10. Pintail
Pintail ducks are elegant waterfowl, recognized by their slender necks and long, pointed tails. Males have striking chestnut heads and white necks, while females are a more subtle brown. Pintails prefer wetlands, marshes, and estuaries, where they feed on aquatic plants and invertebrates. Pintails are migratory and often spend winter months in the UK after breeding in northern Europe.
11. Black Grousec
The black grouse is a rare sight in Britain, mostly found in the uplands of Scotland and northern England. Males are known for their dramatic courtship displays, called “lekking,” where they fan their tails and make bubbling calls to attract females. Habitat loss has caused a sharp decline in their population, making them a conservation priority. Conservation projects aim to protect their moorland habitat and boost their numbers through habitat restoration.
12. Greylag Goose
The greylag goose is the largest and most widespread of the wild geese in Britain. These birds are commonly found in wetlands and marshes, grazing on grasses and crops. Greylag geese are easily recognized by their bulky grey bodies and orange beaks. They are one of the ancestors of domesticated geese and are often seen flying in V-shaped formations during migration.
13. Common Pochard
The common pochard is a diving duck, often seen in large flocks on lakes and reservoirs. Males are distinguished by their chestnut heads and red eyes, while females are more subdued in color. Pochards feed by diving for aquatic plants and invertebrates, often spending much of their time underwater. Pochards are migratory and arrive in the UK during the winter from breeding grounds in central and eastern Europe.
14. Grey Partridge
The grey partridge is a native British game bird that has faced significant declines in recent years due to habitat loss and changes in farming practices. It’s smaller than the more common red-legged partridge and prefers open farmland where it can forage for seeds and insects. Its numbers have dropped dramatically, making it a key focus for conservationists working to restore farmland biodiversity.
15. Shoveler
The shoveler is a duck species known for its distinctive spoon-shaped bill, which it uses to filter food from the water. Males have striking green heads and chestnut sides, while females are mottled brown. Shovelers are often found in wetlands and shallow lakes, where they feed on plankton and small invertebrates. Their large, broad bills help them sift through the water to catch small prey, making them efficient feeders in nutrient-rich waters.
