BirdTrack rare species policy

Rare resident and breeding birds face a number of threats, including illegal persecution and egg collecting, as well as potential inadvertent disturbance at sensitive sites. In consultation with the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP) and the Irish Rare Breeding Birds Panel (IRBBP), the sightings of some species are hidden on public outputs. This may be year round, during the breeding season (March – July) or in the winter months (November – February).  

For records of species not covered by the rare species policy that are in potentially sensitive locations, there is the option of using the 'Sensitive' records flag in BirdTrack. To use this option, click on 'Optional' when entering your records online and then clicking on 'Notable'. All you need to do is click on 'Yes' under 'Sensitive'. This option is also available in the BirdTrack app in the 'Optional' submenu.

If you notice any records of possible sensitive species, please do get in touch with the BirdTrack team. 

Species Britain Ireland
Whooper Swan Breeding season Breeding season
Wigeon Breeding season Breeding season
Pintail Breeding season Breeding season
Garganey Breeding season Breeding season
Common Scoter Breeding season Breeding season
Goldeneye Breeding season Breeding season
Black Grouse Year round
Capercaillie Year round
Golden Pheasant Breeding season Breeding season
Lady Amherst's Pheasant Breeding season Breeding season
Red-throated Diver Breeding season Breeding season
Black-throated Diver Breeding season Breeding season
Red-necked Grebe Breeding season Year round
Slavonian Grebe Breeding season Breeding season
Black-necked Grebe Breeding season Breeding season
Leach's Petrel Breeding season Breeding season
Bittern Breeding season Breeding season
Little Bittern Breeding season Breeding season
Cattle Egret Breeding season Breeding season
Little Egret Breeding season Breeding season
Spoonbill Breeding season Breeding season
Honey-buzzard Year round Year round
Red Kite Year round Year round
White-tailed Eagle Year round Year round
Marsh Harrier Breeding season Year round
Hen Harrier Year round Year round
Montagu's Harrier Year round Year round
Goshawk Year round Year round
Golden Eagle Year round Year round
Osprey Year round Year round
Merlin Breeding season Breeding season
Hobby Year round Year round
Peregrine Year round Year round
Spotted Crake Breeding season Breeding season
Baillon's Crake Breeding season Breeding season
Corncrake Breeding season Breeding season
Crane Year round Year round
Great Bustard Year round
Black-winged Stilt Breeding season Breeding season
Avocet Year round
Stone-curlew Year round Year round
Little Ringed Plover Breeding season Breeding season
Dotterel Breeding season Breeding season
Temminck's Stint Breeding season Year round
Purple Sandpiper Breeding season Breeding season
Ruff Breeding season Breeding season
Black-tailed Godwit Breeding season Breeding season
Greenshank Breeding season Breeding season
Wood Sandpiper Breeding season Breeding season
Red-necked Phalarope Breeding season Breeding season
Arctic Skua Breeding season Breeding season
Mediterranean Gull Breeding season Breeding season
Yellow-legged Gull Breeding season Breeding season
Roseate Tern Breeding season Breeding season
Little Tern Breeding season Breeding season
Turtle Dove Breeding season Breeding season
Barn Owl Breeding season Breeding season
Eurasian Eagle-Owl Breeding season Breeding season
Snowy Owl Winter Year round
Long-eared Owl Year round Year round
Short-eared Owl Breeding season Year round
Wryneck Breeding season Breeding season
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Breeding season
Woodlark Year round Year round
Yellow Wagtail Breeding season
Ring Ouzel Breeding season
Bluethroat Breeding season Breeding season
Black Redstart Breeding season Breeding season
Nightingale Breeding season Breeding season
Fieldfare Breeding season Breeding season
Redwing Breeding season Breeding season
Lesser Whitethroat Year round
Marsh Warbler Breeding season Breeding season
Icterine Warbler Breeding season Breeding season
Dartford Warbler Year round Year round
Wood Warbler Breeding season
Firecrest Breeding season Year round
Pied Flycatcher Breeding season
Bearded Tit Breeding season Year round
Golden Oriole Breeding season Breeding season
Red-backed Shrike Breeding season Breeding season
Chough Year round Year round
Carrion Crow Breeding season
Raven Breeding season Breeding season
Brambling Breeding season Breeding season
Twite Year round
Common Crossbill Breeding season Year round
Parrot Crossbill Breeding season
Common Rosefinch Breeding season Breeding season
Hawfinch Breeding season Year round
Lapland Bunting Breeding season Breeding season
Snow Bunting Breeding season Year round
Cirl Bunting Breeding season
Corn Bunting Year round


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