Changes

The British Ornithologists’ Union, who maintain the official list of British birds, follows IOC changes. Furthermore, BOU reviews records of species new to Britain, and periodically reviews old records if new evidence comes to light. 

All these processes can change the list of species deemed to have occurred in the UK, with consequences for the list of species covered by BirdFacts. This page lists those changes.

• For further information on the reasons behind these changes, see the BOU’s Recent announcements page, which provides links to the BOU reports and papers detailing the changes.

2024

• Tibetan Sand Plover Charadrius atrifrons split from Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, and the latter renamed as Siberian Sand Plover. Both taxa are on Category A of the British List.
• Stejneger’s Scoter Melanitta stejnegeri is added to Category A of the British List.
• Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps moved from Category D to Category A of the British List.
• Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis added to Category A of the British List.
• Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis added to Category A of the British List.
• Band-rumped Storm Petrel Hydrobates castro added to Category A of the British List.
• Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus added to Category A of the British List.
• Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus added to Category A of the British List.
• Western Olivaceous Warbler Iduna opaca added to Category A of the British List.

2023

• Long-legged Buzzard added to category A of the British List.
• Zino’s Petrel added to category A of the British List.
• Mediterranean Short-toed Lark Alaudala rufescens is removed from the British List.
• Sulphur-bellied Warbler Phylloscopus griseolus is added to Category A of the British List.
• Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus is added to Category A of the British List.
• Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis is added to Category A of the British List.

July 2022

• Ross’s Goose Anser rossii is added to category A of the British List.

January 2022

• South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki is added to category A of the British List.
• White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis is added to category A of the British List.

January 2021

• Subalpine Warbler split into Eastern Subalpine Warbler and Western Subalpine Warbler; both are added to category A of the British List.

2014

• Subalpine Warbler split into Subalpine Warbler and Moltoni's Warbler, with the latter added to category A of the British List.

April 2006

• Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon is removed from the British List.