Surrey, a picturesque county located in the southeast of England, is famous for its diverse wildlife and natural beauty.
Among the many different creatures that call Surrey their home, birds are perhaps the most conspicuous, filling its skies and woodlands with their symphonies of calls and songs.
From majestic birds of prey like the peregrine falcon, red kite, and buzzard to tiny garden birds like the blue tit, robin, and wren, the county boasts a remarkable variety of avian species that provide a visual and aural treat for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts.
Whether you're an experienced birder or just someone who loves spending time outdoors, exploring the incredible bird diversity of Surrey is an enriching experience that's worth undertaking.
1. American wigeon
The American Wigeon, also known as the Baldpate, is a species of dabbling duck found throughout North America.
It closely resembles its Eurasian counterpart and was formally described in 1789 by German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin.
This medium-sized bird has an overall grey body with white feathers on its face and belly that give it a distinctive bald appearance.
Its wings are brownish black with green speculum markings on them while the tail is dark brown or black at the base and gradually lightens near tips to become chestnut colored.
The male wigeons have purple patches on their heads during breeding season along with yellow eyes which helps differentiate them from females who have duller colors around their faces instead of bright ones like males possess.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Mareca |
| Species | M. americana |
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2. Belted kingfisher
The belted kingfisher is a large, eye-catching bird native to North America. It belongs to the family Alcedinidae and has been divided into three subfamilies by recent research.
The species was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae.
This water Kingfisher stands out for its size as well as its striking plumage; males are bright blue on top with white below and females have rusty brown backs and wings with a thick black breast band across their chest.
They also possess an impressive call which can be heard from quite far away.
Belted kingfishers feed mainly on small fish but will sometimes also eat crustaceans, insects or even amphibians if they come across them while hunting around rivers or streams.
All in all, this is truly one remarkable bird that deserves our admiration.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae |
| Subfamily | Cerylinae |
| Genus | Megaceryle |
| Species | M. alcyon |
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3. American bushtit
The American bushtit is a small, social bird found in the New World. It's the only species of its genus and family, Psaltriparus minimus.
First described by John Kirk Townsend in 1837, it inhabits forests and coasts from Alaska to Mexico.
With their tiny size (4-5 inches) they are easily identified by their gray or brown backs with white underparts.
Bushtits have long wings allowing them to travel quickly between trees; they form flocks that move together through branches looking for food such as insects, spiders eggs and fruit while emitting soft chirps or squeaks.
They build beautiful large pendulous nests made of mosses which hang from tree branches high above ground level where they sleep at night.
These charming birds make delightful company during outdoor activities like hiking or camping trips.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Aegithalidae |
| Genus | Psaltriparus Bonaparte, 1850 |
| Species | P. minimus |
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4. Brown creeper
The Brown Creeper is a small songbird belonging to the Certhiidae family and is native to North America. It has brown upperparts with light spotting that resembles tree bark, as well as white underparts.
Its bill is long and thin with a slight downward curve while its tail is also long yet stiff; this helps it creep up trees.
This bird feeds mainly on insects which can be found in crevices of barks or dead plants, thanks to its curved bill which allows it access these hard-to-reach places.
When searching for food they move diagonally upwards around trunks so their camouflage blends in perfectly with the background making them difficult to spot.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Certhiidae |
| Genus | Certhia |
| Species | C. americana |
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5. Ring-billed gull
The Ring-billed Gull is a medium sized seabird that can be seen throughout North America. Its head, neck and underparts are white while its back and wings are silver gray in color.
It has a relatively short yellow bill with a dark ring around it, as well as yellow legs.
The genus name for this species of gull comes from the Latin word ‘Larus’ which referred to large sea birds or gulls; while the specific delawarensis refers to the Delaware River where these birds were first discovered.
These beautiful creatures thrive near coasts, lakeshores and other bodies of water but also have been known to inhabit urban areas such as parks close by those watersides due to their adaptability towards human habitats.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. delawarensis |
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6. Double-crested cormorant
The double-crested cormorant is a majestic bird with an impressive wingspan, found across North America from the Aleutian Islands all the way down to Mexico.
Its black plumage stands out against its bright orange-yellow facial skin and some extended patches of white feathers on each side of its throat.
It measures between 28 - 35 inches in length and has webbed feet that enable it to swim gracefully through rivers and lakes, as well as coastal areas.
These birds are known for their voracious appetite for fish, sometimes diving over 100 ft deep into water looking for food.
Despite this reputation they also feed on crustaceans, amphibians and insects when available.
Cormorants have been part of many cultures throughout history due to their remarkable ability to fly long distances making them valued messengers or companions during fishing expeditions at sea.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Genus | Nannopterum |
| Species | N. auritum |
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7. Red-breasted sapsucker
The red-breasted sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker native to the forests of the west coast of North America.
It has a striking appearance with its bright red head and upper chest, white lower belly, black back and wings with bars and large white wing patch.
These birds nest in tree cavities during mating season while northern specimens migrate south for winter months.
They are often seen tapping on trees to drill holes into them in order to feed on sap or bark insects that live beneath it.
Additionally, they have been observed feeding from birdfeeders which makes them great additions to backyard bird watching activities.
Overall, the red-breasted sapsucker is an interesting species worth discovering.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Sphyrapicus |
| Species | S. ruber |
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