The Manx Bird List

The official Manx List of wild birds

The official Manx List of wild birds is maintained by the Manx Birds Rarities Committee (MBRC), a sub-committee of the Manx Ornithological Society (MOS). The list documents all species deemed to have occurred in a wild state in the Isle of Man.

Records of scarce and rare Manx species as well as rare Manx breeding species are reviewed by the MBRC in the first instance. Those supported by adequate proof of identification and circumstances, and hence deemed to have been proven, are added to the official Manx List. Records of species that are rare in the wider context of the British Isles are scrutinised by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), while records of rare breeding birds are notified to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP).

Geographical limits for Manx bird records

Birds are deemed to have occurred in the Isle of Man up to 12 nautical miles offshore from the island or the midway point between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom, whichever is the lesser distance.

Table key

Category

A  Species that have been recorded on the Isle of Man in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.

B  Species that would otherwise be in category A, but have not been recorded since 31 December 1949.

B2  Extinct species

C  In the Manx List, category C is sub-divided:

C  Species that have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, that maintain themselves on the Isle of Man without necessary recourse to further introduction.

C*  Species fulfilling the above requirements in Britain, but which do not breed on the Isle of Man and have occurred naturally as visitors.

D  Species that would otherwise appear in categories A or B except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state.

E  Species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees or escapes from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining.

Bred

B = Denotes the species is known to have bred in the Isle of Man on at least one occasion.

Description

MBRC = Scarce and rare species for which a written description is required by the Manx Birds Rarities Committee.
(BBRC) = Rare species that are forwarded after initial consideration by MBRC to be scrutinised by the British Birds Rarities Committee.

Please note: All records should be submitted to MBRC in the first instance; those requiring BBRC scrutiny will be forwarded by MBRC to BBRC.

How to submit your records

Please use the online submissions form to send us your records. For scarce and rare species, please include a suitable description of the circumstances in which you found the bird, the specific observations you made and the basis for making the identification, along with field sketches and photographs wherever possible.

Order	Common English name	Scientific name	Cat	Bred	Description
1	Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	AC	B
2	Bewick's Swan	Cygnus columbianus	A
3	Whooper Swan	Cygnus cygnus	A
4	Bean Goose	Anser fabalis	B		MBRC
5	Pink-footed Goose	Anser brachyrhynchus	A
6	White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons	A
7	Greylag Goose	Anser anser	AC	B
8	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	AC	B
9	Barnacle Goose	Branta leucopsis	A
10	Brent Goose	Branta bernicla	A
11	Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	A	B
12	Wigeon	Anas penelope	A
13	American Wigeon	Anas americana	A		MBRC
14	Gadwall	Anas strepera	AC
15	Teal	Anas crecca	A	B
16	Green-winged Teal	Anas carolinensis	A		MBRC
17	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	AC	B
18	Pintail	Anas acuta	A
19	Garganey	Anas querquedula	A		MBRC
20	Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors	A		MBRC (BBRC)
21	Shoveler	Anas clypeata	A	B
22	Red-crested Pochard	Netta rufina	A		MBRC
23	Pochard	Aythya ferina	A
24	Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	A		MBRC
25	Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca	A		MBRC
26	Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula	A	B
27	Scaup	Aythya marila	A
28	Eider	Somateria mollissima	A	B
29	King Eider	Somateria spectabilis	A		MBRC (BBRC)
30	Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis	A
31	Common Scoter	Melanitta nigra	A
32	Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	A		MBRC
33	Velvet Scoter	Melanitta fusca	A
34	Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	A
35	Smew	Mergellus albellus	A		MBRC
36	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	A	B
37	Goosander	Mergus merganser	A
38	Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	C*	B
39	Quail	Coturnix coturnix	A	B
40	Red-legged Partridge	Alectoris rufa	C	B
41	Red Grouse	Lagopus lagopus	A	B
42	Grey Partridge	Perdix perdix	AC	B
43	Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	C	B
44	Red-throated Diver	Gavia stellata	A
45	Black-throated Diver	Gavia arctica	A
46	Great Northern Diver	Gavia immer	A
47	White-billed Diver	Gavia adamsii	A		MBRC
48	Fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis	A	B
49	Cory's Shearwater	Calonectris borealis	A		MBRC
50	Great Shearwater	Puffinus gravis	A		MBRC
51	Sooty Shearwater	Puffinus griseus	A
52	Manx Shearwater	Puffinus puffinus	A	B
53	Balearic Shearwater	Puffinus mauretanicus	A		MBRC
54	Macaronesian Shearwater	Puffinus baroli	A		MBRC (BBRC)
55	Storm Petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus	A
56	Leach's Petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhoa	A
57	Gannet	Morus bassanus	A
58	Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	A	B
59	Shag	Phalacrocorax aristotelis	A	B
60	Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens	A		MBRC (BBRC)
61	Bittern	Botaurus stellaris	A		MBRC
62	Little	Ixobrychus minutus	A		MBRC (BBRC)
63	Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	A		MBRC
64	Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	A		MBRC
65	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	A
66	Great White Egret	Ardea alba	A		MBRC
67	Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	A	B
68	Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	A		MBRC
69	White Stork	Ciconia ciconia	AE
70	Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	A		MBRC
71	Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	A	B
72	Great Crested Grebe	Podiceps cristatus	A
73	Red-necked Grebe	Podiceps grisegena	A		MBRC
74	Slavonian Grebe	Podiceps auritus	A		MBRC
75	Black-necked Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	A		MBRC
76	Honey-buzzard	Pernis apivorus	A		MBRC
77	Black Kite	Milvus migrans	A		MBRC
78	Red Kite	Milvus milvus	AC*		MBRC
79	White-tailed Eagle	Haliaeetus albicilla	B		MBRC
80	Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus	A		MBRC
81	Hen Harrier	Circus cyaneus	A	B
82	Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	AC*		MBRC
83	Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	A	B
84	Buzzard	Buteo buteo	A	B
85	Rough-legged Buzzard	Buteo lagopus	A		MBRC
86	Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	A		MBRC
87	Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	A
88	Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus	A	B
89	Spotted Crake	Porzana porzana	B		MBRC
90	Baillon's	Porzana pusilla	B		MBRC (BBRC)
91	Corncrake	Crex crex	A	B	MBRC
92	Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	A	B
93	Coot	Fulica atra	A	B
94	Crane	Grus grus	A		MBRC
95	Stone-curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	A		MBRC
96	Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	A		MBRC
97	Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	A	B
98	Golden Plover	Pluvialis apricaria	A	B
99	Grey Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	A
100	Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	A	B
101	Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	A		MBRC
102	Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula	A	B
103	Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	A		MBRC
104	Dotterel	Charadrius morinellus	A		MBRC
105	Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	A
106	Curlew	Numenius arquata	A	B
107	Black-tailed Godwit	Limosa limosa	A
108	Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica	A
109	Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	A
110	Knot	Calidris canutus	A
111	Ruff	Calidris pugnax	A
112	Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	A
113	Temminck's Stint	Calidris temminckii	A		MBRC
114	Sanderling	Calidris alba	A
115	Dunlin	Calidris alpina	A
116	Purple Sandpiper	Calidris maritima	A
117	Baird's	Calidris bairdii	A		MBRC (BBRC)
118	Little Stint	Calidris minuta	A
119	White-rumped Sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	A		MBRC
120	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Calidris subruficollis	A		MBRC
121	Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	A		MBRC
122	Wilson's	Phalaropus tricolor	A		MBRC (BBRC)
123	Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	A		MBRC
124	Grey Phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius	A		MBRC
125	Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	A	B
126	Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	A		MBRC
127	Spotted Redshank	Tringa erythropus	A		MBRC
128	Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	A
129	Lesser	Tringa flavipes	B		MBRC (BBRC)
130	Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	A		MBRC
131	Redshank	Tringa totanus	A	B
132	Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus	A
133	Long-billed	Limnodromus scolopaceus	A		MBRC (BBRC)
134	Woodcock	Scolopax rusticola	A	B
135	Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	A	B
136	Great	Gallinago media	B		MBRC (BBRC)
137	Pomarine Skua	Stercorarius pomarinus	A		MBRC
138	Arctic Skua	Stercorarius parasiticus	A
139	Long-tailed Skua	Stercorarius longicaudus	A		MBRC
140	Great Skua	Stercorarius skua	A
141	Puffin	Fratercula arctica	A	B
142	Black Guillemot	Cepphus grylle	A	B
143	Razorbill	Alca torda	A	B
144	Great Auk	Pinguinus impennis	B2
145	Little Auk	Alle alle	A		MBRC
146	Guillemot	Uria aalge	A	B
147	Bridled	Onychoprion anaethetus	A		MBRC (BBRC)
148	Little Tern	Sternula albifrons	A	B
149	Black Tern	Chlidonias niger	A		MBRC
150	Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis	A	B
151	Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	A	B
152	Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii	A		MBRC
153	Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisaea	A	B
154	Sabine's Gull	Xema sabini	A		MBRC
155	Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	A	B
156	Black-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	A	B
157	Little Gull	Hydrocoloeus minutus	A
158	Mediterranean Gull	Larus melanocephalus	A		MBRC
159	Common Gull	Larus canus	A	B
160	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	A		MBRC
161	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	A	B
162	Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	A	B
163	Yellow-legged Gull	Larus michahellis	A		MBRC
164	Iceland Gull	Larus glaucoides	A
165	Glaucous Gull	Larus hyperboreus	A
166	Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	A	B
167	Pallas's	Syrrhaptes paradoxus	B		MBRC (BBRC)
168	Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon	Columba livia	A	B
169	Stock Dove	Columba oenas	A	B
170	Woodpigeon	Columba palumbus	A	B
171	Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	A	B
172	Turtle Dove	Streptopelia turtur	A		MBRC
173	Mourning	Zenaida macroura	A		MBRC (BBRC)
174	Great	Clamator glandarius	A		MBRC (BBRC)
175	Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	A	B
176	Yellow-billed	Coccyzus americanus	A		MBRC (BBRC)
177	Barn Owl	Tyto alba	A	B
178	Scops	Otus scops	A		MBRC (BBRC)
179	Snowy	Bubo scandiacus	B		MBRC (BBRC)
180	Little Owl	Athene noctua	C*		MBRC
181	Tawny Owl	Strix aluco	A		MBRC
182	Long-eared Owl	Asio otus	A	B
183	Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	A	B
184	Nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	A	B	MBRC
185	Swift	Apus apus	A	B
186	Alpine Swift	Apus melba	A		MBRC
187	Hoopoe	Upupa epops	A
188	Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	A		MBRC
189	Roller	Coracias garrulus	A		MBRC (BBRC)
190	Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	A	B
191	Wryneck	Jynx torquilla	A		MBRC
192	Green Woodpecker	Picus viridis	A
193	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos major	A	B
194	Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	A	B
195	Red-footed Falcon	Falco vespertinus	A		MBRC
196	Merlin	Falco columbarius	A	B
197	Hobby	Falco subbuteo	A		MBRC
198	Gyr	Falco rusticolus	B		MBRC (BBRC)
199	Peregrine	Falco peregrinus	A	B
200	Ring-necked Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	C*
201	Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	A		MBRC
202	Red-backed Shrike	Lanius collurio	A		MBRC
203	Great Grey Shrike	Lanius excubitor	A		MBRC
204	Southern	Lanius meridionalis	A		MBRC (BBRC)
205	Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator	A		MBRC
206	Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	A	B
207	Magpie	Pica pica	A	B
208	Jay	Garrulus glandarius	A		MBRC
209	Jackdaw	Corvus monedula	A	B
210	Rook	Corvus frugilegus	A	B
211	Carrion Crow	Corvus corone	A	B
212	Hooded Crow	Corvus cornix	A	B
213	Raven	Corvus corax	A	B
214	Goldcrest	Regulus regulus	A	B
215	Firecrest	Regulus ignicapilla	A		MBRC
216	Blue Tit	Cyanistes caeruleus	A	B
217	Great Tit	Parus major	A	B
218	Coal Tit	Periparus ater	A	B
219	Marsh Tit	Poecile palustris	A		MBRC
220	Bearded Tit	Panurus biarmicus	A		MBRC
221	Woodlark	Lullula arborea	A		MBRC
222	Skylark	Alauda arvensis	A	B
223	Shore Lark	Eremophila alpestris	A		MBRC
224	Calandra	Melanocorypha calandra	A		MBRC (BBRC)
225	Sand Martin	Riparia riparia	A	B
226	Swallow	Hirundo rustica	A	B
227	House Martin	Delichon urbicum	A	B
228	Long-tailed Tit	Aegithalos caudatus	A	B
229	Greenish Warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides	A		MBRC
230	Pallas's Warbler	Phylloscopus proregulus	A		MBRC
231	Yellow-browed Warbler	Phylloscopus inornatus	A		MBRC
232	Dusky Warbler	Phylloscopus fuscatus	A		MBRC
233	Western	Phylloscopus bonelli	A		MBRC (BBRC)
234	Wood Warbler	Phylloscopus sibilatrix	A	B	MBRC
235	Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	A	B
236	Iberian Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus ibericus	A		MBRC
237	Willow Warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus	A	B
238	Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	A	B
239	Garden Warbler	Sylvia borin	A	B
240	Barred Warbler	Sylvia nisoria	A		MBRC
241	Lesser Whitethroat	Sylvia curruca	A	B
242	Whitethroat	Sylvia communis	A	B
243	Subalpine Warbler	Sylvia cantillans	A		MBRC
244	Sardinian	Sylvia melanocephala	A		MBRC (BBRC)
245	Grasshopper Warbler	Locustella naevia	A	B
246	Icterine Warbler	Hippolais icterina	A		MBRC
247	Melodious Warbler	Hippolais polyglotta	A		MBRC
248	Aquatic	Acrocephalus paludicola	A		MBRC (BBRC)
249	Sedge Warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	A	B
250	Blyth's Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum	A		MBRC
251	Marsh Warbler	Acrocephalus palustris	A		MBRC
252	Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	A		MBRC
253	Great	Acrocephalus arundinaceus	A		MBRC (BBRC)
254	Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus	A
255	Nuthatch	Sitta europaea	A		MBRC
256	Treecreeper	Certhia familiaris	A	B
257	Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	A	B
258	Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	A	B
259	Rose-coloured Starling	Pastor roseus	A		MBRC
260	Dipper	Cinclus cinclus	A	B	MBRC
261	Ring Ouzel	Turdus torquatus	A	B
262	Blackbird	Turdus merula	A	B
263	Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris	A
264	Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	A	B
265	Redwing	Turdus iliacus	A
266	Mistle Thrush	Turdus viscivorus	A	B
267	Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	A	B
268	Robin	Erithacus rubecula	A	B
269	White-throated	Irania gutturalis	A		MBRC (BBRC)
270	Thrush	Luscinia luscinia	A		MBRC (BBRC)
271	Nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos	A		MBRC
272	Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica	A		MBRC
273	Red-breasted Flycatcher	Ficedula parva	A		MBRC
274	Pied Flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca	A		MBRC
275	Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	A
276	Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	A	B
277	Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra	A	B
278	Stonechat	Saxicola rubicola	A	B
279	Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	A	B
280	Desert	Oenanthe deserti	A		MBRC (BBRC)
281	Black-eared	Oenanthe hispanica	A		MBRC (BBRC)
282	Dunnock	Prunella modularis	A	B
283	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	A	B
284	Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	A	B
285	Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	A		MBRC
286	Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	A	B
287	Pied Wagtail	Motacilla alba	A	B
288	Richard's Pipit	Anthus richardi	A		MBRC
289	Tawny	Anthus campestris	A		MBRC (BBRC)
290	Olive-backed	Anthus hodgsoni	A		MBRC (BBRC)
291	Tree Pipit*	Anthus trivialis	A	B	MBRC
292	Pechora	Anthus gustavi	A		MBRC (BBRC)
293	Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis	A	B
294	Red-throated	Anthus cervinus	A		MBRC (BBRC)
295	Rock Pipit	Anthus petrosus	A	B
296	Water Pipit*	Anthus spinoletta	A		MBRC
297	Brambling	Fringilla montifringilla	A
298	Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	A	B
299	Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes	A		MBRC
300	Common Rosefinch	Erythrina erythrina	A		MBRC
301	Bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula	A		MBRC
302	Greenfinch	Chloris chloris	A	B
303	Linnet	Linaria cannabina	A	B
304	Twite	Linaria flavirostris	A	B
305	Lesser Redpoll	Acanthis cabaret	A	B
306	Common Redpoll	Acanthis flammea	A		MBRC
307	Arctic Redpoll	Acanthis hornemanni	A		MBRC
308	Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	A
309	Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	A	B
310	Serin	Serinus serinus	A		MBRC
311	Siskin	Spinus spinus	A	B
312	Snow Bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis	A
313	Lapland Bunting	Calcarius lapponicus	A		MBRC
314	Song	Melospiza melodia	A		MBRC (BBRC)
315	White-throated	Zonotrichia albicollis	A		MBRC (BBRC)
316	Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella	A	B
317	Cirl Bunting	Emberiza cirlus	B		MBRC
318	Ortolan Bunting	Emberiza hortulana	A		MBRC
319	Rustic	Emberiza rustica	A		MBRC (BBRC)
320	Little Bunting	Emberiza pusilla	A		MBRC
321	Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus	A	B
322	Black-headed	Emberiza melanocephala	A		MBRC (BBRC)
323	Corn Bunting	Emberiza calandra	A	B	MBRC
324	Baltimore	Icterus galbula	A		MBRC (BBRC)
325	Yellow-rumped	Setophaga coronata	A		MBRC (BBRC)

Species in Categories D and E

Category D

• Red-headed Bunting* Emberiza bruniceps

Category E

• Black Swan Cygnus atratus
• Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
• Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
• Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
• Ross’s Goose Anser rossii
• Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
• Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
• Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata
• Wood Duck Aix sponsa
• Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
• Rosy-billed Pochard Netta peposaca
• Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix
• Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
• Lady Amherst’s Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae
• Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus
• Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
• White Stork Ciconia ciconia
• Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber
• Flamingo sp. Phoenicopterus ruber/chilensis
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus
• Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
• Red-winged Laughing-thrush [B] Garrulax formosus
• Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus
• Yellow-billed Grosbeak Eophona migratoria
• Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa