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. 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).

Categories of wild bird (as used by the Manx List and BBRC/BOU)

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.

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.

The Manx List (v.2015)

[Br]  The species is known to have bred in the Isle of Man on at least one occasion.

*  Species for which a written description is required by the Manx Birds Rarities Committee (MBRC).

**  Species that are scrutinised by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC).

How to submit your records

Please use the online submissions form to send us your records. For rare and scarce Manx birds (marked * and **), 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.

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

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