Key findings

Birds of Conservation Concern in the Isle of Man (BoCCIoM) 2021 Ushagyn ta Feme Coadey ayns Ellan Vannin 2021 is the first comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of all regularly occurring species of wild bird in the self-governing British Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man.

The assessment uses the tried and tested methods of the Birds of Conservation Concern format.

Of 332 species on the official Manx List of Birds, all 166 regularly occurring species were fully assessed for BoCCIoM 2021, comprising:

  • breeding species with at least one confirmed or probable breeding record from 2006 onwards (i.e. since the start of the second Manx Bird Atlas survey);
  • overwintering species and passage migrants whose occurrence is considered to have been at least annual in recent years.

Of these 166 fully assessed species:

0%

48 were placed on the Red List Y Rolley Jiarg

0%

68 were placed on the Amber List Y Rolley Amber

0%

50 were placed on the Green List Y Rolley Glass

0

14 species no longer breed

0

12 out of 16 breeding sea birds are Red listed

0

48 ground nesting species are at risk

Ground-nesting species such as Curlew, Lapwing and Skylark are in jeopardy, threatened by loss of habitat, disturbance and predation. Seabirds such as Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Shag and Puffin are declining in the face of challenging ‘local’ and global changes to their marine environment. Even familiar birds such as Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Kestrel are declining—following on the heels of Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting which, although once abundant on the Island, are now extinct as native Manx birds.

“BoCCIoM 2021 is endorsed by the Manx Ornithological Society, Manx Wildlife Trust, Manx National Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.”

The Lists

Species that are considered to be of the greatest conservation concern:

wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3
1Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM1. Teal Anas crecca16. Woodcock Scolopax rusticola33. Long-eared Owl Asio otus
2Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM2. Pochard Aythya ferina17. Snipe Gallinago gallinago34. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
3Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM3. Eider Somateria mollissima18. Redshank Tringa totanus35. Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
4Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM4. Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis19. Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla36. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
5Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM5. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus20. Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus37. Merlin Falco columbarius
6Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM6. Stock Dove Columba oenas21. Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus38. Skylark Alauda arvensis
7Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM7. Water Rail Rallus aquaticus22. Herring Gull Larus argentatus39. Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
8Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM8. Corn Crake Crex crex23. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus40. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
9Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM9. Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus24. Little Tern Sternula albifrons41. Redwing Turdus iliacus
10Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM10. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus25. Common Tern Sterna hirundo42. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
11Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM11. Curlew Numenius arquata26. Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea43. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
12Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM12. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica27. Razorbill Alca torda44. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
13Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM13. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa28. Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle45. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
14Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM14. Knot Calidris canutus29. Puffin Fratercula arctica46. Twite Linaria flavirostris
15Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM15. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea30. Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis47. Linnet Linaria cannabina
16Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM31. Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis48. Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
17Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:18 PM32. Barn Owl Tyto alba
Species that are considered to be of moderate conservation concern:
Col 1 wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at COL 2 COL 3 COL 4
1. Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus1Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 03:42 PM18. Moorhen Gallinula chloropus35. Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus51. Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
2. Brent goose Branta bernicula2Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 03:44 PM19. Coot Fulica atra36. Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo52. Lesser Whitethroat Curruca currica
3. Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus3Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 03:46 PM20. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis37. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea53. Goldcrest Regulus regulus
4. White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons4Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 03:48 PM21. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola38. Little Egret Egrett garzetta54.Starling Sturnus vulgaris
5. Mute Swan Cygnus olor5Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 03:51 PM22. Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula39. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus55. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
6. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus6Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 03:52 PM23. Turnstone Arenaria interpres40. Buzzard buteo buteo56. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
7. Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna7Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 03:55 PM24. Ruff Calidris pugnax41. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)57. Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
8. Shoveler Spatula clypeata8Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 03:56 PM25. Sanderling Calidris alba42. Peregrine Falco peregrinus58. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
9. Gadwall Mareca strepera9Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:00 PM26. Dunlin Calidris alpina43. Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax59. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
10. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos10Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:00 PM27. Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima44. Raven Corvus corax60. Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea
11. Pintail Anas acuta11Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:02 PM28. Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus45. Sand MArtin Riparia riparia61. Tree Pipit Anthus trivalis
12. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula12Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:04 PM29. Common Sand Piper Actitis hypoleucos46. Swallow Hirundo rustica62. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
13. Common Scoter Melanitta nigra13Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:05 PM30. Common Gull Larus canus47. House Martin Delichon urbicum63. Greenfinch Chloris chloris
14. Goldeneye Bucephala clangula14Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:07 PM31. Common Guillemot Uria aalge48. Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix64. Lesser Redpoll Acanthis cabaret
15. Goosander Mergus merganser15Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:09 PM32. Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata49. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus65. Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
16. Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator16Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:09 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:11 PM33. Black Trhoated Diver Gavia arctica50. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus66. Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
17. Swift Apus apus17Allison05/12/2025 04:12 PMAllison05/12/2025 04:12 PM34. Great Northern Diver Gavia immer51. Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus67. Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
Species that are considered to be of least conservation concern:
wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at COL 1 COL 2 COL 3
1Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM1. Greylag Goose Anser anser18. Osprey Pandion haliaetus35.Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla
2Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM2. Wigeon Mareca penelope19. Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus36. Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
3Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM3. Feral Pigeon Columba livia20. Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus37. Treecreeper Certhia familiaris
4Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM4. Woodpigeon Columba palumbus21. Magpie Pica pica38. Blackbird Turdus merula
5Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM5. Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto22. Jackdaw Coloeus monedula39. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
6Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM6. Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria23. Rook Corvus frugilegus40. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
7Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM7. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus24. Carrion Crow Corvus corone41. Robin Erithacus rubecula
8Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM8. Little Stint Calidris minuta25. Hooded Crow Corvus cornix42. Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
9Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM9. Greenshank Tringa nebularia26. Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus43. Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
10Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM10. Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus27. Coal Tit Periparus ater44. Stonechat Saxicola rubicola
11Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM11. Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus28. Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus45. Dunnock Prunella modularis
12Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM12. Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides29. Great Tit Parus major46. Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba
13Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM13. Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis30. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus47. Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus
14Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM14. Great Skua Stercorarius skua31. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita48. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
15Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM15. Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus32. Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus49. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
16Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM16. Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus33. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla50. Siskin Spinus spinus
17Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 12:02 PM17. Gannet Morus bassanus34. Common Whitethroat Curruca communis
Species that formally regularly nested in the Isle of Man but are now considered extirpated as native Manx breeders:
wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at COL 1 COL 2 COL 3
1Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AM1. Quail Coturnix coturnix6. Common Tern Sterna hirundo11. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
2Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AM2. Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus7. Red Kite Milvus milvus12. Dipper Cinclus cinclus
3Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AM3. Rock Dove Columba livia (wild population)8. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla13. Twite Linaria flavirostris
4Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AM4. Corn Crake Crex crex9. Kingfisher Alcedo atthis14. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra
5Manx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AMManx_B1rdL1f319/09/2025 11:52 AM5. Redshank Tringa totanus10. Merlin Falco columbarius

The following additional species have nested occasionally in the Isle of Man without establishing a long-term pattern of breeding, and for which there are no definite or probable breeding records in the period from 2006 onwards:

  • Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator

  • Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis

  • Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

  • Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

  • Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis

  • Tawny Owl Strix aluco

  • Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus.

Not assessed

Of 332 species on the official Manx List of Birds, 166 species were not short-listed for assessment for BoCCIoM 2021, being those:

  • formerly breeding species that no longer breed;
  • formerly wintering species or passage migrants which no longer regularly occur;
  • non-native species;
  • rare or vagrant species.

The species not fully assessed for BoCCIoM 2021 are accessibly by the link below.

Full results

Click on the image to download a PDF version of the detailed results for the 166 fully assessed species, including assessment criteria and data sheets with species scores (A4 document, 11 pages).

Acknowledgements

Manx BirdLife would like to thank the Scheinberg Family without whose support BoCCIoM 2021 would not have been possible.

The authors are indebted to Gillian Gilbert, Principal Conservation Scientist for RSPB Northern Ireland. We also thank David Bellamy, Pat Cullen, Adam Denard, Anne-Marie McDevitt, Allen S. Moore, Alice Morris, Louise Samson, Aron Sapsford and Richard Selman for their past and recent inputs to the BoCCIoM project and assistance with this paper.

We should also like to thank the many fieldworkers and support teams who have helped to compile the datasets used in this assessment.

Translation into Manx Gaelic has been kindly provided by https://www.culturevannin.im.

Finally, we thank the Manx Ornithological Society, Manx Wildlife Trust, Manx National Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for their endorsement of the project and its results.

“Manx BirdLife would like to thank the Scheinberg Family without whose support BoCCIoM 2021 would not have been possible.”

Neil G. Morris
Christopher M. Sharpe MBE

Manx Birdlife

July 2021

BoCCIoM 2021 is endorsed by:

MOS

Manx Ornithological Society

Manx Wildlife Trust

RSPB

RSPB

DEFA Isle of Man

Manx national Heritage