There are several bird species that start with the letter D and can be found in the UK. Some of the more common D birds include:
Doves
Doves are very common birds in the UK. Some doves that can be found include:
- Collared dove – Probably the most common and widespread dove in the UK. These are grey-brown birds with a distinctive black collar on the back of their necks.
- Stock dove – A common resident breeding bird across the UK, slightly smaller than collared doves. They are blue-grey in color with two dark wing bars.
- Turtle dove – Once widespread but numbers have declined over 90% in recent decades making them a UK conservation priority species. They are named for their purring call.
- Woodpigeon – The largest and commonest pigeon in the UK. They are familiar grey-blue birds of parks, gardens and woodlands.
Ducks
There are many duck species found in the UK throughout the year. Some examples include:
- Mallard – The most common and widespread duck species in the UK. The males have a glossy green head and white collar while females are mottled brown.
- Tufted duck – A small diving duck with black body, white sides and a distinctive tuft on the back of the head. Common on lakes and ponds.
- Pochard – A medium-sized diving duck, the males have a red head and grey body while females are brown. They breed on large lakes.
- Shoveler – A surface-feeding duck with a very large spatulate bill. The males are striking with green heads and white breasts while females are mottled brown.
- Teal – A small dabbling duck that is common in winter. The males have a chestnut head with a bright green speculum wing patch.
Divers
Divers, also known as loons, are aquatic birds that breed on lakes and coastal areas in the UK. Species include:
- Black-throated diver – A large diving bird with black throat and grey body in breeding plumage. They have a very eerie wailing call.
- Red-throated diver – The smallest UK diver with reddish-brown throat in summer. They nest near water bodies in the north and west.
- Great northern diver – The largest diver in the UK. Breeding birds have black-and-white checkered plumage and long necks.
Dabbling Ducks
Some dabbling duck species that can be found in the UK include:
- Eurasian wigeon – A common winter visitor, the males have a rusty head with yellow forehead stripe. They graze on land more than most ducks.
- Gadwall – A grey-brown dabbling duck with black rear end and intricate wing pattern. The male has a white speculum.
- Northern pintail – A slender duck with pointed tail. Breeding males have chocolate-brown heads and white necks and undersides.
- Northern shoveler – Unmistakable large shovel-shaped bill makes this dabbling duck easy to identify. Males have green heads.
Divers
Some diving duck species found in the UK include:
- Common goldeneye – A medium-sized diving duck, the males have a round green-black head with white cheek spot. Females are grey-brown.
- Common merganser – A large sawbill duck that breeds along fast-flowing rivers. Males have a bright red bill and shaggy head crest.
- Red-breasted merganser – The males have a bright red bill and shaggy double head crest. Breeds on coastal lakes in north and west.
- Smew – A small diving duck with males having a white body, black back, and a green crested head. Scarce winter visitor.
Other Waterfowl
Some other waterfowl species in the UK starting with D include:
- Dunlin – A small wading bird that breeds in northern Scotland. In winter they are common on estuaries and mudflats.
- Ruddy duck – A small stiff-tailed duck from North America that established a UK population, now subject to control measures.
Gamebirds
Gamebirds starting with D in the UK include:
- Red grouse – the UK’s only endemic gamebird, found in heather moorlands of northern England, Wales and Scotland.
Diurnal Raptors
Some diurnal birds of prey found in the UK starting with D are:
- Goshawk – A powerful forest-dwelling hawk that was lost as a UK breeding bird but reestablished in the 20th century.
- Hen harrier – A bird of prey that breeds in moorlands and nests on the ground. The males are a stunning grey color.
- Honey buzzard – A scarce summer visitor that breeds in woodlands and feeds largely on wasp larvae.
Doves
There are several species of doves found in the UK, including:
- Collared dove – Abundant across the UK, recognizable by the black half collar on the neck.
- Stock dove – More widespread than woodpigeons but less common than collared doves.
- Turtle dove – Once common but populations have declined over 90% making them a conservation priority.
- Woodpigeon – The largest and commonest pigeon across the UK.
Key Facts About Doves
- Collared doves only arrived in the UK in the 1950s and have spread rapidly.
- Turtle doves breed in farmland and scrubland habitats.
- Stock doves were originally woodland birds but now inhabit many urban areas.
- Woodpigeons can breed up to six broods a year in mild winters.
Ducks
Ducks found in the UK cover a diverse range of species, including:
- Mallard – The most familiar and widespread duck species.
- Pochard – A diving duck breeding on large lakes.
- Tufted duck – A small diving duck with a distinctive head tuft.
- Goldeneye – A medium-sized diving duck that nests in holes in trees.
- Shoveler – Named for its huge spatulate bill used for filter feeding.
Key Facts About Ducks
- Male ducks have colorful plumage while females are more camouflaged.
- They feed by dabbling, grazing or diving depending on species.
- Most species nest on the ground near water but some use holes in trees.
- Ducks form large flocks in winter often seen on lakes and coastal estuaries.
Divers
Divers, also known as loons, found in the UK include:
- Black-throated diver – Grey bodied species with black throat in summer.
- Red-throated diver – The smallest UK diver species.
- Great northern diver – The largest diver species in the UK.
Key Facts About Divers
- Divers are specialist fish-eating waterbirds.
- Their legs are placed far back on the body making them ungainly on land.
- In winter plumage divers are more drab and uniform gray-brown.
- They make eerie wailing calls, most often heard on breeding territories.
Gamebirds
Gamebirds in the UK starting with D include:
- Red grouse – the UK’s only endemic gamebird, found in upland moors in northern parts of UK.
Key Facts About Red Grouse
- Red grouse are a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan.
- They eat heather shoots and berries on moorland areas.
- Numbers fluctuate in cycles every decade or so.
- The ‘Glorious Twelfth’ marks the start of the shooting season on August 12th.
Raptors
Birds of prey found in the UK starting with D include:
- Goshawk – A powerful and agile forest hawk that went extinct in UK but recolonized.
- Hen harrier – A bird of prey that nests on moorland ground. The males are distinctive gray.
- Honey buzzard – Specialized predator of wasp larvae and hives.
Key Facts About these Raptors
- Goshawks were persecuted to extinction as forest gamekeepers saw them as a threat.
- Hen harriers suffer illegal persecution on grouse moors where they predate red grouse.
- Honey buzzards have long wings suited to soaring over woodlands as they seek wasp nests.
- All three are summer visitors, migrating south out of the UK for winter.
Conclusion
In summary, common UK birds starting with the letter D include various doves, ducks, divers, gamebirds like red grouse, and raptors such as goshawks and hen harriers. Doves are represented by species like collared dove, turtle dove and woodpigeon. Numerous duck species occur including widespread mallard, as well as divers like the red-throated diver. Moorland red grouse is the only endemic UK gamebird starting with D. Raptors like the northern goshawk and hen harrier have relevant conservation issues. Many birds starting with D are summer migrants that come to the UK to breed before heading south again for the winter.
