Winter Migratory Birds in the UK are back!

Why Birds Migrate in Winter

Winter migration is driven by food, not breeding. Frozen ground, snow cover, and locked-up freshwater force birds west and south in search of open water, accessible invertebrates, and fruiting trees.

Key winter triggers include:

• Cold snaps in northern and eastern Europe pushing birds west almost overnight

• Berry crop failures driving irruptive species such as waxwings

• Rough seas and strong winds pushing offshore birds closer to the coast

• High-pressure systems creating clear, cold nights ideal for movement

Every winter is different—and that unpredictability is part of its appeal.

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Eastern Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Urban Winter Specialist

The eastern black redstart is one of winter’s most reliable yet overlooked migrants. Arriving mainly from eastern Europe, it avoids traditional “natural” habitats and instead settles into ports, industrial estates, city centres, and construction sites.

These birds exploit residual warmth and shelter, feeding on spiders and insects tucked into brickwork and steel structures. Constant tail-flicking and a sharp, metallic call often reveal them before they are seen.

Where to look:

• Coastal towns and docks

• Industrial buildings and warehouses

• City rooftops and railway infrastructure

Best conditions:

• Cold, still mornings

• Sunny spells after frost

Key ID cue:

Dark grey-black body with a contrasting rufous tail, constantly flicked.

Common confusion:

Not to be confused with black redstarts in breeding plumage—winter birds are subtler, but structure and tail colour remain decisive.

Photographer’s note:

Stay low, keep distance, and let the bird work its feeding circuit. They often return to the same perches repeatedly.

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Divers: Masters of the Winter Sea

Divers are the definitive winter birds. Breeding on remote northern lochs, they move to the sea when freshwater freezes, trading inland isolation for exposed coastlines.

Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata)

The smallest and most lightly built diver, often seen flying low along the shoreline. Prefers shallow coastal bays and estuaries.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer)

Powerful and imposing, built for deep, prolonged dives. Often found in deeper coastal waters, harbours, and offshore bays.

Where to look:

• Sheltered bays and headlands

• Harbour mouths

• Calm water between weather systems

Best conditions:

• Light winds

• Clear water after storms have passed

Key ID cues:

• Red-throated: slim neck, lighter structure, often holds head slightly up

• Great northern: thick neck, heavy bill, dominant presence

Common confusion:

Distance and light can flatten features—size, posture, and dive behaviour are often more reliable than plumage alone.

Photographer’s note:

Pick a line and wait. Divers often resurface far from where they dive, but patterns emerge if you watch patiently.

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Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus)

Winter’s Unpredictable Visitors

Bohemian waxwings do not migrate on a fixed schedule. They irrupt. When berry crops fail across Scandinavia, flocks move west in search of food, sometimes arriving in dramatic numbers.

They favour urban areas where ornamental trees provide reliable fruit. Rowan, hawthorn, and cotoneaster can be stripped bare in hours.

Where to look:

• Town centres and housing estates

• Supermarket car parks

• Streets lined with berry trees

Best conditions:

• Cold continental winters

• After reports from eastern and northern Europe

Key ID cue:

Silky plumage, black eye-mask, and a strong social flock structure.

Common confusion:

Starlings in winter flocks—waxwings are chunkier, quieter, and more uniform in colour.

Photographer’s note:

Do not crowd them. Waxwings are tolerant, but pressure can push them on quickly. Position yourself and wait.

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The Wider Winter Migration Picture

Winter reshapes the entire bird community, often quietly:

• Fieldfare and Redwing arriving in nocturnal movements, thin calls overhead on frosty nights

• Brambling appearing at feeders during prolonged cold spells

• Siskin and Lesser Redpoll tracking alder and birch seed availability

• Whooper and Bewick’s Swans travelling from Iceland and Siberia to winter wetlands

• Geese and waders concentrating in estuaries where exposed mud provides vital protein

Even familiar landscapes may be hosting birds that have travelled thousands of kilometres to be there