Wetland Bird Survey 5 Species & codes Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) monitors all waterbird species, as defined by Wetlands International. In the UK, this includes divers, grebes, cormorants, herons, swans, geese, ducks, rails, waders, gulls and terns, although counting of the last two groups is optional. In addition, WeBS records numbers of Kingfisher. Vagrants, introductions and free-flying escapes of all species in the families listed by Wetlands International are included, e.g. flamingos. WeBS has adopted the two-letter coding system initially developed by BTO for the Common Birds Census. A list of relevant species and codes is produced below. The list, whilst not exhaustive, includes most species recorded during WeBS surveys to date; a code will be allocated for additional species from the families below as and when they occur. It is important that both the species name and the twoletter code are recorded on the form. For some species, particular races are assigned codes where these are identifiable by field characteristics (e.g. sub-species of Bean Goose and Brent Goose). In these cases, we have flagged the

preferred recording level in normal type, and the less preferred option in faint type; we appreciate however that it may not always be possible to identify to this level during the course of a WeBS count - in which case the generic species code should be used. Different populations of certain species are also assigned separate codes. These are determined by WeBS staff on the basis of geographical distribution. Counters may assist this process by flagging counts of known naturalised birds by writing ‘(naturalised)’ after the appropriate species name on the recording form. Counters may also encounter hybrids and ‘domestic’ birds (e.g. farmyard Mallard or Greylag varieties). Codes for these are also listed below. There are occasions when it may be impossible to identify birds to species level. At such times, please use one of the ‘unidentified’ categories listed below if you can’t be accurate, be honest! Such information is still useful in assessing total waterbird numbers using a site.

WeBS species list Divers Red-throated Diver Black-throated Diver Great Northern Diver White-billed Diver

Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia immer Gavia adamsii

RH BV ND WV

Grebes Pied-billed Grebe Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Red-necked Grebe Slavonian Grebe Black-necked Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps Tachybaptus ruficollis Podiceps cristatus Podiceps grisegena Podiceps auritus Podiceps nigricollis

PJ LG GG RX SZ BN

Black-necked Grebe

Cormorants Cormorant Shag

Phalacrocorax carbo Phalacrocorax aristotelis

CA SA

Pelicans White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

YP

Herons Bittern American Bittern Little Bittern Night Heron Green Heron Squacco Heron Cattle Egret Little Egret Snowy Egret Great White Egret Grey Heron Purple Heron

Botaurus stellaris Botaurus lentiginosus Ixobrychus minutus Nycticorax nycticorax Butorides virescens Ardeola ralloides Bubulcus ibis Egretta garzetta Egretta thula Ardea alba Ardea cinerea Ardea purpurea

BI AM LL NT HR QH EC ET NY HW H. UR

Storks White Stork

Ciconia ciconia

OR

Ibises and Spoonbills Glossy Ibis Sacred Ibis Spoonbill

Plegadis falcinellus Threskiornis aethiopicus Platalea leucorodia

The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is the monitoring scheme for non-breeding waterbirds in the UK which aims to provide the principal data for the conservation of their populations and wetland habitats. WeBS is a joint scheme of the British Trust for Ornithology, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, in association with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.

IB IS NB

Wetland Bird Survey Flamingos Chilean Flamingo Greater Flamingo Lesser Flamingo Wildfowl Fulvous Whistling Duck Lesser Whistling Duck White-faced Whistling Duck Coscoroba Swan Mute Swan Black Swan Black-necked Swan Trumpeter Swan Bewick’s Swan Whooper Swan Magpie Goose Swan Goose Bean Goose Taiga Bean Goose Tundra Bean Goose Pink-footed Goose White-fronted Goose European W-front. Goose Greenland W-front. Goose Lesser White-fronted Goose Greylag Goose Bar-headed Goose Snow Goose Ross’s Goose Emperor Goose Hawaiian Goose Canada Goose Lesser Canada Goose Barnacle Goose

Species & codes

Phoenicopterus chilensis Phoenicopterus ruber Phoeniconaias minor

FM

Dendrocygna bicolor

YV

Dendrocygna javanica Dendrocygna viduata

YU YX

Coscoroba coscoroba Cygnus olor Cygnus atratus Cygnus melanocorypha Cygnus buccinator Cygnus columbianus Cygnus cygnus Anseranas semipalmata Anser cygnoides Anser fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. rossicus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Anser a. albifrons

OW MS AS AT TJ BS WS MJ HN BE XF XR PG WG EW

Anser a. flavirostris

NW

FL FK

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Wigeon American Wigeon Chiloe Wigeon Falcated Duck Gadwall

Branta b. hrota

PB

Branta b. nigricans Branta ruficollis Alopochen aegyptiaca Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna cana Tadorna variegata Tadorna tadornoides Tadorna tadorna Chloephaga picta Cairina moschata Aix sponsa Aix galericulata Lophonetta specularioides Anas penelope Anas americana Anas sibilatrix Anas falcata Anas strepera

BB EB EG UD UE UB UA SU QF MY DC MN QD WN AW HL FT GA

Gadwall

Anser erythropus

LC

Anser anser Anser indicus Anser caerulescens Anser rossii Anser canagicus Branta sandvicensis Branta canadensis Branta hutchinsii Branta leucopsis

GJ HD SJ RJ EM NE CG LQ BY

Barnacle Goose

Brent Goose Dark-bellied Brent

Goose Light-bellied Brent Goose Black Brant Red-breasted Goose Egyptian Goose Ruddy Shelduck Cape Shelduck Paradise Shelduck Australian Shelduck Shelduck Magellan Goose Muscovy Duck Wood Duck Mandarin Crested Duck

Branta bernicla Branta b. bernicla

BG DB

Baikal Teal Teal Green-winged Teal Speckled Teal Cape Teal Silver Teal Chestnut Teal Mallard Black Duck Pintail Yellow-billed Pintail Bahama Pintail Red-billed Teal Garganey Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Red Shoveler Australian Shoveler Shoveler Ringed Teal

Anas formosa Anas crecca Anas carolinensis Anas flavirostris Anas capensis Anas versicolor Anas castanea Anas platyrhynchos Anas rubripes Anas acuta Anas georgica Anas bahamensis Anas erythrorhyncha Anas querquedula Anas discors Anas cyanoptera Anas platalea Anas rhynchotis Anas clypeata Callonetta leucophrys

IK T. TA KQ QC AG QB MA BD PT YL PN YR GY TB QA VE VA SV IE

Wetland Bird Survey Maned Duck Marbled Duck Red-crested Pochard Rosybill Pochard Redhead Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Ferruginous Duck New Zealand Scaup Tufted Duck Scaup Lesser Scaup Eider King Eider Steller’s Eider Harlequin Duck Long-tailed Duck Common Scoter Black Scoter Surf Scoter Velvet Scoter Bufflehead Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Smew Red-breasted Merganser Goosander Ruddy Duck White-headed Duck Argentine Blue-bill Rails Water Rail

Species & codes

Chenonetta jubata Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Netta peposaca Aythya ferina Aythya americana Aythya valisineria Aythya collaris Aythya nyroca Aythya novaeseelandiae Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya affinis Somateria mollissima Somateria spectabilis Polysticta stelleri Histrionicus histrionicus Clangula hyemalis Melanitta nigra Melanitta americana Melanitta perspicillata Melanitta fusca Bucephala albeola Bucephala clangula Lophodytes cucullatus Mergellus albellus Mergus serrator

MQ MB

Mergus merganser Oxyura jamaicensis Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura vittata

GD RY WQ OI

Rallus aquaticus

WA

RQ QR PO AZ VB NG FD NZ TU SP AY E. KE ES HQ LN CX DX FS VS VH GN HO SY RM

Water Rail

Spotted Crake Little Crake Baillon's Crake Corncrake Moorhen

Porzana porzana Porzana parva Porzana pusilla Crex crex Gallinula chloropus

AK JC VC CE MH

Coot American Coot

Fulica atra Fulica americana

CO AO

Cranes Crane

Grus grus

AN

Oystercatchers Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

OC IT

Avocet

Himantopus himantopus Recurvirostra avosetta

AV

Thick-knees Stone-curlew

Burhinus oedicnemus

TN

Glareola maldivarum Glareola nordmanni

GM KW

Charadrius dubius Charadrius hiaticula Charadrius semipalmatus Charadrius vociferus Charadrius alexandrinus Charadrius mongolus Charadrius leschenaultii Charadrius morinellus Pluvialis dominica

LP RP TV

Stilts and Avocets Black-winged Stilt

Pratincoles Oriental Pratincole Black-winged Pratincole Plovers Little Ringed Plover Ringed Plover Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Kentish Plover Lesser Sand Plover Greater Sand Plover Dotterel American Golden Plover Pacific Golden Plover Golden Plover Grey Plover Sociable Plover Lapwing Blacksmith Plover Spur-winged Plover Sandpipers and allies Great Knot Knot Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Little Stint Temminck’s Stint Least Sandpiper White-rumped

KL KP DQ DP DO ID

Pluvialis fulva Pluvialis apricaria Pluvialis squatarola Vanellus gregarius Vanellus vanellus Hoplopterus armatus Hoplopterus spinosus

IF GP GV IP L. KS UW

Calidris tenuirostris Calidris canutus Calidris alba Calidris pusilla

KO KN SS PZ

Calidris mauri Calidris minuta Calidris temminckii Calidris minutilla Calidris fuscicollis

ER LX TK EP WU

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Wetland Bird Survey Sandpiper Baird’s Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Dunlin Broad-billed Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Ruff Jack Snipe Snipe Great Snipe Long-billed Dowitcher Woodcock Black-tailed Godwit Hudsonian Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit

Species & codes

Calidris bairdii Calidris melanotos Calidris acuminata Calidris ferruginea Calidris himantopus Calidris maritima Calidris alpina Limicola falcinellus Tryngites subruficollis

BP PP VV CV MI PS DN OA BQ

Philomachus pugnax Lymnocryptes minimus Gallinago gallinago Gallinago media Limnodromus scolopaceus Scolopax rusticola Limosa limosa Limosa haemastica Limosa lapponica

RU JS SN DS LD WK BW HU BA

Bar-tailed Godwit

Whimbrel Curlew Upland Sandpiper Spotted Redshank Redshank Marsh Sandpiper Greenshank Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Green Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Terek Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Grey-tailed Tattler Turnstone Wilson’s Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Grey Phalarope

Numenius phaeopus Numenius arquata Bartramia longicauda Tringa erythropus Tringa totanus Tringa stagnatilis Tringa nebularia Tringa melanoleuca Tringa flavipes Tringa solitaria Tringa ochropus Tringa glareola Xenus cinereus Actitis hypoleucos Actitis macularia Heteroscelus brevipes Arenaria interpres Phalaropus tricolor Phalaropus lobatus Phalaropus fulicarius

WM CU UP DR RK MD GK LZ LY I. GE OD TR CS PQ YT TT WF NK PL

Gulls and Terns Mediterranean Gull Laughing Gull Franklin’s Gull Little Gull Sabine’s Gull Bonaparte’s Gull Black-headed Gull

MU LF FG LU AB ON BH

Larus genei Larus delawarensis Larus canus Larus fuscus

EI IN CM LB

Larus argentatus Larus a. cachinnans/ michahellis Larus cachinnans Larus michahellis Larus glaucoides Larus hyperboreus Larus marinus

HG YG

Rhodostethia rosea Rissa tridactyla Pagophila eburnea Sterna nilotica Sterna caspia Sterna maxima Sterna bengalensis Sterna sandvicensis Sterna dougallii Sterna hirundo Sterna paradisaea Sterna forsteri Sterna albifrons Chlidonias hybrida

QG KI IV TG CJ QT TF TE RS CN AE FO AF WD

Black-headed Gull

Slender-billed Gull Ring-billed Gull Common Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Herring Gull Yellow-legged Gull Caspian Gull Yellow-legged Gull Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Great Black-backed Gull Ross’s Gull Kittiwake Ivory Gull Gull-billed Tern Caspian Tern Royal Tern Lesser Crested Tern Sandwich Tern Roseate Tern Common Tern Arctic Tern Forster’s Tern Little Tern Whiskered Tern

YC YG IG GZ GB

Black Tern

Black Tern October 2010 4

Larus melanocephalus Larus atricilla Larus pipixcan Larus minutus Larus sabini Larus philadelphia Larus ridibundus

Chlidonias niger

BJ

Wetland Bird Survey White-winged Black Tern Kingfishers Kingfisher

Species & codes

Chlidonias leucopterus

Alcedo atthis

WJ

KF

Kingfisher

Hybridsi hybrid swan hybrid goose hybrid shelduck hybrid Anas hybrid Aythya hybrid gull

ZS ZL ZT ZR ZD ZU

Unidentified birds unidentified diver unidentified grebe unidentified cormorant unidentified flamingo unidentified yellowbilled swan unidentified goose unidentified duck unidentified scoter sp. unidentified wader unidentified gull unidentified tern unidentified Common/ Arctic Tern (‘Commic’ Tern)

Gavia sp. Podicipedidae Phalacrocorax sp. Cygnus cygnus/columbianus Anser/Branta sp. Melanitta sp. Larus sp. Sterna sp. Sterna hirundo/ paradisaea

Feral/domestic birds Feral/domestic Mallard Feral/domestic goose

UL UV XU FU UF UO UM UX U. UU UT UI

ZF ZL

Line drawings by Mark Hulme, Peter Scott, Joe Blossom and Graham Giddens. codes for hybrids of presumed ‘wild’ birds (e.g. Teal x Gadwall) rather than feral/domestic/farmyard types for which there are separate codes i

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