The ancient trees, diverse woodlands and numerous water bodies across Windsor Great Park and the wider Estate create a rich mosaic of habitats, making them ideal nesting grounds for a variety of fascinating bird species. Discover more about these birds and the environments they thrive in.
The Canada Goose is a large bird, easily recognised by its black head and neck, contrasted with a prominent white throat patch. Originally native to North America, it has now become abundant in many areas, and can be a problem to water quality and smaller water fowl.
The Cormorant is a large, black aquatic bird that stands out due to its size and dark plumage. With its long, sinuous neck, it has a strikingly prehistoric look. It is often spotted perched with its wings spread wide to dry.
This pale brown and grey goose, a relative of the Shelduck, is easily recognised by its distinctive dark brown eye patches and bold white wing markings visible in flight. Originally introduced to ornamental ponds, it has escaped into the wild and is rapidly increasing in numbers. It nests in large tree holes, often starting early in the year, with families of goslings commonly seen at the village ponds in late winter.
The Eurasian Coot is a fully black waterbird, noticeably larger than its relative, the Moorhen. It is easily recognised by its striking white bill and the prominent white frontal shield above it—hence the nickname ‘bald’. Its toes are equipped with lobed flaps of skin, which function similarly to webbed feet, aiding its swimming ability.
The Gadwall is a subtly elegant dabbling duck, slightly smaller than a Mallard, distinguished by its predominantly grey plumage and striking black rear. In flight, it reveals a distinctive white wing patch. Up close, its grey feathers are intricately patterned with fine stripes and speckles, giving it a refined and detailed appearance.
The Great Crested Grebe is a graceful and charming waterbird, easily recognised by its ornate head plumes. Once nearly driven to extinction in the UK due to demand for its decorative feathers, the species has since made a recovery. Rather than flying, these birds prefer to dive – both to catch food and to evade danger.
Grey herons are unmistakable birds – tall and elegant, with long legs, a sharp beak, and striking grey, black, and white plumage. They nest in small colonies in the treetops at undisturbed locations within Windsor Great Park, and can be seen hunting around lakes, meadows and parkland.
The Little Egret is a small, elegant white heron distinguished by its delicate plumes on the crest, back, and chest, along with black legs, a slender black bill, and striking yellow feet. It began appearing in notable numbers in the UK in 1989 and successfully bred for the first time in Dorset in 1996.
The Little Grebe is a compact, rounded waterbird, often recognised by its characteristically fluffy-looking rear. It frequently dives when startled, resurfacing discreetly some distance away. It lives on ponds like Ox Pond and Rapley Lake, where there is plenty of food and tall reeds for cover and shelter.
The Mallard is a large, robust duck with a long body and a broad bill. Males are easily recognised by their glossy green heads, yellow bills, rich purple-brown chests, and grey bodies. Females, in contrast, are mostly brown with orange bills. Mallards are widespread across the UK, breeding throughout both summer and winter wherever suitable wetland habitats exist—though they are less common in upland areas.
The male Mandarin Duck is renowned for its striking and ornate plumage. It is fairly common at Windsor, favouring lakes and ponds with trees around the banks. Look out for them at Virginia Water, Johnson’s Pond and Wick Pond. In the spring they nest in holes up in our old oak trees.
Moorhens have a mostly blackish appearance, highlighted by a distinctive red and yellow beak and green legs. On closer inspection, their back and wings are a dark brown, while their belly shows a bluish-black tone. They also feature striking white stripes along their flanks.
During winter and spring, male Pochards are easily recognisable by their striking appearance: a rich reddish-brown head, black breast and tail, and a pale grey body. In contrast, females are more subtly coloured, with brown plumage, a greyish body, and pale cheeks, making them harder to distinguish from similar species.
Shovelers are dabbling ducks known for their distinctive, broad, spatula-shaped bills. Males feature dark green heads, white chests, and rich chestnut-coloured flanks, while females are mottled brown. In flight, both sexes display striking patches of pale blue and green on their wings.
Teals are small dabbling ducks. The males are easily recognised by their chestnut-coloured heads, striking green eye patches, speckled chests, grey flanks, and black-and-yellow tails. Females are mottled brown, offering more subdued camouflage. In flight, both sexes display vivid green wing patches, known as speculums.
The Tufted Duck is a medium-sized diving bird, slightly smaller than a Mallard. It features a distinctive black head, neck, chest, and back, contrasted by striking white flanks. A small crest adorns its head, and its bright yellow eyes stand out. In flight, it displays a prominent white stripe across the back of its wings.
