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 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.
The Mistle Thrush is a pale, black-spotted thrush – large and powerful. It stands boldly upright and bounds across the ground. In flight, it has long wings and its tail has whitish edges.
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.
The Nuthatch is a striking woodland bird often seen in Windsor Estate’s mature trees. Recognisable by its blue-grey back, chestnut flanks, and sharp bill, it is unique in its ability to climb down tree trunks headfirst. Feeding on insects, seeds, and nuts, it thrives in the Estate’s mixed woodland and parkland. Its agile movements and loud, ringing calls add character to Windsor’s rich birdlife throughout the year.
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.
The common Raven is a large all-black bird, a member of the crow family. It is massive – the biggest member of the crow family. Look for its large bill and long wings. In flight, it shows a diamond-shaped tail.
This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world’s longest-running protection programmes.
The Redwing is a small thrush and a regular winter visitor to the Windsor Estate, often seen in flocks across open fields and berry-rich hedgerows. Its creamy eye stripe and orange-red flanks make it easy to identify. An omnivorous bird, it feeds on berries during colder months and switches to insects and earthworms when conditions allow, making the estate’s varied habitats ideal for its seasonal needs.
The UK’s only naturalised parrot, this exotic bird is common across Windsor Great Park. It roosts and nests in tree holes, and may be a problem for other hole dwelling species like bats, woodpeckers and owls. In winter they can form large flocks feeding on buds and berries, such as large hawthorn bushes in the Deer Park.
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.
The Song Thrush is a familiar resident of the Windsor Estate, celebrated for its rich, repetitive song that echoes through woodlands and gardens. Brown above with a speckled breast, it thrives in the Estate’s mixed habitats, feeding on snails, worms, and berries.
The Tawny Owl, Britain’s most common owl, is a nocturnal resident of Windsor Estate’s ancient woodlands and parkland. Known for its haunting “hoo-hoo” call, it roosts in tree cavities by day and hunts at night, feeding on small mammals, birds, and insects. The Estate’s mix of mature trees and open spaces provides perfect conditions for this secretive predator.
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 Treecreeper is a small, very active bird that lives in trees. It has a long, slender, downcurved bill, which it uses to pluck insects from underneath bark. It’s speckly brown above and mainly white below. It breeds in the UK and is resident here.
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.
