Small but established populations are now present in many areas originally from farming stock.
East Norfolk is a good site, and around Broad Chalke in Wiltshire, they are widespread in many areas but in small numbers.
Increasing numbers are being released for shooting in Norfolk and Berkshire in particular, There is an established large breeding population in North east Norfolk.
Red Legged Partridge
- Alectoris rufa
Released for shooting from european stock, they are very common and are still released in large numbers every year.
Released in very large numbers for shooting for several hundred years it is now Widespread and common in all farmland and woodland throught the UK. There are two common forms, one with a white ring around the neck and one without.
Mandarin Duck
- Aix galericulata
Originally from the far east, this population had grown to well over 3000 birds and is now a significant part of the world population.
Top sites are Connaught Water, Cannop Ponds and Stockgrove Country Park but they are present at many sites in the south and midlands and they are expanding, and can be seen in Manchester and other Northern areas.
Red Crested Pochard
- Netta rufina
There is now an established population derived from collection escapes the numbers are small but increasing.
Birds are regularly seen at Stockers Lake, Baston & Langtoft Gravel Pits and Cotswold water park and large reservoirs in the south east regularly attract them.
Muscovy Duck
- Cairina moschata
Escaped from farm stock, they are spreading along the waterways from Ely.
Ely is the stronghold and they can easily be found anywhere along the river. Another sizeable population exists in Buckfastleigh, Devon. But small populations exist in several other areas.
Ruddy Duck
- Oxyura jamaicensis
Originally escaped from collections, they are now widespread, although reduced in number due to the DEFRA's eradication policy. There are some safe havens from the guns and a few still survive.
Good sites are reservoirs in the south.
Canada Goose
- Branta canadensis
Introduced into the UK in the 1600's and were common in collections and have spread from there. They are now present throught the UK.
They are present in all waterways in large numbers.
Greylag Goose
- Anser anser
Present in large numbers throught most of the UK (a natural population occurs in Scotland) derived from the Scottish stock.
Most water bodies have a population.
Egyptian Goose
- Alopochen aegyptiaca
Introduced into parks in Norfolk from where they have escaped and they are now widespread in East Anglia and they are spreading west.
They are easily found in the Cley and Holkham areas of Norfolk and most of East Anglia.
Snow Goose
- Chen caerulescens
A large flock of upto 100 birds range widely throught England, wintering on many of the large reservoirs particularly Farmoor in Oxfordshire. Scattered individuals can be found almost anywhere.
A small population exists on the islands of Mull and Coll derived from a collection in the area, these have been present from their escape in the 1960's and number 60-70 birds.
Farmoor in Winter is the best site but they wander widely round the country.
Barnacle Goose
- Branta leucopsis
These are well established in Suffolk, Herts/Bucks and Cumbria all derived from escaped birds and these birds usually have individials from other species which have escaped. Another population on the humber estuary area , they developed from a pair of injured birds given by the Humber Wildfowl Refuge warden to a local farmer who lives on the foreshore at Whitton in 1975, initially breeding in his yard, this population increased to 33 individuals birds at which stage they began to wanderpopulation was 468 in Oct 2008.
Benacre or Minsmere (Winter) are the best sites but they can be found very widely.
Bar headed Goose
- Anser indicus
A small population exists in Bucks.
Black Swan
- Cygnus atratus
Escaped from collections there are good numbers and they have bred sporadically as the numbers are quite dispersed but the population is growing. Devon and Cornwall have good numbers but they can be found almost anywhere.
Monk Parakeet
- Myiopsitta monachus
A small population lives in Borehamwood, originally escaped from an avairy they now breed in the area and number over 40-50 birds. Another population at mudchute park number 20-30 birds and there is a third population of about 15 birds elsewhere in London.
Only present at three sites primarily at Mudchute park and in Borehamwood, they can be seen over large parts of the town.
Ring Necked Parakeet
- Psittacula krameri
Escaped cage birds in the London area have benefited from mild winters, and bird tables offering plenty of food, there are now numerous in the southeast and the population is spreading.
The largest site is the Esher rugby club roost (not in Esher though) where several thousand birds roost in the winter months has now gone as the trees were removed, several smaller roost exist in the area, Wormwood Scrubs is one of the better ones.
Little Owl
- Athene noctua
Birds were released in the early 1900's from a european population, they have become widespread and common in the England and Wales.
They are present in most farmland in England and Wales and are visible by day.
Eagle Owl
- Bubo bubo
Approx. 20 pairs are now breeding in the UK mostly Scotland and the North of England. All are derived originally from escaped birds but wild bred birds are now in the population, which has been increasing for the last 10 years.
Sites are occasionally made public for viewing.
Feral Pigeon
- Columba livia
Birds are descended from the Rock Dove, kept for food and laterly for racing/showing there is a large colour variation from the wild ancestor. There is a massive population in all urban areas with birds easy to find.
Feral Duck
- Anas platyrhynchus
Common types are a white Aylesbury duck or peking ducks. Other types are mallard type birds like Rouen Clair, swedish or Rouen and other similar breeds, and loads of hybrids. All these are easily found on most bodies of water.
Feral Goose
- Anser anser
Birds are descended from domesticated greylag stock and frequently interbreed, most are white, they are common and widespread, found with greylag flocks and in all urban areas with birds easy to find.
Other species
The following species have very small populations and are not yet considered fully established, but have CONFIRMED breeding.
Red Breasted Goose - Branta ruficollis
With plenty of escapes it was bound to happen, the first confirmed breeding was in Suffolk in 2010 but numbers are low.
Indian Peafowl - Pavo cristatus
Commonly kept in may collections, particularly in parks and stately homes where they are allowed to roam freely and therefore easily escape, they have nested in the wild, although in small numbers and their numbers are small.
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa
Small numbers are present and small colonies have existed but they seem to struggle in the UK and the population remains small and scattered.
Alexandrine Parakeet - Psittacula eupatria
Small numbers are present in London with occasionals elsewhere but numbers are very low.
Hawaiian goose - Branta sandvicensis
Escaped from collections they can be encountered anywhere but are scarce, but have bred.
Swan Goose - Anser cygnoides
Escaped from farms it easily forms hybrids and these can be encountered anywhere, pure birds are scarce.
Hybrids can be found at Grafham water.
Emperor Goose - Anser canagicus
A small population with occasional breeding exists in Cumbria.
Ruddy Shelduck - Tadorna ferruginea
Scattered individuals wander widely with occasional breeding.
Lesser White Fronted Goose - Anser erythropus
Small numbers of escaped birds are widespread but have bred.
Ross's Goose - Anser rossii
Small numbers of escaped birds are widespread but have bred.
Magellan Goose - Chloephaga picta
Small numbers of escaped birds are widespread but have bred.
Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera
Small numbers of escaped birds have bred particularly in the south.
Black Crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
The Great Witching Population is small but still present in the Wensum Valley, other populations have not disappeared.
Silver Pheasant - Lophura nycthemera
Small numbers in Norfolk and Sussex.
Iberian Azure Winged Magpie - Cyanopica cyana
Small numbers escaped from Paington zoo and persisted for several years but have now disappeared.
Whooper Swan - Cygnus cygnus
A small feral population is present in the Bucks/Beds/Herts area.
Jungle Fowl - Gallus gallus
Very commonly kept and frequently escape and can easily be found almost anywhere.
Harris`s Hawk - Parabuteo unicinctus
A pair of escaped nested and laid eggs near to the River Ribble in Lancashire in April 2008.
Red Winged Laughing Thrush - Garrulax formosus
Confirmed breeding on the Isle of Man but numbers are small and reports erratic and it is not know if they are still present.
Probable Extinct Species
Budgerigar - Melopsittacus undulatus
In 1969, 4 pairs of budgerigars were deliberately
released on Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly. Six more pairs of budgerigars
were deliberately released on Tresco in 1970.
Food and nest boxes were provided for the birds,
and within 5 years the population consisted of 100
birds, including 35 breeding pairs. However, the
resident at Tresco who had provided food for the
birds moved from the island in 1975 and thereafter
the population crashed and by 1977 the population
had completely vanished.
Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus
A small population of used to breed on Tresco and one in Suffolk but both have now disappeared.
Rock Partridge - Alectoris graeca
Released for hunting in small numbers this was stopped in 1992 and there have been no sightings for several years.
Chukar - Alectoris chukar
Released for hunting in reasonable numbers this was stopped in 1992 and there have been no sightings for several years.
Rosy-faced Lovebird - Agapornis roseicollis
Breeding is confirmed in Scotland where there was a small population but they seem to have died out.
Blue-crowned Parakeet - Aratinga acuticaudata
Confirmed breeding in London where a small population seems to have died out.
