Exmoor Pony

Equus ferus caballus

Family: Equidae

Habitat: Grasslands, woodland and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Height 11.1-12.3 hands, 114-130 cm (45-51 in).

Food: Grass.

Season: All year round.

A study of morphological characteristics indicates that the Exmoor Pony has an extremely close resemblance to the Tarpan (Equus ferus ferus), also known as the Eurasian Wild Horse, which is an extinct subspecies of wild horse.

Hazel Dormouse

Muscardinus avellanarius

Family: Gliridae (Dormice)

Habitat: Woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Mainly hazelnuts but also berries, hornbeam and blackthorn fruit, leaf buds, flowers, and insects such as aphids and caterpillars.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A nocturnal arboreal mammal that looks for food among the branches of trees. In winter it hibernates in nests on the ground.

Wood Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

Family: Muridae (Rats, Mice and Relatives)

Habitat: Farmland, grasslands and woodland.

Size: Length 90 mm (3.5 in).

Food: Seeds, particularly of oak, beech, ash, lime, hawthorn and sycamore. Berries, fruits and roots. Snails and insects.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Although they do not hibernate, during severe winter seasons they fall into a torpor - a state of decreased physiological activity.

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes crucigera

Family: Canidae

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, woodland, heathland, grassland, sand dunes and sea cliffs.

Size: Height 35-50 cm (14-20 in). Length 45-90 cm (18-35 in). Tail 30-56 cm (12-22 in).

Food: Rodents, rabbits, birds, fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and worms.

Sound: Vocal range of five octaves. Various barks and screams.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Stoat

Mustela erminea

Family: Mustelidae

Habitat: Coastal, farmland, grasslands, heathlands and woodland.

Size: Length 16-32 cm. Weight 90 - 445 g

Food: Rabbits, rodents, small birds, fish, shrews, amphibians, lizards, and insects.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A very skilful tree climber that can descend a trunk headfirst.

Least Weasel

Mustela nivalis

Family: Mustelidae

Habitat: Grassland, woodland and gardens and parks.

Size: Length 11.4-20.4 cm (4.5-8.0 in) ♀. 13.0-26.0 cm (5-10 in). ♂

Food: Small rodents, occasionally frogs, fish, small birds and bird eggs.

Sound: Hiss (alarmed), bark, shriek and squeal.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

The female raises its kits without help from the male.

Grey Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Family: Sciuridae

Habitat: Woodland and gardens and parks.

Size: Length 23-30 cm (9.1-11.8 in). Tail 19-25 cm (7.5-9.8 in).

Food: Tree bark, buds, berries, seeds, acorns, walnuts, and other nuts, and fungi.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Each grey squirrel makes several thousand small caches of hidden food every summer. Their nests or dreys are made of twigs and leaves often in the forks of trees. They are crepuscular and do not hibernate.

Badger

Meles meles

Family: Mustelidae

Habitat: Woodland and scrub.

Food: Earthworms, insects, fruit, carrion, cereals and fruit.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Badgers are sociable forming groups of around six adults. They are burrowing animals and construct complicated setts which are passed down the generations. They typically emerge late afternoon.

Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

Family: Cervidae (Deer)

Habitat: Grasslands and woodland.

Size: Length of 95-135 cm (3.1-4.4 ft).

Food: Grass, leaves, berries, and young shoots.

Sound: ♂ Bark and a low grunting.♀ Bark and pheep.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Roe deer are crepuscular, very quick and graceful. They have a lifespan of 10 years.

Sika Deer

Cervus nippon

Family: Cervidae (Deer)

Habitat: Woodland and grassland.

Size: Height (shoulder) ♀ 50-90 cm ( 20-35 in ). ♂ 70-95 cm (28-37 in). Antlers 28-45 cm (11-18 in).

Food: Grass.

Sound: ♂ Piercing screems.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Native to much of East Asia, sika were introduced to Great Britain in 1860.

Reeves's Muntjac Deer

Muntiacus reevesi

Family: Cervidae (Deer)

Habitat: Grassland and woodland.

Size: Height (shoulder) ♀ 50 cm ( 20 in ). Antlers 10 cm (4 in).

Food: Herbs, blossoms, succulent shoots, grasses and nuts.

Sound: Loud bark.

Season: All year round.

Also called the barking deer sika are native tosouth eastern china and Taiwan. They were introduced to Great Britain (Woburn Abbey) in the early 20th century. Deliberate releases and escapes led to the wild population.

Fallow Deer

Dama dama

Family: Cervidae (Deer)

Habitat: Grasslands, lowland mixed deciduous, wood-pasture and parkland and woodland clearings and edges.

Food: Grass.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Fallow deer were introduced into southern England in the 1st century AD by the Romans. The male deer is a buck and the female deer a doe. Only the male has antlers. Fallow deer can run at 30 mph and jump almost six foot high.

Buzzard

Buteo buteo

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles)

Habitat: Coastal, farmland, grassland, heathland and woodland.

Size: Length 40-58 cm (16-23 in). Wingspan 109-136 cm (43-54 in).

Food: Small mammals, birds, carrion, earthworms and large insects.

Voice: Cat like mewing.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Takes off with distinctive slow wing beats, often circling or hovering. Frequently uses fence posts or similar as look-outs.

Yellowhammer

Emberiza citrinella

Family: Emberizidae (Buntings)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands, hedgerows and scrub.

Size: Length 16-16.5 cm (6.3-6.5 in).Wingspan 23-29.5 cm (9.1-11.6 in).

Food: Seeds and insects.

Voice: Twick call and tzee-tzee-tzee-tzooo.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Rapid population decline has lead to a red status in the UK.

Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Family: Caprimulgidae (Nightjars)

Habitat: Heathlands, lowland dry heath, upland dry heath and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 24.5-28 cm (9.6-11.0 in). Wingspan 52-59 cm (20-23 in).

Food: Insects - moths, beetles, mantises, dragonflies and flies.

Voice: Churring song.

Season: Early April to late September.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Mostly nocturnal.

Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, rivers and streams, woodland, hedgerows, lowland mixed deciduous, upland birchwoods, upland oakwood and deciduous woods.

Size: Length 13-14.5 cm (5.1- 5.7 in).

Food: Mainly insects but also spiders, worms and berries.

Voice: Call: too-eet. Song: brief melodious, ending rattle.

Season: Early April to late September.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola

Family: Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and allies)

Habitat: Woodland, lowland mixed deciduous and deciduous woods.

Size: Length 33-38 cm (13-15 in). Wingspan 55-65 cm (22-26 in).

Food: Worms, beetles, spiders, caterpillars, fly larvae and small snails.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Crepuscular, spending most of the day in dense cover.

Stonechat

Saxicola rubicola

Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Habitat: Coastal, heathlands and coniferous woods.

Food: Invertebrates, seeds and fruit such as blackberries.

Voice: Weest tack tack and warble song.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles)

Habitat: Coastal, farmland, heathland and marsh.

Size: Length 41-52 cm (16-20 in) long. Wingspan 97-122 cm (38-48 in).

Food: Small mammals (95 percent), birds (5 percent.

Voice: ♀ whistled piih-eh when receiving food from ♂, alarm call chit-it-it-it-it-et-it. ♂ chek-chek-chek, with bouncing chuk-uk-uk-uk in display.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

In the United Kingdom populations are in a critical condition.

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

Family: Turdidae (Thrushes)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, grasslands, marsh, woodland and hedgerows.

Size: Length 25 cm (9.8 in).

Food: Molluscs, insects, earthworms, berries, grain and seeds.

Voice: Harsh tsak tsak tsuk.

Season: All year round. Spring and autumn during migration.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Slow and direct flight.

Redwing

Turdus iliacus

Family: Turdidae (Thrushes)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands, orchards, woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Berries and worms.

Voice: ♂ Varied short song. Whistling flight call.

Season: Early September to early May. A few pairs nest.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Named after its red underwing, it is the UK's smallest true thrush. The sexes are similar. The male has a varied short song and whistling flight call. Forms loose flocks of 10 to 200 plus.

Brambling

Fringilla montifringilla

Family: Motacillidae (Pipits and wagtails)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks and woodland.

Food: Seeds in winter, insects in summer.

Season: Early September to late June.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A migratory bird it forms large flocks of sometimes millions in the winter. It builds its nest in a tree fork camouflaging it with moss or lichen.

Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos

Family: Turdidae (Thrushes)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Worms, snails and fruit.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

This species is listed on the Red list by the RSPB due to a rapid decline in numbers particularly in the last 25 years.It is omnivorous and uses a stone on which to break the shells of snails. Spends much time running, stopping rummaging for food in the leaf-letter.

Lesser Redpoll

Acanthis cabaret

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Gardens and parks and woodland.

Size: Length 11.5-12.5 cm (4.5-4.9 in). Wingspan 20-22.5 centimetres (7.9-8.9 in).

Food: Seeds, particularly of birch and alder, plus plants like willowherb and sorrel.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Siskin

Spinus spinus

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland, native pine woods and coniferous woods.

Food: Seeds of conifer, alders and birch, and insects.

Voice: Continuous twittering.

Season: All year round. Winters in some areas.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A small lively finch. Acrobatic feeder that often hangs upside down. Rapid bounding flight.

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Family: Emberizidae (Buntings)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, wetlands and freshwaters and reedbeds.

Size: Length 13.5-15.5 cm.

Food: Seeds and insects.

Voice: Seep. Call see-you.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Male sings usually perched on top of vegetation.

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Habitat: Gardens and parks and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 14.5 cm (5.7 in).

Food: Flying insects and non-flying insects.

Voice: High pitched tssssseeeeeppppp.

Season: Late April to mid September.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur

Family: Columbidae (Pigeons and doves)

Habitat: Hedgerows and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Length 24-29 cm (9.4-11.4 in). Wingspan 47-55 cm (19-22 in).

Food: Seeds.

Season: Late April to late September.

IUCN Conservation Status: Threatened - Vulnerable

Cuckoo

Cuculus canorus

Family: Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Habitat: Grasslands and woodland.

Size: Length 32-34 cm (13 in) plus tail 13-15 cm (5.1-5.9 in). Wingspan 55-60 centimetres (22-24 in).

Food: Insects, especially hairy caterpillars.

Voice: Cuck-oo repeated.

Season: Early March to late August.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species (over 100).

Meadow Pipit

Anthus pratensis

Family: Motacillidae (Pipits and wagtails)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, grasslands, uplands and coastal grazing marsh.

Size: Length 14.5-15 cm (5.7-5.9 in).

Food: Insects: flies, beetles and moths. Spiders. Seeds and berries.

Voice: Call: tseep. Song: descending trill.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Called a pipit after its call note. In the UK sometimes called the mippit.

Willow Warbler

Phylloscopus trochilus

Family: Phylloscopidae (Leaf and wing warblers)

Habitat: Woodland, scrub and upland birchwoods.

Size: Length 11-12.5 cm (4.3-4.9 in).

Food: Small insects, spiders, fruit and berries.

Voice: Repetitive descending whistle. Hoo-eet call.

Season: Early April to late September. April till September.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Migrating up to 12,000 km, one of the longest migrations of any for a bird of its size.

Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Family: Phylloscopidae (Leaf and wing warblers)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Insects from trees and flight.

Voice: Sharp series of chiff chaff sounds. Hoo-eet call.

Season: All year round. Migrants late March to September.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Olive green warbler that gets its name from its distinctive chiff chaff song. The female builds a domed nest on or near the ground.

Whitethroat

Sylvia communis

Family: Sylviidae (Warblers and allies)

Habitat: Heathlands and woodland.

Food: Insects, berries and fruit.

Voice: Wed-wed or woid-woid. Harsh tschack.

Season: Early April to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Winters in tropical Africa, Arabia, and Pakistan.

Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Family: Sylviidae (Warblers and allies)

Habitat: Gardens and parks and woodland.

Food: Insects and berries.

Voice: Melodious warble. Sharp tack call.

Season: Early April to late October. Some winter in the UK.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Also known as northern nightingales because of their wonderful melodious song.

Lesser Whitethroat

Sylvia curruca

Family: Sylviidae (Warblers and allies)

Habitat: Hedgerows and scrub.

Food: Insects, fruit and berries.

Season: Early April to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Builds its nest in low shrub or brambles.

Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands and beaches and shorelines.

Food: Insects and larvae.

Voice: Call: chack. Song: crackly whistle.

Season: Early March to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Family: Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

Habitat: Lakes and reservoirs, ponds, rivers and streams, estuaries, chalk streams, reedbeds and upland flushes, fens and swamps.

Size: Length 16 centimetres (6.3 in). Wingspan 25 cm (9.8 in).

Food: Fish and aquatic insects.

Voice: Very distinctive high-pitched whistles of tzee or tzee-tee.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Flight is fast, direct and usually low over water.

Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

Family: Motacillidae (Pipits and wagtails)

Habitat: Marsh, meadows, rivers and streams and towns and gardens.

Food: Insects.

Voice: Trilling song. Chee-seek call.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Frequently wags its tail hence the name.

Raven

Corvus corax

Family: Corvidae (Crows)

Habitat: Coastal, grasslands and woodland.

Size: Length 63 cm (25 in).

Food: Omnivorous - carrion, cereal grains, berries and fruit.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Mated pairs travel together and young birds form flocks.

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

Family: Falconidae (Falcons and allies)

Habitat: Farmland, woodland, grassland and heathland.

Size: Length 32-39 cm (13-15 in). Wingspan 65-82 cm (26-32 in).

Food: Small mammals and birds.

Voice: Piercing Kee-kee-kee.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Kestrels hover at a height of about 10-20 metres either by flying into the wind or by soaring using ridge lift before swooping down on their prey.

Hobby

Falco subbuteo

Family: Falconidae (Falcons and allies)

Habitat: Savanna, farmland, heathlands, marsh and wetlands and freshwaters.

Size: Length 29-36 cm (11-14 in). Wingspan 74-84 cm (29-33 in). Weight. 175-285 g (6.2-10.1 oz)

Food: Insects, small birds and bats.

Season: Early April to late October.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Hobbies nest in old nests of crows and other birds.

Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands and woodland.

Food: Mainly small birds. Sometimes bats.

Voice: Sharp keck-keck-keck.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Males fly up and dive down again to impress females. The female is notably bigger than the male and so can catch larger prey.

Red Kite

Milvus milvus

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles)

Habitat: Farmland, woodland, grassland and gardens and parks.

Size: Length 60-70 cm (24-28 in). Wingspan 175-179 cm (69-70 in).

Food: Small mammals such as mice, voles, shrews, young hares, rabbits, carrion, reptiles, amphibians and earthworms.

Voice: A very distinctive and memorable pipe whistle rising and falling in pitch: peee-ooo, pee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo.

Season: All year round. All year round.

Soaring and gliding flight, continually turning its long-forked tail.

Tawny Owl

Strix aluco

Family: Strigidae (True owls)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland, lowland mixed deciduous, coniferous woods and deciduous woods.

Size: Length 37-46 cm (15-18 in). Wingspan 81-105 cm (32-41 in)

Food: Small mammals and rodents, small birds, frogs, fish, insects and worms.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

Family: Paridae (Tits)

Habitat: Woodland, gardens and parks and hedgerows.

Size: Length 12 cm (4.7 in) Wingspan 18 cm (7.1 in).

Food: Insects, caterpillars, seeds and nuts.

Voice: Tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee-sit. Scolding churr.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Frequently family flocks join up with other tits in the search for food. Acrobatic feeders. They usually nest in tree holes.

Marsh Tit

Poecile palustris

Family: Paridae (Tits)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland and deciduous woods.

Size: Length 12 cm (4.7 in).

Food: Insects and seeds.

Voice: Call: (sneeze-like) pitchoo. Song: (bell-like) pitchawee-oo.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

They have a well developed hippocampus (memory part of brain) which they use to get seeds they have hidden.

Nuthatch

Sitta europaea

Family: Sittidae (Nuthatches)

Habitat: Woodland and gardens and parks.

Size: Length 14 cm (5.5 in). Wingspan 22.5-27 cm (8.9-10.6 in).

Food: Insects, hazel nuts, acorns and other nuts and seeds.

Voice: Distinctive rising whistle too-wee, too-wee.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Typically seen on the sides of tree trunks and underside of branches searching for food.

Treecreeper

Certhia familiaris

Family: Certhiidae (Treecreepers)

Habitat: Woodland.

Size: Length 12.5 cm (4.9 in).

Food: Insects, spiders and seeds.

Voice: Sit. Tsree. ♂ Srrih, srrih.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Insectivorous, it hops mouse-like up a vertical trunk looking for food.

Goldcrest

Regulus regulus

Family: Regulidae (Kinglets)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland and native pine woods.

Size: Length 8.5-9.5 cm (3.3-3.7 in). Wingspan 13.5-15.5 cm (5.3-6.1 in).

Food: Spiders, moth eggs and other small insect food.

Voice: High-pitched tseee.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Goldcrests are the smallest bird in Europe.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and allies)

Habitat: Gardens and parks and woodland.

Food: Insects, nuts and seeds.

Voice: Call sharp kik, kik. Drumming.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Jerky actions. Hops up trees rather than climbs. Easy and undulated flight.

Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis

Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and allies)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands, heathlands and woodland.

Food: Ants.

Voice: Distinctive ringing laugh yah, yah, yah.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Green woodpeckers spend a lot of time eating ants on the ground. They breed in oval holes they peck in dead wood.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos minor

Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and allies)

Habitat: Gardens and parks and woodland.

Food: Ants.

Voice: Distinctive high-pitched kee, kee, kee.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Spends much time searching for larvae, spiders and wood-boring insects on smaller branches and in the tops of trees.

Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, towns and gardens, woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Seeds, buds and insects.

Voice: Sadwhistling peeeuu. Quiet warble song.

Season: All year round. All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Also called the common bullfinch it builds its nest in a large bush.

Greenfinch

Chloris chloris

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, orchards, woodland and hedgerows.

Food: Seeds, insects. and berries.

Voice: Call: dweeee. Song: trilling twitters with occasional wheeze.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Forms large flocks outside the breeding season. The male has a butterfly display flight.

Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, heathlands and orchards.

Size: Length 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 in). Wingspan 21-25 cm (8.3-9.8 in).

Food: Seeds and insects in the summer.

Voice: Call: sharp dee dee lit. Song: tinkling jingle.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Linnet

Carduelis cannabina

Family: Fringillidae (Finches)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands, heathlands, coastal grazing marsh, hedgerows and mixed scrub.

Food: Seeds from most arable weeds and insects.

Voice: Melodious song with fast trills and twitters.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

It has an undulating flight and can form large flocks outside the breeding season.

Adder

Vipera berus

Family: Viperidae

Habitat: Heathlands, meadows, woodland, hedgerows, lowland calcareous grassland and dune heath.

Size: Length 60 cm (24 in).

Food: Small mammals, birds, lizards, amphibians and slow worms.

Season: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Adders are not usually aggressive, tending to be rather timid and biting only when cornered or alarmed. The venom toxicity is relatively low however there have been fatalities.

Purple Emperor

Apatura iris

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Woodland, deciduous woods and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Wingspan 70-92 mm. (2.8-3.6 In).

Food: Adults - Oak honeydew, dung, urine and animal carcasses. Caterpillars - Willows and poplars - especially aspen.

Flight: Early May to late September.

Males occasional fly in combat but more often pursue other insects, especially purple hairstreaks.

Silver-studded Blue

Plebejus argus

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Grasslands and heathlands.

Size: Length 14 mm (0.6 in)

Food: Gorse, other legumes and heathers.

Flight: Early May to late September.

Named after the light-blue reflective scales on the underside.

The females are brown.

Small Heath

Coenonympha pamphilus

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Grasslands, heathlands, meadows and steppes.

Size: Length 14-20 mm (0.6-0.8 In).

Food: Grasses notably sheep's fescue and rough meadow grass (Poa trivialis).

Flight: Early April to late October. April to October.

The caterpillar is of a clear green colour.

Small Copper

Lycaena phlaeas

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Grassland, heathland, woodland and lowland calcareous grassland.

Size: Length 14 mm (0.6 in).

Food: Sorrels and docks.

Flight: Early February to late November. In two or three broods.

A very active little butterfly that moves from plant to plant feeding and occasionally basking in the sunlight. Males are very territorial.

Holly Blue

Celastrina argiolus

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Hedgerows, gardens, churchyards, woodland, parks.

Size: Length 16 mm.

Food: Mainly holly and ivy. Sometimes spindle, dogwood and heathers.

Flight: Early April to late September.

Winter is passed as a pupa. The caterpillars are usually green, but some have pink stripes.

Brimstone

Gonepteryx rhamni

Family: Pieridae (Yellows-and-Whites)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland and lowland calcareous grassland.

Size: Length 30 mm (1.2 in).

Food: Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus), Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and many for nectar.

Flight: Early March to late September.

Wings are a perfect leaf shape and it is believed the yellow of the male led to it being called butter-coloured fly from which came butterfly.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Argynnis paphia

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Woodland, hedgerows and scrub.

Size: Length 35 mm (1.4 in).

Food: Violets (Viola).

Flight: Early June to late September.

Rapid gliding twisted flight.

Named after the beautiful streaks of silver on the underside of the wings.

White Admiral

Limenitis camilla

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Woodland.

Size: Length 30 mm (1.2 in)

Food: Bramble blossom, honeydew and honeysuckle (Lonicera).

Flight: Early June to late August.

Underside of wings are orange brown. Glides elegantly and basks in dappled shade.

Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, meadows, coastal and sea cliffs.

Size: Length 30 mm (1.2 in.) Wingspan ♀ 70-78 mm (2.8-3.1 In.). ♂ 64-72 mm (2.5-2.8 In.)

Food: Stinging nettle and ivy.

Flight: Early May to late October.

Both a resident and a migrant butterfly.

Peacock

Aglais io

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands, meadows and woodland.

Size: Length 30 mm.

Food: Stinging nettles. Buddleia, willows, dandelions, wild marjoram, danewort, hemp agrimony, and clover.

Flight: Early June to late September. March after hibernation.

Fast flying butterfly. The eye spots on its wings scare predators.

Comma

Polygonia c-album

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Woodland, gardens and parks and hedgerows.

Size: Length 24 mm. Wingspan 50-64 mm.

Food: Hops, stinging nettle and elm.

Flight: Early April to late September.

The comma is given its name by a white comma shaped mark on the underside of its hind wing.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Boloria selene

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

Habitat: Coastal, dune slacks, grassland, woodland and sand dunes.

Size: Length 20 mm (0.8 In).

Food: Violets (Viola).

Flight: Early May to late August. May till August.

The male has a rapid gliding flight.

Named after the series of pearl shaped spots on the edge of the underside of the hindwing.

Common Blue

Polyommatus icarus

Family: Lycaenidae (Blue)

Habitat: Farmland, gardens and parks, grassland, heathland, meadows and orchards.

Size: Length 17 mm (0.7 in). Wingspan 29-36 mm (1.1-1.4 in).

Food: Common bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and other legumes.

Flight: Early April to late October.

Females are dark brown with bright orange spots near the wing tips. Both male and female have black and white borders.

Black Darter

Sympetrum danae

Family: Libellulidae (Chasers, Skimmers and Darters)

Habitat: Lakes and reservoirs, ponds and rivers and streams.

Size: Length 29-34 mm (1.1-1.3 in).

Food: Aerial insects.

Flight: Early June to late October.

Perches on vegetation from which it pursues passing insects.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Cordulegaster boltonii

Family: Cordulegastridae (Golden-ringed Dragonflies)

Habitat: Lakes and reservoirs, ponds, heathland and rivers and streams.

Size: Length 74 mm (3 in) ♂. 84 mm (3.3 in)♀. Wingspan 101 mm (4 in).

Food: Aerial insects including bumble bees and butterflies.

Flight: Early May to late October.

Breeds in acidic rivers and streams.

Elephant Hawk Moth

Deilephila elpenor

Family: Sphingidae (hawk, sphinx and hornworms)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, woodland and scrub.

Food: Honeysuckles (Lonicera) and petunias.Caterpillar likes willowherb (Epilobium), bedstraw (Galium) and fuchsias.

Flight: Early May to late July.

An exceptionally beautiful moth. The caterpillar has a shorttrunk, hence the name.

Seven-spot Ladybird

Coccinella septempunctata

Family: Coccinellidae (Ladybirds)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, meadows, arable field margins, hedgerows and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: 7.6 to 10.0 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in).

Food: Mainly Aphids also Thysanoptera, Aleyrodidae, larvae of Psyllidae and Cicadellidae, some beetle and butterfly eggs and larvae.

Season: All year round.

Their distinctive spots and attractive colours apparently make them unappealing to predators. They secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste.

Common Dog-violet

Viola riviniana

Family: Violaceae (Violets)

Habitat: Farmland, meadows, woodland, hedgerows and rocky habitats.

Size: Height 15 cm (5.9 in). Flower width 15-20 mm (0.6-0.8 in).

Scent: None.

Flowering Period: Early April to late June.

Bell Heather

Erica cinerea

Family: Ericaceae

Habitat: Heathlands, sand dune slacks, sand dunes and woodland clearings and edges.

Size: Height 1560 cm (5.9-23.6 in). Leaves 48 mm (0.16-0.31 in).

Flowering Period: All year round.

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Bell heather is a low spreading shrub and a source of heather honey. Cinerea means ash coloured.

Silver Birch

Betula pendula

Family: Betulaceae (Birch)

Habitat: Gardens and parks, grasslands, towns and gardens, woodland, upland birchwoods and wood-pasture and parkland.

Flowering Period: All year round.

Ahardy medium-sized deciduous tree named after its silvery-white peeling bark. The tree's open canopy enables plenty of light to reach the ground for a variety of mosses, grasses and flowering plants to grow which in turn attract insects. Birds often found in birch woodland include the chaffinch, tree pipit, willow warbler, nightingale, robin, woodcock, redpoll and green woodpecker.