Ground nesting birds Fact File

This striking bird, recognisable by its long black crest, favours farmland for nesting. In spring, males perform eye-catching flying displays to attract females. You may hear its distinctive “peewit” call before you see it.

This small songbird favours moorland and grassland, finding space within dense vegetation to make its cup-shaped nest. Whilst only small, the males make themselves known by singing loudly and performing a parachute display flight.  

This rare bird of prey is suited to upland moors and makes its nest amongst areas of dense heather. Distinguished by their white rump, they fly low across the moors preying on small birds and mammals. 

Listen out for the 'drumming' sound of a male snipe as it performs its aerial courtship display. It's not a call, but actually its tail feathers beating in the wind. Snipe live on wet grassland, marshes and moorlands throughout the UK.

The redshank lives up to its name as it sports distinctive long, bright red legs! It feeds and breeds on marshes, mudflats, mires and saltmarshes. Look out for it posing on a fence post or rock.

Residing in upland moorlands in summer it nests on open ground among heather and grass. They are rather shy and wary making them difficult to spot over breeding season.