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Welcome to the Rare Bird Alert website

Established in 1991 Rare Bird Alert is the longest running instant birdnews service in the UK. Our team of experienced and dedicated birders check and send reports as soon as they break, sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Ways to get our birdnews

We offer the most comprehensive range of birdnews services to suit all birders. If rarity hunting is your thing, just like to bird locally or only go birding occasionally we have a solution to meet your needs. If you would like any advice or help with any of our services please contact us today.

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Pagers

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Still the ultimate tool for birders in the field who don't want to miss news.

  • Unrivalled reception works in many parts of the country where mobiles don't. Particularly good coverage in rural 'birding' areas
  • Flexible change the areas you get news from whenever you want
  • Packages to suit all birders
    local pagers covering individual counties or entire coverage for the UK, you decide
  • TRY FOR FREE today
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From
£134
per year

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Online

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  • Live birdnews over 100,000 sightings per year, updated all day, every day
  • Newsmaps so you can see where the birds are
  • Photo Gallery share your photos of birds in Britain
  • Previous Records fully searchable database of all the accepted rarities in Britain and Ireland, including maps, stats and photos
  • Articles finders' accounts, identification papers, news stories and much more
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Only
£59.99
per year

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Phones

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iPhone and Android App

  • Alerts instant alerts on breaking news
  • Browse the news search the news using quick links or build advanced filters
  • Gallery latest UK bird photos

Text messages

  • Instant text alerts to breaking news to any phone
  • Great for occasional use
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From
£59.99
per year

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Latest article

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Weekly birding round-up: 20 - 26 June 2025

Jon Dunn brings you his weekly birding roundup looking back at the best birds from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic. More here >

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Study reveals why the early bird sings early

New research finds that territorial behaviour and diet help explain why some birds sing more often at dawn, challenging traditional theories about dawn choruses. More here >

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Tweeting for Science: Can Social Media Help Monitor Raptor Diets?

A new study investigates whether online photos of bird meals can complement fieldwork in understanding raptor feeding habits. More here >

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Bird DNA in a Farm Pond: How Artificial Waterbodies Reveal Hidden Species

New study finds that eDNA from human-made waterbodies can help detect elusive and threatened birds - offering a cost-effective tool for conservation monitoring. More here >

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Changes to the British, Irish and WP Lists Under New Unified Global Taxonomy

AviList brings in a new global avian checklist revising bird classifications with significant implications for the British List. More here >