The Dorset List is the official list of bird species recorded in Dorset and is based on The British List maintained by the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU).

Following the publication in June 2025 of AviList - the new unified global bird checklist - the BOU adopted the AviList taxonomy and sequencing for the British List in the BOURC 58th report (January 2026).

The most significant changes to the Dorset List after the adoption of AviList are as follows:
• Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis is lumped with Teal Anas crecca.
• Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus is lumped with Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan to form Mediterranean Shearwater.
• Hooded Crow Corvus cornix is lumped with Carrion Crow Corvus corone.
• Amur Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri is lumped with Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus.
• Revisions to some linear sequencing.

As at January 2026, the Dorset List stands at 429 species.

This includes 408 species in Category A (recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950), 10 in Category B (recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but not recorded subsequently) and 11 in Category C (introduced, but have resulting self-sustaining populations).

The Dorset List can be downloaded here in both PDF and Excel versions.

The most recently accepted additions to the Dorset List are Moltoni's Warbler at Portland Bill on 12th May 2023, Isabelline Wheatear at Swyre Head on 2nd December 2023 (British Birds 117: 664-736) and Red-footed Booby at Portland Bill and Worbarrow bay on 24th June 2024.

Moltoni's Warbler, Portland Bill (Pete Coe)

Isabelline Wheatear, Swyre Head (James Leaver)

Red-footed Booby, Worbarrow Bay (Vince Jenkins)