Field guide to the most commonly encountered mammals and birds

Here, we provide some basic information regarding commonly observed species (plus some others about which we have had queries).  

Feel free to contact us by email if you have any questions regarding species you have encountered on the site.

For more information about mammals, we recommend the Mammal Society's species hub, here, and MammalNet here. For birds, excellent resources are available from the RSPB (here) and the BTO (here).

 

Common UK Mammals All UK Mammals Common UK Birds All Species All Deer

Pygmy Shrew

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Scientific name: Sorex minutus

Family: Soricidae

Appearance: The Pygmy Shrew is Britain’s smallest terrestrial mammal and is considerably smaller than the Common Shrew. Its coat is pale brown above and a greyish-white below. It has the typical pointed snout of a shrew although it is more conical than other shrews. Its tail is relatively long and may have a tuft at its tip.

Size: Head and body 4.0-6.4 cm; Tail 3.0-4.6 cm; Weight 2.5-7.5 g.

Natural history: The Pygmy Shrew is active throughout the day and all year round, although most adults die before the winter. It eats a wide range of invertebrates including beetles, spiders and woodlice but not earthworms.  Pygmy Shrews will often nest under logs or rocks, the breeding season runs from April to October and females may have two or more litters of 4 to 6 young a year. Pygmy Shrews like other small mammals are predated by owls and other raptors.

Further information