Not sure which bee you’ve just spotted?
Use this free UK bee identification tool to narrow it down quickly. Filter by tail colour, stripe pattern, size, and habitat to find your most likely match.
Start by choosing the tail colour, then follow the steps to refine your result.
Based on common UK bee species and real-world sightings
Use the filters to select what you observed. Once you’ve answered the questions, your UK bee ID matches will appear below.
This tool is built around the way most people actually observe bees — quickly, often from a short distance.
Follow these simple steps to identify common UK bee species quickly and accurately.
Focus on the very end of the abdomen (the “tail”). Is it:
Tail colour is often the fastest shortcut for bumblebee identification in the UK.
Next, look at the thorax and abdomen:
Stripe placement helps distinguish between similar UK species.
If you’re stuck between a couple of options, behaviour and habitat can help:
Once you’ve selected the features, the tool will display possible matches. You can then click through to the full UK bee species profiles to confirm your ID.
Bees are some of the most important pollinators in the UK. By learning to recognise them, you:
For gardeners especially, understanding which bees visit your space helps you choose plants that support pollinators from spring through autumn.
If you’re building a wildlife‑friendly garden, UK bee identification is often the first step toward designing a space that truly supports them. If you want to go further, see our guide to making your garden wildlife‑friendly
Instead of relying on technical entomology terms, the tool narrows down possible species using colour patterns, tail colour, and visible markings — the features most people notice first when they see a bee.
At the moment, the tool focuses on the most commonly encountered British bumblebees and solitary bees found in gardens, parks, and allotments across the UK. However, the database is continuing to grow, with additional species profiles being added as the project develops.
This tool forms part of the wider Backyard Farmer UK Bee Identification Guide, which aims to build a practical resource for gardeners, wildlife enthusiasts, and beginners who want to learn more about pollinators.
If you spot any issues or have suggestions for improvements, feel free to get in touch — feedback helps make the tool more accurate and useful for everyone.