Many Beswick bird figurines are worth around £20 to £60 at auction, while rarer models, unusual colourways, large birds and scarce variations can be worth several hundred pounds. The exact value of a Beswick bird depends on the model number, species, colour and finish, rarity and condition.
Current examples from the Guy Heath Collection, coming to auction at Potteries Auctions on 24 September 2026, include a pair of red and yellow Beswick Tanager birds, Model 928, estimated at £40–£60, and pairs of Beswick American birds including the Blue Jay, Evening Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwing and American Robin, estimated at £30–£50 per pair.
At the other end of the market, previous Potteries Auctions results show what more unusual Beswick birds can achieve: a large white turkey sold for £380, a Fireside Penguin Model 2357 sold for £260, and a group of three standing mallard ducks in different colourways sold for £850.
If you have a Beswick bird and want to know what it could be worth — or you collect robins, wrens, ducks, penguins, pheasants or Beswick’s American bird models — this guide explains what to look for.
And if you are looking for Beswick birds for sale, the next selection from the lifelong Guy Heath Collection goes under the hammer at Potteries Auctions on Thursday 24 September 2026 at 11am, with live and online bidding available. The 230-lot auction includes birds alongside rare Beswick horses, dogs, cattle, cats and other collector’s models.
How Much Are Beswick Birds Worth?
There is no single price that can be applied to every Beswick bird.
Common smaller Beswick birds and mixed collections can sell for tens of pounds, while larger pieces, scarcer models, unusual colours and desirable variations can achieve hundreds of pounds at auction.
The current Guy Heath Collection gives us a useful snapshot of the market:
| Beswick bird | Model | September 2026 estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Yellow Tanager Birds | 928 | £40–£60 |
| Five small birds including Robin, Wren & Greenfinch | Various | £20–£40 |
| Evening Grosbeak & Blue Jay, gloss | 2190 & 2188 | £30–£50 |
| Cedar Waxwing & American Robin, gloss | 2184 & 2187 | £30–£50 |
These are pre-sale auction estimates rather than guaranteed selling prices. The hammer price will ultimately depend on the bidders competing for each lot on the day.
Lot 137’s pair of red and yellow Tanager birds, for example, are currently catalogued at £40–£60 and described as being in good condition.
It is also important to distinguish between:
Auction estimate – the auctioneer’s guide before the sale.
Hammer price – the amount at which bidding finishes.
Dealer or online asking price – the amount a seller would like to receive, which does not necessarily tell us what buyers are actually paying.
For that reason, completed auction results are generally much more useful when researching the value of a Beswick bird than simply looking at advertised prices.
What Makes a Beswick Bird Valuable?
Several factors can influence the value of a Beswick bird.
Rarity
Some Beswick birds appear on the market relatively regularly, while others are much harder to find.
Scarcity alone does not guarantee a high price, but a difficult-to-find model can attract stronger competition when several collectors are searching for the same piece.
This becomes particularly important with unusual models, short-lived variations and scarce colourways.
Model Number
Identifying the exact model number is one of the most important steps when valuing a Beswick bird.
A search for “Beswick bird value” may give you a rough idea of the market, but identifying something as a Blue Jay Model 2188 or Cedar Waxwing Model 2184 allows you to compare it with genuinely similar examples.
We’ll look at model numbers in more detail below.
Colour and Colourway
Colour can make a substantial difference to collectability.
Beswick produced some subjects in different colourways, and particular versions can be considerably scarcer than others.
This is why two apparently similar Beswick birds may have very different values.
A particularly good historic example comes from Potteries Auctions’ specialist Beswick sale in 2021, when three standing mallard ducks in different colourways sold together for £850.
Gloss or Matt Finish
Some Beswick birds were produced in both gloss and matt finishes, and collectors may specifically look for one version or try to own both.
The Blue Jay Model 2188 provides an excellent real-world example.
At Potteries Auctions’ specialist Beswick sale in May 2021:
- a matt Blue Jay Model 2188 sold for £35
- a gloss Blue Jay Model 2188 sold for £50
That does not mean every gloss example is automatically more valuable than every matt example. Rather, it demonstrates why the exact finish should be identified when comparing auction results.
Size
Larger models can sometimes command stronger prices, particularly where the piece is an impressive display model or forms part of one of Beswick’s less commonly encountered ranges.
A large Beswick white turkey sold at Potteries Auctions for £380 in 2023, while a large Fireside Penguin Model 2357 sold for £260 in 2022.
These results are considerably above the price level commonly seen for groups of smaller garden birds.
Condition
Condition can have a major impact, particularly where there are delicate beaks, tails, wings and legs.
A rare bird with restoration or damage may be less desirable than an undamaged example, although rarity can sometimes mean collectors will still compete for an imperfect piece.
Rare Beswick Birds to Look Out For
There is no permanent list of the “rarest Beswick birds” because availability and collector demand change, but certain types deserve particularly careful identification.
Beswick American Birds
Beswick’s American bird models are a particularly attractive collecting area.
The September Guy Heath auction includes four examples:
Beswick Cedar Waxwing – Model 2184
The Cedar Waxwing is characterised by its distinctive colouring and perched pose.
The Guy Heath example is being offered in gloss, together with an American Robin Model 2187, at an estimate of £30–£50.
The model is also encountered in matt versions.
Beswick American Robin – Model 2187
The American Robin Model 2187 is another member of the American bird range.
The current Guy Heath example is a gloss version and is offered alongside the Cedar Waxwing.
A previous gloss American Robin Model 2187 sold elsewhere at auction for £35 hammer, illustrating the price level at which individual examples have previously traded.
Beswick Blue Jay – Model 2188
The Blue Jay is one of the most visually distinctive of the American birds, with its prominent blue crest and strong blue, black and white decoration.
The Guy Heath Collection includes a gloss Blue Jay Model 2188, offered together with an Evening Grosbeak at an estimate of £30–£50.
Potteries Auctions previously sold examples of Model 2188 for £35 in matt and £50 in gloss during its May 2021 specialist sale.
Beswick Evening Grosbeak – Model 2190
The Evening Grosbeak Model 2190 is another distinctive American species.
The current Guy Heath example is a gloss model offered alongside the Blue Jay.
A separate Evening Grosbeak Model 2190 sold for £25 hammer in February 2025, demonstrating that even recognised collectable models can remain accessible to collectors.
Beswick Tanager Model 928
Another particularly colourful Beswick bird is the Tanager Model 928.
Lot 137 in the Guy Heath Collection contains two examples, one red and one yellow, both standing approximately 14cm high.
Together they carry an auction estimate of £40–£60 and are catalogued as being in good condition.
Pairs or colour variations can make an especially attractive display and can also appeal to collectors attempting to acquire different versions of a particular model.
Which Beswick Birds Are Most Collectable?
Beswick produced birds covering everything from familiar British garden species to large decorative birds and American subjects.
Collectors may concentrate on one particular group or attempt to build a much wider collection.
Garden Birds
Small garden birds are some of the most familiar and accessible Beswick pieces.
The Guy Heath Collection includes a group of five birds including:
- Robin
- Wren
- Greenfinch
- other small bird models
The group is estimated at £20–£40.
Smaller birds can be an excellent starting point for someone beginning a Beswick collection, particularly because several different species can often be purchased without moving into the price range of the rarest models.
American Birds
The American bird series is particularly interesting for collectors because several different species can be assembled into a recognisable group.
Models include the:
- Cedar Waxwing – 2184
- American Robin – 2187
- Blue Jay – 2188
- Evening Grosbeak – 2190
Different finishes can provide an additional collecting challenge.
A collector might therefore seek not only the different species but also gloss and matt versions where available.
Ducks and Mallards
Beswick produced numerous duck models, including highly naturalistic designs and pieces in different colourways.
Particular versions can command substantially more than small everyday bird models.
One of Potteries Auctions’ strongest historic Beswick bird results came in 2021, when a group of three standing mallard ducks in different colourways sold for £850.
That result is a useful reminder that it is dangerous to assume all small Beswick animals or birds are worth roughly the same amount.
Penguins
Penguins have long been an instantly recognisable Beswick subject.
Small penguin figures can be affordable, while some larger and scarcer models sit in a completely different part of the market.
Potteries Auctions sold a Beswick Fireside Penguin Model 2357 for £260 in December 2022.
The September 2026 Guy Heath selection also includes a large blue penguin among its broader bird offering.
Pheasants
Beswick produced several pheasant designs, including birds on naturalistic and floral bases.
Previous Potteries Auctions results from its May 2021 specialist sale included:
- Pair of Pheasants Model 2078 – £90
- Pheasants Models 849 & 850 – £25
- Pheasant on floral base Model 1226 – £95
- Large Pheasant on floral base Model 1225 – £65
Again, the difference between those figures demonstrates the importance of establishing the precise model before deciding what a Beswick bird might be worth.
Larger and Unusual Birds
Some of Beswick’s larger birds can be particularly eye-catching.
A large white Beswick turkey sold for £380 at Potteries Auctions in February 2023.
The Guy Heath Collection also contains birds ranging from budgerigars and owls to an unusual white turkey by Albert Hallam.
These larger and more unusual subjects are worth researching individually rather than comparing them with standard small garden birds.
Beswick Bird Model Numbers: Why They Matter
If you want to know the value of a Beswick bird, finding its model number is one of the best places to start.
Some of the model numbers relevant to this guide include:
| Model number | Beswick bird |
|---|---|
| 928 | Tanager |
| 2184 | Cedar Waxwing |
| 2187 | American Robin |
| 2188 | Blue Jay |
| 2190 | Evening Grosbeak |
| 2357 | Fireside Penguin |
A model number identifies the particular design — it is not a value or production number.
Turn the figure over carefully and examine the underside.
Depending on when it was produced, you may find:
- an impressed model number
- a printed Beswick factory mark
- “Beswick England”
- the name of the bird
- another factory backstamp
Beswick marks changed over time, particularly after the company became part of Royal Doulton.
For more help identifying a piece, I would internally link this section directly to:
Beswick Pottery Marks & Backstamps Guide – How to Identify & Date Your Piece (2026)
Your existing marks guide already explains that the Beswick backstamp later changed following the Royal Doulton takeover and gives collectors further guidance on identifying Beswick pieces.
Does Condition Affect the Value of Beswick Birds?
Yes. Condition can significantly affect what a Beswick bird is worth.
Bird figurines often have particularly vulnerable areas.
Check carefully around the:
- beak
- wing tips
- tail feathers
- feet and claws
- legs
- crests
- branches or bases
- flowers and other raised decoration
Small chips can easily be missed, particularly around a pointed beak or feather.
Look for:
Chips – especially on extremities.
Hairline cracks – inspect in good natural light.
Restoration – repaired beaks, wings and tails can sometimes be difficult to spot.
Re-gluing – check any narrow connection points carefully.
Crazing – fine cracking within the glaze.
Paint or glaze loss – particularly important on brightly decorated birds.
For online auction buyers, photographs should be examined carefully and a condition report requested if anything is unclear.
A common bird in excellent condition and a scarce model with restoration are not directly comparable, so condition should always form part of a valuation.
Recent Beswick Bird Auction Prices
Completed auction prices are particularly useful when researching Beswick birds because they show what buyers have actually been prepared to pay.
They should still be treated as comparables rather than fixed valuations, because condition, colour, timing and competition between bidders can all affect the result.
Here are some useful examples.
Beswick Standing Mallard Ducks – £850
During Potteries Auctions’ major specialist Beswick sale in May 2021, three standing mallard ducks in different colourways sold together for £850.
This is an excellent example of the value that unusual colours and desirable variations can add.
Beswick Large White Turkey – £380
A large white Beswick turkey sold for £380 at Potteries Auctions in February 2023.
The result demonstrates why unusual larger birds should be researched individually rather than valued alongside smaller standard models.
Beswick Fireside Penguin Model 2357 – £260
Potteries Auctions sold a Fireside Penguin Model 2357 for £260 in December 2022.
Again, its size and particular model make it a different proposition from many smaller Beswick birds.
Beswick Blue Jay Model 2188 – £35 to £50
Two versions sold during Potteries Auctions’ May 2021 specialist sale:
| Version | Hammer price |
|---|---|
| Blue Jay Model 2188 – matt | £35 |
| Blue Jay Model 2188 – gloss | £50 |
This is a particularly useful comparison because it involves the same model in different finishes.
Beswick Evening Grosbeak Model 2190 – £25
An Evening Grosbeak Model 2190 sold for £25 hammer in February 2025.
This shows that attractive and collectable Beswick birds do not necessarily have to be expensive.
Current Beswick Bird Values: The Guy Heath Collection
The September 2026 Guy Heath Collection provides a useful picture of the current market at the accessible end of Beswick bird collecting.
Lot 137 – Beswick Tanager Birds Model 928
Two birds in red and yellow.
Estimate: £40–£60
Lot 138 – Collection of Small Beswick Birds
A group of five including a Robin, Wren and Greenfinch.
Estimate: £20–£40
Lot 139 – Beswick American Birds
Evening Grosbeak Model 2190 and Blue Jay Model 2188, both in gloss.
Estimate: £30–£50
Lot 148 – Beswick American Birds
Cedar Waxwing Model 2184 and American Robin Model 2187, both in gloss.
Estimate: £30–£50
These examples reinforce one of the most important points in this guide: The word “Beswick” alone does not tell you what a bird is worth.
The species, exact model number, colourway, finish, rarity and condition all need to be considered together.
Beswick Birds for Sale
If you’re searching for Beswick birds for sale in the UK, the Guy Heath Collection gives collectors an opportunity to compare numerous Beswick subjects within one specialist auction.
The wider September sale includes birds ranging from small garden species and American bird models to budgerigars, owls, penguins and a white turkey, alongside Guy’s extensive collection of other Beswick animals.
For somebody beginning a collection, lots such as the group of small birds estimated at £20–£40 provide an accessible starting point.
More established collectors may instead be looking for:
- a particular model number
- a missing species
- an alternative colourway
- gloss or matt versions
- larger display models
- unusual factory variations
That is where browsing an entire specialist catalogue becomes particularly useful.
Rather than searching for one piece in isolation, collectors can compare photographs, model numbers, finishes and estimates across the sale.
Buy Beswick Birds from the Guy Heath Collection
Rare Beswick Models & Collector’s Favourites from the Guy Heath Collection takes place at Potteries Auctions’ Silverdale Saleroom on:
Thursday 24 September 2026
11:00am BST
Lots 1–230
Silverdale Saleroom
Live and online bidding available
Viewing is available at Silverdale on the morning of the auction from 8am until 11am.
The sale represents the latest selection from Guy Heath’s extraordinary lifelong Beswick collection and includes birds alongside rare horses, dogs, cattle, cats, wildlife and unusual collector’s models.
Looking for your next Beswick bird?
Browse the catalogue to see photographs, estimates and full descriptions for all 230 lots, then register before the sale to place your bids.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beswick Birds
How much are Beswick birds worth?
Many commonly encountered Beswick birds sell for around £20 to £60 at auction, while rarer models, unusual colourways and larger figures can be worth several hundred pounds.
Potteries Auctions has previously sold a large white Beswick turkey for £380, a Fireside Penguin for £260 and three standing mallard ducks in different colourways for £850.
The exact value depends on the model, rarity, colour, finish and condition.
Which Beswick birds are valuable?
There isn’t one particular type of Beswick bird that is always valuable.
Look especially closely at:
- unusual or scarce models
- rare colourways
- large bird figures
- matt or gloss variations
- complete sets
- unusual factory pieces
- models in exceptionally good condition
The exact model number should always be identified before making a comparison.
What are Beswick American birds worth?
Values vary by model, finish and condition.
In the Guy Heath Collection, pairs containing the Blue Jay, Evening Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwing and American Robin currently carry £30–£50 estimates.
Previous individual auction results include £35 and £50 for matt and gloss examples of Blue Jay Model 2188 respectively.
How much is a Beswick Blue Jay worth?
The Beswick Blue Jay is Model 2188.
Previous Potteries Auctions results from 2021 include £35 for a matt example and £50 for a gloss example.
These historic results should be used as comparables rather than fixed valuations because condition and current bidder demand can change the price.
How much is a Beswick Tanager worth?
The Beswick Tanager is Model 928.
Two examples in red and yellow from the Guy Heath Collection are being offered together on 24 September 2026 with an estimate of £40–£60.
The value of an individual example can vary depending on colour and condition.
Where is the model number on a Beswick bird?
Carefully examine the underside of the figure.
Depending on the model and production period, you may find an impressed model number, printed backstamp, bird name or other factory marking.
Our Beswick Pottery Marks & Backstamps Guide explains how to identify Beswick marks in more detail.
Are old Beswick birds valuable?
Some can be, but age alone does not determine value.
Model rarity, colourway, finish, condition and collector demand are normally much more useful indicators.
A relatively common older model may be worth less than a later but much scarcer variation.
Are Beswick birds still collectable?
Yes. Beswick birds continue to appear in specialist British ceramics auctions and range from inexpensive small garden birds to considerably more valuable rare models and colour variations.
Potteries Auctions’ Beswick department continues to handle everything from everyday figures to major private collections, including the ongoing Guy Heath Collection.
Does matt or gloss make a Beswick bird more valuable?
It can affect value, but there is no rule that matt is always worth more than gloss or vice versa.
Rarity of the specific version is what matters.
The Beswick Blue Jay Model 2188 is a useful example: Potteries Auctions sold a matt example for £35 and a gloss version for £50 in the same 2021 specialist auction.
How do I sell a collection of Beswick birds?
Start by photographing:
- each complete figure
- the underside and model number
- the Beswick backstamp
- any damage, restoration or unusual markings
For a large collection, a group photograph can also help establish its size before more detailed images are supplied.
Potteries Auctions offers free, no-obligation valuations for Beswick pottery and has handled individual figures as well as major private collections.