West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogen with continued 
geographical expansion in Europe. We present and evaluate data on the temporal, 
spatial and bird species focus of the WNV surveillance programme in dead wild 
birds in Great Britain (2002-2009). During this period all bird samples tested 
negative for WNV. Eighty-two per cent of the 2072 submissions occurred during 
the peak period of vector activity with 53% tested during April-July before 
human and equine infection would be expected. Samples were received from every 
county, but there was significant geographical clustering (nearest neighbour 
index=0·23, P<0·001). Over 240 species were represented, with surveillance more 
likely to detect WNV in resident bird species (92% of submissions) than migrants 
(8%). Evidence indicates that widespread avian mortality is not generally a 
reported feature of WNV in Europe and hence additional activities other than 
dead bird surveillance may maximize the ability to detect WNV circulation before 
the onset of human and equine infections.