Birds to See in Galway in February
119 bird species on our list for Galway are recorded regularly in February
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, Black-headed Gull, Curlew and Eurasian Oystercatcher. New this month: Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Sandpiper, Forster's Tern and Glaucous Gull and 1 more.
On the move in February
GBIF · FebArriving
At their peak
From Galway’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 119 birds in February
119 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.22% in Feb
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.10% in Feb
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Feb
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Feb
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Feb
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Feb
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Feb
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Feb
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Feb
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Feb
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Feb
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Feb
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Feb
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 2.03% in Feb
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Feb
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.89% in Feb
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Feb
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Feb
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Feb
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Feb
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Feb
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Feb
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Feb
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Feb
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Feb
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Feb
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Feb
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Feb
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.38% in Feb
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Feb
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Feb
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Feb
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Feb
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Feb
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.24% in Feb
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.16% in Feb
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Feb
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.12% in Feb
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Feb
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Feb
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Feb
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Feb
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.99% in Feb
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Feb
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Feb
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Feb
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.87% in Feb
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Feb
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Feb
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Feb
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.73% in Feb
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Feb
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Feb
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Feb
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Feb
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Feb
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Feb
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.54% in Feb
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Feb
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Feb
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Feb
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Feb
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Feb
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Feb
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Feb
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.42% in Feb
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Feb
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Feb
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Feb
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Feb
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Feb
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentUncommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Feb
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Feb
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Feb
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Feb
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Feb
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.28% in Feb
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Feb
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.28% in Feb
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.27% in Feb
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.27% in Feb
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Feb
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Feb
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.24% in Feb
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Feb
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.22% in Feb
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Feb
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.22% in Feb
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Feb
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.20% in Feb
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.18% in Feb
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Feb
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Feb
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Feb
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Feb
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.14% in Feb
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Feb
Forster's TernSterna forsteriPassage migrantUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Feb–Jun · 0.12% in Feb
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.12% in Feb
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.11% in Feb
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.11% in Feb
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.11% in Feb
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Feb
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.11% in Feb
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.11% in Feb
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Feb
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Feb–Mar · 0.10% in Feb
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.09% in Feb
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Feb
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.09% in Feb
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.09% in Feb
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.08% in Feb
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.07% in Feb
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in Feb
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusWinter visitorUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.05% in Feb
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Feb
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Feb
EiderSomateria mollissimaPassage migrantRare50–71 cmRegularly Feb · 0.02% in Feb
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made