Birds to See in Northern Ireland in March
128 bird species on our list for Northern Ireland are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Common Starling and European Herring Gull. New this month: Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin and Sandwich Tern and 14 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
From Northern Ireland’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 128 birds in March
128 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.57% in Mar
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.23% in Mar
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.06% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Mar
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Mar
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Mar
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Mar
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Mar
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Mar
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Mar
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Mar
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.40% in Mar
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Mar
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Mar
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Mar
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Mar
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Mar
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Mar
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Mar
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Mar
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Mar
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Mar
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Mar
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Mar
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Mar
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Mar
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Mar
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Mar
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Mar
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Mar
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Mar
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Mar
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Mar
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Mar
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Mar
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Mar
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Mar
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Mar
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Mar
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Mar
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Mar
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Mar
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Mar
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Mar
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Mar
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Mar
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Mar
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Mar
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.56% in Mar
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Mar
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Mar
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.48% in Mar
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.45% in Mar
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Mar
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.44% in Mar
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.44% in Mar
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Mar
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.41% in Mar
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Mar
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Mar
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.32% in Mar
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.28% in Mar
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.26% in Mar
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.24% in Mar
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.22% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Mar
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in Mar
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaPassage migrantUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Mar · 0.19% in Mar
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.18% in Mar
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Mar
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Mar
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.14% in Mar
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Mar
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.12% in Mar
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.11% in Mar
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.11% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.11% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.11% in Mar
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Mar
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Mar
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Mar
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.08% in Mar
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.07% in Mar
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Mar
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Mar
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Mar
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Mar
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in Mar
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · records held back in Mar (protected)
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Mar
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.05% in Mar
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.05% in Mar
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · records held back in Mar (protected)
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.04% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Mar
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.04% in Mar
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Mar
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