Birds to See in Aberdeenshire in October
130 bird species on our list for Aberdeenshire are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, Jackdaw, European Robin and Woodpigeon. New this month: Redwing, Fieldfare, Long-tailed Duck and Purple Sandpiper and 13 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Aberdeenshire’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 130 birds in October
130 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.03% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 3.00% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.07% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 1.04% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.94% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.87% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorCommon55–65 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.60% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.58% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.57% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.52% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.48% in Oct
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.45% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentUncommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.44% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.43% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.42% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.42% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.39% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.38% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.36% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.35% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.34% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorUncommon23–29 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.32% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.32% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.30% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.29% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.27% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.26% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.22% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.22% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.21% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.18% in Oct
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentCommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Common CraneGrus grusResidentUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.13% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.12% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.10% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.08% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.06% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.06% in Oct
Little AukAlle alleScarceUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentRare58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
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