Birds to See in Argyll and Bute in April
135 bird species on our list for Argyll and Bute are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, Chaffinch and Common Gull. New this month: Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Cuckoo and Common Sandpiper and 20 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Argyll and Bute’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 135 birds in April
135 birds
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Apr
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Apr
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Apr
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.93% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Apr
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.64% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.45% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Apr
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Apr
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.40% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Apr
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.00% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.99% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.96% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.94% in Apr
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Apr
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.83% in Apr
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.80% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.75% in Apr
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentCommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.67% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Apr
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.51% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.51% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.47% in Apr
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentCommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.42% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.41% in Apr
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.40% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.36% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.35% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.33% in Apr
MagpiePica picaWinter visitorCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.32% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.28% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.24% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.22% in Apr
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.21% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.18% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.18% in Apr
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.15% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Tawny OwlStrix alucoSummer visitorUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.15% in Apr
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorCommon55–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.13% in Apr
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.11% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · records held back in Apr (protected)
Barn OwlTyto albaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.09% in Apr
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.09% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Apr
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.08% in Apr
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.07% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Apr · 0.05% in Apr
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in Apr
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in Apr
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Apr
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in Apr
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.02% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Apr · 0.02% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Apr
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusPassage migrantUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · records held back in Apr (protected)
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