Birds to See in Argyll and Bute in February
116 bird species on our list for Argyll and Bute are recorded regularly in February
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Barnacle Goose and Common Gull. New this month: Northern Gannet, Common Redpoll, Linnet and Fulmar and 7 more.
On the move in February
GBIF · FebArriving
At their peak
Barnacle GooseBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Horned GrebeBusiest month of the year · Sep–Mar
Northern PintailBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Jun
Red-breasted GooseBusiest month of the year · Feb
Leaving soon
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 116 birds in February
116 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Feb
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Feb
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Feb- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorCommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 2.77% in Feb
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Feb
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Feb
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Feb
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Feb
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Feb- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 2.07% in Feb
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Feb
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Feb
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Feb
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Feb
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Feb
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Feb
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Feb
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.81% in Feb
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Feb
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Feb
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Feb
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Feb
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.52% in Feb
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Feb
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Feb
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Feb
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Feb
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Feb
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Feb
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Feb
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Feb
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Feb
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentCommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Feb (protected)
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Feb
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.18% in Feb
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Feb
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Feb
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.12% in Feb
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Feb
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.06% in Feb
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Feb
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Feb
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Feb
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Feb
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Feb
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Feb
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Feb
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.77% in Feb
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Feb
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Feb
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentCommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Feb (protected)
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Feb
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Feb
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Feb
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Feb
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Feb
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Feb- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.60% in Feb
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorCommon55–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.60% in Feb
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Feb
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Feb
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxWinter visitorCommon39–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.56% in Feb
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Feb
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.54% in Feb
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Feb
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Feb
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Feb
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Feb
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.49% in Feb
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.49% in Feb- Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.47% in Feb
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.46% in Feb
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Feb
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Feb- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.42% in Feb
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Feb
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Feb
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Feb
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.36% in Feb
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.36% in Feb
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Feb
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Feb
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.30% in Feb
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Feb
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Feb
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Feb
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.23% in Feb
MagpiePica picaWinter visitorCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Feb
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Feb
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.21% in Feb
Barn OwlTyto albaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.20% in Feb
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Feb
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.19% in Feb
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.19% in Feb
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.19% in Feb
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.18% in Feb
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Feb
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Feb
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.16% in Feb
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.16% in Feb- Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisPassage migrantUncommon53–56 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.16% in Feb
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.13% in Feb
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Feb–Mar · 0.10% in Feb
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.10% in Feb
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Feb
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in Feb
Tawny OwlStrix alucoSummer visitorUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.09% in Feb
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.08% in Feb
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.08% in Feb
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.07% in Feb
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Feb
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% 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