Birds to See in Argyll and Bute in October
129 bird species on our list for Argyll and Bute are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Hooded Crow, European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Robin and Grey Heron. New this month: Barnacle Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Goldeneye and Redwing and 13 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
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 129 birds in October
129 birds
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.38% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.30% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.24% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorCommon58–70 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 1.11% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentCommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 1.00% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.94% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.87% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentCommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.68% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.64% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.61% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorCommon55–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.52% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.42% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.42% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.38% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.36% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.36% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon27–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.33% in Oct
MagpiePica picaWinter visitorCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxWinter visitorCommon39–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.33% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.32% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.32% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.29% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.27% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.26% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.24% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.18% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.17% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusSummer visitorUncommon32–35 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.15% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoSummer visitorUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.11% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.08% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in Oct
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisPassage migrantUncommon53–56 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.05% in Oct
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.04% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentRare60–66 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% 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