Birds to See in Fife in August
147 bird species on our list for Fife are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow and Lesser Black-backed Gull. New this month: Eurasian Wigeon, Greenshank, Sooty Shearwater and Purple Sandpiper and 18 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
From Fife’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 147 birds in August
147 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 4.09% in Aug
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.86% in Aug
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.27% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.85% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.89% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Aug
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Aug
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Aug
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Aug
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.35% in Aug
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 1.31% in Aug
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.22% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Aug
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Aug
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.86% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.79% in Aug
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.78% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.77% in Aug
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Aug
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.63% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.62% in Aug
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.60% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantCommon41–46 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.59% in Aug
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.56% in Aug
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Aug
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.50% in Aug
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Aug
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.43% in Aug
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in Aug
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.41% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorCommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.40% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.39% in Aug
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.38% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.34% in Aug
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.28% in Aug
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in Aug
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.23% in Aug
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.22% in Aug
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.20% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.19% in Aug
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.18% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.14% in Aug
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusPassage migrantUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.14% in Aug
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorCommon51–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Aug
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.11% in Aug
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Aug (protected)
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.07% in Aug
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · records held back in Aug (protected)
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly Aug · 0.04% in Aug
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Aug
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusPassage migrantUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Aug
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Aug
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisScarceRare43–51 cmRegularly Aug · 0.03% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.03% in Aug
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Jul–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusPassage migrantUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.03% in Aug
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Aug
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Tawny OwlStrix alucoSummer visitorUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.02% in Aug
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Aug (protected)
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.02% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Aug
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