Birds to See in Fife in January
131 bird species on our list for Fife are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull and European Robin. New this month: Canada Goose, Northern Shoveler, Mediterranean Gull and Tawny Owl and 7 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
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 131 birds in January
131 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.61% in Jan
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.57% in Jan
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.26% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Jan
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Jan
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Jan
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Jan
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Jan
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Jan
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Jan
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Jan
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.85% in Jan
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Jan
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Jan
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.70% in Jan
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.60% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Jan
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Jan
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Jan
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Jan
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Jan
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.08% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Jan
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Jan
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.87% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jan
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jan
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.84% in Jan
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jan
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Jan
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Jan
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Jan
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.75% in Jan
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Jan
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jan
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Jan
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jan
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.55% in Jan
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jan
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Jan
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.53% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jan
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jan
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.47% in Jan
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jan
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorCommon51–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.42% in Jan
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.35% in Jan
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.32% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.31% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Jan
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.24% in Jan
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.20% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.19% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.18% in Jan
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.17% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.11% in Jan
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.09% in Jan
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.09% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.09% in Jan
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.08% in Jan
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorCommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.08% in Jan
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Jan · 0.07% in Jan
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Jan
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Jan
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.06% in Jan
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in Jan
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusPassage migrantUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.03% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.03% in Jan
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Jan–May · 0.03% in Jan
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.03% in Jan
Tawny OwlStrix alucoSummer visitorUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.03% in Jan
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRegularly Jan–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in Jan
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