Birds to See in Fife in October
148 bird species on our list for Fife are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, European Robin, Woodpigeon and Black-headed Gull. New this month: Long-tailed Duck, Redwing, Fieldfare and Whooper Swan and 10 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
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 148 birds in October
148 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.52% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.12% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.49% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.14% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.95% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.84% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.42% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorCommon25–30 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.42% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.39% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.37% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.34% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.33% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.31% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantCommon41–46 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.30% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.28% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.26% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.25% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorCommon51–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.25% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.18% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.15% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisSummer visitorUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.13% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.12% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.11% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.11% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.11% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Oct
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.08% in Oct
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusPassage migrantUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.07% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusPassage migrantUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.06% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.06% in Oct
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoSummer visitorUncommon37–43 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.04% in Oct
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.03% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusScarceUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% 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