Birds to See in Highland in April
155 bird species on our list for Highland are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Chaffinch, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Woodpigeon, European Robin and Mallard. New this month: Willow Warbler, Barn Swallow, Cuckoo and House Martin and 18 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Highland’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 155 birds in April
155 birds
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.74% in Apr
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Apr
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Apr
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Apr
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Apr
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.03% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.99% in Apr
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Apr
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Apr
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.03% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Apr
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.89% in Apr
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.78% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.75% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.74% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.73% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Apr
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.62% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.45% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Apr
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.38% in Apr
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.36% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.35% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.35% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.31% in Apr
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.29% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.28% in Apr
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.25% in Apr
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Apr
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Apr
MagpiePica picaResidentUncommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in Apr
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.14% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.13% in Apr
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.11% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.09% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.07% in Apr
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.07% in Apr
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Apr
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Apr
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.03% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.02% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorRare48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
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