Birds to See in Highland in February
130 bird species on our list for Highland are recorded regularly in February
Of these, the most often recorded are Chaffinch, European Herring Gull, Blue Tit, European Robin and Woodpigeon. New this month: Fulmar, Grey Partridge, Grey Plover and Little Gull and 1 more.
On the move in February
GBIF · FebArriving
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 130 birds in February
130 birds
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.58% in Feb
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.53% in Feb
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Feb
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Feb
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Feb
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.71% in Feb
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Feb
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Feb
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Feb
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Feb
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Feb
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Feb
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Feb
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Feb
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Feb
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Feb
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Feb
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Feb
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Feb
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Feb
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Feb
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Feb
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Feb
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Feb
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Feb
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Feb
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Feb
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Feb
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Feb
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Feb
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Feb
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Feb
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Feb
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.10% in Feb
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Feb
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Feb
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Feb
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Feb
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.97% in Feb
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Feb
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Feb
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Feb
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Feb
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Feb
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Feb
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Feb
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Feb
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Feb
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Feb
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Feb
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Feb (protected)
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Feb
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Feb
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Feb
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Feb
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Feb
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Feb
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Feb
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.50% in Feb
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Feb
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Feb
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Feb
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Feb
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Feb
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Feb
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Feb
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Feb
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Feb
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Feb
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Feb
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Feb
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Feb
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Feb
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Feb
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.37% in Feb
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Feb
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.34% in Feb
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Feb
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.34% in Feb
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Feb
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Feb
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.33% in Feb
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.31% in Feb
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Feb
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Feb
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Feb
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.28% in Feb
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Feb
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Feb
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Feb
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Feb
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Feb
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Feb (protected)
MagpiePica picaResidentUncommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.18% in Feb
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.17% in Feb
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.16% in Feb
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Feb
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.14% in Feb
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Feb
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Feb
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.10% in Feb
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Feb
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.10% in Feb
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Feb
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Feb
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.09% in Feb
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Feb
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Feb
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.05% in Feb
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.05% in Feb
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Feb
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.04% in Feb
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.04% in Feb
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Feb
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.04% in Feb
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Feb
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Feb
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Feb
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.03% in Feb
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